{Doth not take his cross} (ou lambanei ton stauron
autou). The first mention of cross in Matthew. Criminals were
crucified in Jerusalem. It was the custom for the condemned
person to carry his own cross as Jesus did till Simon of Cyrene
was impressed for that purpose. The Jews had become familiar with
crucifixion since the days of Antiochus Epiphanes and one of the
Maccabean rulers (Alexander Jannaeus) had crucified 800
Pharisees. It is not certain whether Jesus was thinking of his
own coming crucifixion when he used this figure, though possible,
perhaps probable. The disciples would hardly think of that
outcome unless some of them had remarkable insight.