The Greek psuchē, rendered as both soul
and life
in the New Testament, refers to life in all its forms, from the vegetative to intellectual and even spiritual life.
To gain the whole world
means having every material possession one could imagine. In contrast to this is the loss of one’s life, of what truly matters. Anyone who will not give up his life for Jesus’ sake will lose it later, when Jesus returns as Judge (Matthew 16:27), but no one can buy true life with money or material wealth (see Psalm 49:8–9). Only Jesus Christ, and he alone, can provide it.
The preservation of our lives can be found only by following what seems to be a dead-end road, Jesus’ path to the cross, for none can pay a ransom for his own life: Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
Such a person eventually loses it all in death, which he can do nothing to escape, so the purpose of Matthew 16:26 is to back up Matthew 16:25. Let people find true life by being willing to give up all for the sake of trusting in Jesus’ suffering and saving work alone.
The Greek word translated as both soul
and life
in the New Testament is psuchē, and its meaning is far-reaching. It refers to life in all its forms of existence—from the vegetative to the highest intellectual and even spiritual life (Bette, page 393).
To gain the whole world
refers to acquiring every material possession one could possibly imagine. In sharp contrast to this stands the loss of one’s life—of that which truly matters. Anyone who is unwilling to give up his life for Jesus’ sake will lose it later, when Jesus returns and judgment takes place (Matthew 16:27). Yet no one can buy true life with money or material wealth (see Psalm 49:8–9). It is only Jesus Christ, and him alone, who can provide it.1
So even if a person were to gain the whole world, it would profit him nothing if, in doing so, he forfeited his very life—his soul. That is the ultimate reality that Jesus conveys here: that our lives stand under God’s judgment. All people die, sooner or later, and no conquest of the world can prevent that. What humans truly need is the preservation of their lives, and that can be found only by following Jesus down what appears to be a dead-end road—his path to the cross. For no one can pay a ransom for his own life: Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
Such a person eventually loses everything in death, and he can do nothing to escape death. As such, the purpose of Matthew 16:26 is to reinforce Matthew 16:25. Let people find true life by being willing to give up everything for the sake of trusting in Jesus’ suffering and saving work alone.2
26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?