Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
Parallel translations
- WEB “I tell you, everyone who confesses me before men, him will the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God;
- BSB I tell you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God.
- NKJV “Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God.
- NASB “Now I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before people, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God;
- NLT “I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Everyone who confesses Jesus before others, the Son of Man will confess before God's angels. Public allegiance to Christ matters eternally.
Overview
Jesus links earthly confession of Him to heavenly acknowledgment, showing that faith in Him is meant to be openly owned, not hidden. The title 'Son of Man' points to His role as the exalted, coming Judge. Confessing Christ before a hostile world is the mark of saving faith, and He pledges to own such believers before God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Matt 10:32–33Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
- 1 Jn 2:23Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
- Rom 10:9–10That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
- 2 Tim 2:12If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
- Luke 15:10Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
- Rev 2:13I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
- Rev 3:4–5Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
- Rev 2:10Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
- Jude 1:24–25Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
- 1 Sam 2:30Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
- Ps 119:46I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.
- Matt 25:31–34When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 12:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.