Matthew 10:33 — Community Reflections

MATTHEW 10:33 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”

But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. The reverse: denial of Jesus before men produces denial by Jesus before the Father. 2 Timothy 2:12 says if we deny him, he also will deny us. Peter's denial in Matthew 26:69–75 and his restoration in John 21:15–19 provide the narrative illustration: denial followed by genuine repentance and restoration is possible; the permanent denial that is in view here is the deliberate, persistent rejection of Jesus before the world.

Church Fathers on Matthew 10:33

The Lord having banished that fear which haunted the minds of His disciples, adds further comfort in what follows, not only casting out fear, but by hope of greater rewards encouraging them to a free proclamation of the truth, saying, 'Every man who shall confess me before men, I also will confess him before my Father which is in heaven.' And it is not properly 'shall confess me,' but as it is in the Greek, 'shall confess in me,' shewing that it is not by your own strength…
Chrysostom · 4th century

This He says in conclusion, because it behoves them after being confirmed by such teaching, to have a confident freedom in confessing God.
Hilary of Poitiers · 4th century

Here is to be understood that confession of which the Apostle speaks, 'With the heart men believe unto justification, with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.' [Rom 10:10] That none therefore might suppose that he could be saved without confession of the mouth, He says not only, 'He that shall confess me,' but adds, 'before me;' and again, 'He that shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.'
Remigius · 9th century

Read all 9 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

Publish a reflection on this verse

No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!