What does it mean to gain the whole world but lose your soul?

Answer

In Matthew 16, Jesus asks what good it is for a man to gain the whole world but lose his soul “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”, (Matthew 16:26). To gain the whole world is to receive all the world has to offer—money, fame, pleasure, power, prestige, etc. To lose one’s soul is to die without a right relationship with Christ and spend an eternity in the lake of fire.

In the context of His rhetorical question, the Lord was predicting His suffering and death and resurrection “From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.”, (Matthew 16:21). When Peter resisted His teaching, Jesus rebuked him and said, “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns” (verse 23). Jesus then spoke to the crowd and reminded them that there was nothing worth more than one’s own eternal soul. Rejecting Christ might mean temporary, earthly gains, but it comes at the worst possible price.

The Jewish people had been waiting for a Promised One for many centuries. Most expected that this Messiah would be a military leader or a king like David or Solomon. Jesus’ disciples recognized that He was the One whom the prophets had predicted. However, Jesus did not speak about conquering with an army or by taking over the government. Instead, Jesus taught that the Messiah would suffer and die at the hands of men.

Just before He asks, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” Jesus says that, in order to trTo truly follow Christ, individuals must be willing to “deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” «Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. », (Matthew 16:24). Taking up one’s cross signifies being sentenced to die. Jesus’ words symbolize a complete, ultimate dedication.

In essence, one must be ready to relinquish everything to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Earthly hardships should not deter one. This is the essence of Jesus’ inquiry, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” Even if someone rejects Jesus and becomes the wealthiest, most influential individual on earth, they have still made a misguided choice. Eventually, worldly possessions will diminish. That individual will have sacrificed the only eternal part of themselves. The day of judgment is approaching: “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done” «For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. », (Matthew 16:27).

A person’s soul is priceless. Trading it away is the height of foolishness. When an individual opts for this world over heaven, they are surrendering their soul. If someone rejects Christ for anything in this life, they will forfeit their soul. Esau disdained his birthright, choosing stew instead; Judas traded the Savior for a few coins; Demas cherished this present world and abandoned the ministry. All three men believed they were gaining something but in reality lost everything.