Jesus spoke specifically about the ego twice in Matthew, both times to His disciples. This provides us a specific understanding about operating in our calling.
He spoke to His twelve disciples and gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
Matthew 10:38 "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
Matthew 10:39 "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
Jesus revealed to the disciples the need to “die” to the flesh. The cross was indicative of the death experience where the ego needed to be placed in order to operate on Kingdom business. In this chapter, Matthew named the disciples and they had received their calling to go and preach to the lost sheep of Israel. Clearly, there was some preparation needed as Jesus commanded them to go with the “power” or anointing He had conveyed to them. Do you want to be found worthy of The Lord? If so, the ego must be dealt with.
Again, Jesus reminded the disciples of the need to lose their life, being prompted by Peter whose ego was still a problem with him:
Matthew 16
21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!"
23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
25 "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
26 "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Peter failed to understand and submit to “Love”. Love was going to the cross so the whole world would be reconciled unto Our Heavenly Father. Peter unknowingly wanted to prevent the earthly calling of Jesus Christ.
How would you like for the Son of the Most High God to call you an “offense” or a “stumbling block”? No thank you! Our egos are our stumbling blocks to fulfilling our calling. When we operate by our ego, we are an offense to Heaven, we are as an adversary or Satan. That was a pretty tough statement made to Peter but I believe it got his attention. Peter was rebuking Our Lord even after spending notable time with Him. This was the first reference by Jesus of His impending death and resurrection.
A wise man looks for profit that is long term at the expense of short term profit versus short term profit with long term losses. Temporary profit is worthless if the result is ultimately loss. Most people today are short term thinkers. Instant gratification has infiltrated our society and psyche. Peter’s “act now, think later” attitude caused a severe rebuke from Our Lord. Peter failed to understand Love and the necessity to slay the ego. The revelation came after Peter denied Christ and the cock crew three times, he wept bitterly. He finally understood the necessity to slay the ego.