Matthew 10:32 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,

NIV: "Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.

NASB: Therefore, everyone who confesses Me before people, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.

CSB: "Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.

NLT: Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.

KJV: Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

NKJV: “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

This statement by Jesus to His twelve hand-picked apostles is a clear and straightforward description of the gospel.

He has told the twelve to expect suffering and persecution as they preach His message to the world. That persecution may even include death at the hands of those opposed to the truth that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus has added, though, that the God who knows when sparrows die will also be watching them. They will not suffer and die in vain. As His representatives, they will be welcomed into eternity (Matthew 10:22–31).

Now He makes the point with clarity: Jesus will acknowledge to God everyone who acknowledges Christ to other people in this life. The disciples will acknowledge Jesus in the sense that they will affirm Him as the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God. They will point to faith in Jesus as the only way any person can come to the Father (John 14:6).

Jesus will acknowledge them to the Father by declaring them as His own and, in that way, guaranteeing their place in eternity with God. The picture is of a righteous witness at a trial vouching for the accused to the judge. The judge will take the word of His Son over the accusations of His enemies. In this way, being acknowledged by Jesus will be the difference between life and death, as the following verse makes clear (John 3:16–18; 3:36).

Matthew 10:26–33 continues Jesus' encouragement, as He sends the Twelve out with His authority. He commands the apostles to proclaim far and wide what He whispers to them now. Persecution will come to them, but they must not be afraid. Their enemies can only kill their bodies. They should fear God, instead, and understand that their Father cares for them. He will see if they fall. Jesus declares that He, too, will acknowledge to His Father everyone who acknowledges Him to others. Those who deny His identity as God's Son, however, He will also deny.

Jesus gives His authority over disease, demons, and even death to His twelve hand-picked apostles. He gives them instructions in preparation both for a short-term trip to the towns of Galilee and their ministry after He has left the earth. First, they will preach His message of the kingdom in Israelite towns as they heal and cast out demons to demonstrate His power. Later, they will suffer great persecution as they represent Him before both Jews and Gentiles. They should not be afraid, though, and trust their Father to be with them and to reward them.

Jesus has recently expressed compassion for the people of Israel, who are spiritually lost. Matthew 10 is a record of Jesus' instructions to His twelve core apostles, as He sends them on a short-term trip to the towns of Galilee. He also includes warnings and encouragements about the persecution they will eventually experience. In chapter 11, Jesus will continue to proclaim truth to the people of Israel, leading to further conflict with local religious leaders.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.