Church Fathers 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)

St. John Chrysostom: The Lord, having banished the fear that haunted the minds of His disciples, adds further comfort in what follows. He not only casts out fear but also encourages them to a free proclamation of the truth with the hope of greater rewards, saying, Everyone who confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven. And it is not properly "shall confess me," but as it is in the Greek, "shall confess in me," showing that it is not by your own strength, but by grace from above, that you confess Him.

St. Hilary of Poitiers: He says this in conclusion because, after being confirmed by such teaching, it is fitting for them to have a confident freedom in confessing God.

Remigius of Auxerre: Here we should understand that confession of which the Apostle speaks: "With the heart men believe unto justification, with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:10). So that no one might suppose he could be saved without confession of the mouth, He says not only, "He who confesses me," but adds, "before men"; and again, "He who denies me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven."

St. Hilary of Poitiers: This teaches us that in whatever measure we have borne witness to Him on earth, in that same measure we will have Him bear witness for us in heaven before the face of God the Father.

St. John Chrysostom: Observe here that the punishment is many times greater than the evil done, and the reward is greater than the good done. It is as if He is saying: Just as your deed was more significant in confessing or denying Me here, so My deed to you will be more significant in confessing or denying you there.

Therefore, if you have done any good thing and have not received a reward, do not be troubled, for a manifold reward awaits you in the age to come. And if you have done any evil and have not paid the punishment for it, do not think that you have escaped, for punishment will overtake you unless you change and become better.

Rabanus Maurus: We should understand that not even Pagans can deny the existence of God, but infidels may deny that the Son, as well as the Father, is God. The Son confesses men before the Father because by the Son we have access to the Father, and because the Son says, "Come, you blessed of my Father" (Matthew 25:34).

Remigius of Auxerre: And thus He will deny the one who has denied Him, in that he will not have access to the Father through Him and will be banished from seeing either the Son or the Father in their divine nature.

St. John Chrysostom: He requires not only faith of the mind but also confession of the mouth, so that He may exalt us higher and raise us to a more open utterance and a larger measure of love.

For this is spoken not only to the Apostles but to all; He gives strength not only to them but also to their disciples. And he who observes this precept will not only teach with bold speech but will also easily convince everyone, for the observance of this command drew many to the Apostles.

Rabanus Maurus: Or, he confesses Jesus who, by that faith that works by love, obediently fulfills His commands; he denies Him who is disobedient.