Matthew 10:32 - Exposition

Whosoever; every one … who (Revised Version); Matthew 7:24 , note. Therefore. Summing up the thought of Matthew 7:24 -31, that he who suffers with Christ is only receiving such treatment as he ought to expect, and is never forgotten. Shall confess me ( ὁμολογήσει ἐν ἐμοί ) . ὁμολογεῖν ἐν occurs only in this verse (twice) and in the parallel passage, Luke 12:8 (cf. Bishop Westcott, on 1 John 2:23 ). Though the exact phrase is doubt less due to Hebrew influence, yet its choice here is determined by an instinctive feeling that it expresses the union of him who confesses with him who is confessed, while the plain accusative makes no such implication, but only sums up the confession. Bishop Westcott quotes Heracleon's comment on Luke 12:8 . "With good reason Christ says of those who confess him in me ( ὁμολογήσει ἐν ἐμοί ), but of those who deny him me ( ἀρνήσηταί με ) only. For these even it' they confess him with their voice deny him, since they confess him not in their action. But they alone make confession in him who live in the confession and action that accords with him; in whom also he makes confession, having himself embraced them, and being held first by them". Before men ( τῶν ἀνθρώπων ); Luke 12:17 , note, and Matthew 6:1 , note. Him . Not in any position of emphasis in the Greek. Will I confess also (cf. Revelation 3:5 ) before my Father . Not merely "the Father," but him who is in the closest relationship to me; the thought is of salvation as well as of creation. Which is in heaven. In nature, love; in position, majesty and omnipotence.