Albert Barnes Commentary Mark 8:38

"For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of man also shall be ashamed of him, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." — Mark 8:38 (ASV)

Ashamed of me. Ashamed to acknowledge attachment to me because of my lowly appearance, and my poverty, contempt, and sufferings.

And of my words. My doctrines, my instructions.

This adulterous and sinful generation. This age given to wickedness, particularly to adultery.

In the glory of his Father. In the day of judgment. (See Barnes on Matthew 25:31).

The meaning of this verse is, whoever refuses, through pride or wickedness, to acknowledge and serve Christ here, will be excluded from His kingdom hereafter.

He was lowly, meek, and despised. Yet there was an inimitable beauty in His character even then. But He will come again in awesome grandeur—not as the babe of Bethlehem, not as the Man of Nazareth, but as the Son of God, in majesty and glory.

Those who would not acknowledge Him here must be rejected by Him there; those who would not serve Him always, will never enjoy Him; those who would cast Him out and despise Him, must be cast out by Him, and consigned to eternal, hopeless sorrows.