Matthew 10:32

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. WHOSOEVER THEREFORE SHALL CONFESS ME BEFORE MEN ["DESPISING THE SHAME,"] HIM WILL I CONFESS ALSO BEFORE MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN - I will not be ashamed of him, but will own him before the most august of all assemblies....

Matthew 10:32._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, 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, that they may be always ready for martyrdom. Now _confession _of Christ, though it is regarded by the greater part of men as a trifling matter, is here represented to be a main part of divine worship, and a distinguished exercise of godliness. And justly is it so represented: 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

16-42 Our Lord warned his disciples to prepare for persecution. They were to avoid all things which gave advantage to their enemies, all meddling with worldly or political concerns, all appearance of evil or selfishness, and all underhand measures. Christ foretold troubles, not only that the troubles might not be a surprise, but that they might confirm their faith. He tells them what they should suffer, and from whom. Thus Christ has dealt fairly and faithfully with us, in telling us the worst we can meet with in his service; and he would have us deal so with ourselves, in sitting down and counting the cost. Persecutors are worse than beasts, in that they prey upon those of their own kind. The strongest bonds of love and duty, have often been broken through from enmity against Christ. Sufferings from friends and relations are very grievous; nothing cuts more. It appears plainly, that al...

Verse 32. _WHOSOEVER THEREFORE SHALL CONFESS ME BEFORE MEN_] That is, whosoever shall acknowledge me to be the Messiah, and have his heart and _life_ regulated by my spirit and doctrine. It is not merely sufficient to have the _heart_ right before God; there must be a firm, manly, and public profession of Christ before men. "I am no hypocrite," says one; neither should you be. "I will keep my religion to myself" i.e. you will not confess Christ before men; then he will _renounce_ you before God. We _confess_ or _own_ Christ when we own his doctrine, his ministers, his servants, and when no fear hinders us from supporting and assisting them in times of necessity....

WHOSOEVER THEREFORE SHALL CONFESS ME ... - The same word in the original is translated “confess” and “profess,” 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 John 1:7; Romans 10:10. It means to acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ, and our dependence on him for salvation, and our attachment to him, in every proper manner. This profession may be made in uniting with a church, at the communion, in conversation, and in conduct. The Scriptures mean, by a profession of religion, an exhibition of it in every circumstance of the life and before all people. It is not merely in one act that we must do it, but in every act. We must be ashamed neither of the person, the character, the doctrines, nor the requirements of Christ. If we a

EXPOSITION For introductory notes to this chapter, see Matthew 9:35. MATTHEW 10:1 Parallel passages: Mark 6:7; Luke 9:1. The prayer (Matthew 9:38) is answered in the persons of those who were taught to pray. Christ establishes his new agency. AND WHEN HE HAD CALLED UNTO HIM. From the circle of the bystanders. HIS TWELVE DISCIPLES. Who had already been chosen to be specially with him (cf. Matthew 9:35, note; and...

WHOSOEVER THEREFORE SHALL CONFESS ME BEFORE MEN,.... The confession of Christ here, more especially designed, does not so much intend, though it may include, that which is less public, and is necessary to be made by every believer in Christ: for it is not enough to believe in him, with the heart, but confession of him must also be made with the mouth; and which lies in ascribing their whole salvation to him, giving him the glory of it; declaring their faith in him to others, and what he has done for their souls; and subjecting themselves to his ordinances, and joining in fellowship with his church and people: which confession, as it ought to be both by words and deeds, and to be hearty and sincere, so likewise visible, open, and before men. This, I say, may be included in the sense of these words; but what they chiefly relate to, is a confession of Christ by his ministers, in the public...

Matthew 10:1. _And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease._ They were first Christ's disciples, and then he sent them forth as his apostles, clothed with power and authority very similar to his own. Matthew 10:2. _Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddeu;, Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him._ The twelve apostles linked the spiritual Israel with the twelve tribes of th

7. THE MESSENGERS OF THE KINGDOM. CHAPTER 10 _ 1. The Twelve Disciples. (Matthew 10:1 .) 2. Their Commission. (Matthew 10:5 .) 3. Persecutions Promised. (Matthew 10:16 .) 4. Words of Encouragement.(Matthew 10:24 .) 5. Not Peace but the Sword. (Matthew 10:34 .) 6. True Discipleship and Rewards. (Matthew 10:37 .)_ We learn now how our Lord, who is truly the Lord of the Harvest, sends forth the laborers. He does it as the King,

THE CHARGE TO THE TWELVE. The section forms the second of five passages into which Mt. col lected the sayings of Jesus. The Markan account (Matthew 6:7) is followed by Luke 9:1, but Luke 10:2 (the Seventy) is from Q; Matthew 10:5 combines the two sources. The mission is limited to Jews, hardly, in view of Matthew 10:6; Matthew 10:23, to the Jews of Galilee. Luke 10 omits the limitation; he wrote mainly for Gentiles. Indeed, when Mt. wrote, the limitation was obsolete. Yet it shows