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Mat 16:24. Θέλει, κ.τ.λ., wishes, etc.) No one is compelled; but if he wishes to do so, he must submit to the conditions.-ὀπίσω Μου ἐλθεῖν, to come after Me) This denotes the state and profession, as ἀκολουθείτω (let him follow) does the duty, of a disciple.[766]-ἀπαρνησάσθω, let him abnegate, or utterly deny) Weigh well the force of the word in ch. Mat 26:70. To abnegate is to renounce oneself. Thus, in Tit 2:12, we have the simple word ἀρνεῖσθαι, to deny; in Luk 14:33, ἀποτάσσεσθαι, to set apart from himself-to bid farewell to, or forsake. These expressions are contrasted with ὁμολογία confession, or accordant profession; see Heb 10:23.[767]-καὶ ἀκολουθείτω Μοι, and follow Me) that he may be where I am.
[766] “Id denotat statum et professionem; sequatur, officium” For a person may go after or behind another without following in his steps. In the one case, he appears and professes to walk in his steps; in the other, he really does so: the one implies profession-the other involves practice.-(I. B.)
[767] Peter disowns himself, when he suffers himself to do that which he had done in the disowning of Christ. When the human feelings of Peter desire this or that thing, Peter retorts-I do not know Peter any longer; there is no relationship at all between me and him, nor is it evident to me what the man means or intends. Whoever has gained such power against himself, to him the Cross is anything but irksome, and there is nothing sweeter than the following of Christ.-V. g.