John Calvin Commentary Matthew 10:32

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

Whosoever therefore shall confess me. He now applies to his present subject what he formerly said in a general manner about contempt of death: for we must struggle against the dread of death, so that it may not keep us back from an open confession of faith, which God strictly demands, and which the world cannot endure. For this purpose, the disciples of Christ must be bold and courageous, so that they may be always ready for martyrdom. Now, confession of Christ, though it is regarded by most people as a trifling matter, is here represented to be a main part of divine worship and a distinguished exercise of godliness. And it is justly represented so: for if earthly princes, in order to enlarge and protect their glory and to increase their wealth, call their subjects to arms, why should not believers maintain, at least in language, the glory of their heavenly King?

It is therefore certain that those persons extinguish faith (as far as it is in their power) who inwardly suppress it, as if its outward profession were unnecessary. With good reason, Christ here calls us His witnesses, through whom His name will be celebrated in the world.

In other words, He intends that the profession of His name shall be set in opposition to false religions. And as it is a matter that provokes opposition, He commands the testimony we must bear, so that the faith of each person may not remain concealed in the heart but may be openly professed before men. And does not the one who refuses or is silent deny the Son of God, and thus banish himself from the heavenly family?

A more public confession of faith, no doubt, is demanded from teachers than from private individuals. Besides, all are not endowed with an equal measure of faith, and to the extent that anyone excels in the gifts of the Spirit, he should lead others by his example. But there is no believer whom the Son of God does not require to be His witness.

In what place, at what time, with what degree of frequency, in what manner, and to what extent we ought to profess our faith cannot easily be determined by a fixed rule. We must consider the occasion, so that not one of us fails to discharge his duty at the proper time. We must also ask from the Lord the Spirit of wisdom and courage, so that under His direction we may know what is proper and may boldly follow whatever we have ascertained He commands us.

Him will I also confess. A promise is added to stir up our zeal in this matter. But we must attend to the points of contrast. If we draw a comparison between ourselves and the Son of God, how shameful it is to refuse our testimony to Him, when He, for His part, offers His testimony to us by way of reward? If mortals, and men who are of no worth, are brought into comparison with God and the angels and all the heavenly glory, how much more valuable is that which Christ promises than that which He requires? Although men are unbelieving and rebellious, yet the testimony which we deliver to them is estimated by Christ as if it had been made in the presence of God and of the angels.

For amplification, Mark and Luke⁶⁰² also add, in this adulterous and sinful generation; the meaning of which is that we must not imagine our labor to be lost because there is a lack of proper disposition in our hearers.

Now, if anyone is not sufficiently moved by the promise, it is followed by a solemn warning. When Christ makes His appearance to judge the world, He will deny all who have basely denied Him before men. Let the enemies of the cross now go away and flatter themselves in their hypocrisy, when Christ blots their names out of the book of life. For whom will God acknowledge as His children at the last day but those who are presented to Him by Christ? But He declares that He will bear witness against them, so that they may not insinuate themselves on false grounds.

When it is said that Christ will come in the glory of the Father and of the angels, the meaning is that His divine glory will then be fully manifested, and that the angels, as they now surround the throne of God, will render their services to Him by honoring His majesty.

The passage from the twelfth chapter of Luke’s Gospel corresponds to the text of Matthew. What we have inserted out of the ninth chapter, and out of Mark, appears to have been spoken at another time; but as the doctrine is quite the same, I have chosen to introduce them together.

⁶⁰² This is a blunder: for the clause in question is not found in Luke, but but in Mark only. The french version sets the matter right. — only. The french version sets the matter right. — Ed.