Back to Today
Matthew 10:38Mission Discourse
He who doesn't take his cross and follow after me isn't worthy of me.
Permalink Verse page
Interpretation

Matthew 10:38 shows a take cross that is lived within family life—see "who" and "doesn't". Choose take cross in boundaries we honor—season power with mercy.

Context

Matthew speaks here as gospel narrative writing, highlighting take cross. Within ch. 10, a small unit frames the emphasis. Watch the terms “who” and “doesn't”.

Authorship & Historical Background

Early attribution points to Matthew the disciple (a former tax collector) for Matthew. Introductions to Matthew often note: Anonymous in earliest copies; attributed to Matthew in later tradition; reflects Mark and a sayings source.. Date: AD 80–90. Matthew seems aimed at Jewish‑Christian community.. Genre and setting: gospel narrative, in the Mission Discourse. Catechetical structure appears in the discourse blocks.

More details
Traditional:Matthew the tax collector
Modern scholarship:Anonymous; attributed to Matthew; uses Mark + Q source.
Date:AD 80–90
Audience:Jewish‑Christian community.
Manuscripts & Textual Witnesses
The Greek text is preserved in thousands of manuscripts. Early papyri (P46, P66, P75) from the 2nd-3rd centuries, along with major uncials like Sinaiticus and Vaticanus (4th century), provide strong textual witness. Minor variants exist but do not change the overall sense.
Sources & witness notes
SinaiticusVaticanusP46