Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 10:32-33

"Every one therefore who shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven." — Matthew 10:32-33 (ASV)

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

You own Christ here, and Christ will own you there. Dare to bear reproach for him, and you shall be glorified together with him eventually, but if the tenor of your life is that you do not own Christ, if you practically live as if there were no Saviour, ignoring him, depriving him of the trust which he deserves, and the honour which he has earned, then, when he comes in the glory of the Father, he will say, "You never knew me, and I never knew you. Depart!"

Because divine providence rules over all, the destiny of believers is secure beyond fear of harm, and they must not shrink from the boldest avowal of their faith because of anxiety to preserve their lives. Our business is to confess Christ before men. In Him the truth we acknowledge begins, centers, and ends. Our Confession of Faith is a confession of Christ. He is our theology or Word of God. What a joy to confess Him now! What a reward to be confessed by Him hereafter in the glory-world!

It will be a high offense against the great God, whom Jesus twice calls my Father which is in heaven, if we fail to confess His Son on earth. It is clear that in this passage to deny Jesus means not to confess Him. What a grave warning this is for the cowardly believer! Can a non-confessing faith save? To live and die without confessing Christ before men is to run an awful risk. Actually, to recant and give up Christ must be a dreadful crime, and the penalty is fearful to contemplate. Disowned by Jesus before His Father who is in heaven! What hell can be worse?

Lord, let me never blush to acknowledge You in all companies! Work in me a bold spirit by Your Holy Spirit. Let me confess Your truth whatever the spirit of the age may be, uphold Your Church when she is most despised, obey Your precepts when they cost most dear, and glory in Your name when it is most reproached.