Matthew 10:32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,
Matthew 10:33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
Two words pop up in this short passage. Acknowledge and deny. I behoves me to look into each and try to find out what is going in in the two verses above. A parallel passage may be found in Luke 12:8-9.
Acknowledge
To acknowledge something or someone is to confess or agree with that person or topic. The Greek word is ὁμολογέω homologéō. (Strong’s number G3670). It is a compound word made up of two base Greek words.
- ὁμοῦ homoû, (Strongs G3674) meaning the same, or as an adverb, at the same place or time, together
- λόγος lógos, (Strongs G3056). Strongs definition includes the following
- …something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive.
To acknowledge is to agree with a person on his teaching, to admit (before men, as the passage clearly teaches) that you agree, confess and openly declare agreement (before men) with the teaching of the Rabbi.
The term is somewhat defined by the negative at times. To acknowledge is to concede, or not to deny, not to refuse. There may be an element of grudgingly admitting defeat to the truth of the message in this term.
Alternatively, the term allows the meaning of declaring openly, speaking out freely and to profess one’s self the worshipper of the Rabbi, to praise and celebrate the Rabbi in His teaching and life.
As you can see, it has a broad base of meaning to the hearer, and allows for some variation within those confessing as to the inner motivation.
Have you always, and without exception been joyous and exuberant in your confession of the Lord before men? I imagine it is the desired method of confession, that is to openly and with great joy agree with the Savior in His teaching. Yet I know from personal experience, I have at times (and in fear) provided a confession that appeared reluctant, almost grudgingly. I admit, from my point of view, this is the worst type of confession before men, but according to my little study, I find it is an acceptable confession before men.
Does my reader have a similar experience? Let me ask you a question.
In your imagination, which type of confession communicates dedication to God better?
When things are great in our lives, with no outward resistance being experienced, confession is relatively easy. On the other hand, when the enemy is attacking, difficulties pile up, situations are dark and we may have lost that inner confidence, but we confess anyway, simply because we know the truth, is this a confession that will be rejected?
Something to consider!
DEny
To deny is to reject. May I suggest that to deny is to understand a position or a persons message and after having understood it, to reject the person or the message. Jesus is not speaking of those who have never heard His message. That group of people are not being dealt with in this passage.
The Greek word is ἀρνέομαι arnéomai, Strongs G720, and includes the idea on contradiction, of refusing or rejecting a teaching, of disowning a person. To deny is to reject or renounce a person or teaching.
To deny is interestingly enough used in relation to the teachings of Christ and of our own desires.
The passage above speaks of denying the Christ and His teachings. Jesus also speaks of denial in relation to our own desires in Luke 9, and to take up a life of suffering in order to follow Him.
Luke 9:23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
In summary, Jesus is providing us the opportunity to know how He represents us before the Father. He is providing us the knowledge of His communication to the Father of our reaction to His teaching and person.
Jesus is providing us the opportunity to know how He represents us before the Father.
Note one additional difference between Acknowledge and deny in this set of verses.
The Greek word for “acknowledge” in verse 32 is a future active indicative* verb. Jesus is stating that anyone who actively (of his own power and volition) acknowledges Him before men (after He makes this statement) will be acknowledged by Jesus before God.
The Greek word of “deny” in verse 33 is an aorist middle subjunctive* Understanding each of these descriptions of the verb is beyond my depth. I will only refer my reader to the difference, and imply that since it is aorist, there is no time defined, that the verb being in middle voice, speaks of the one denying as being involved (possibly with other’s influencing the denial), and as subjunctive, it speaks of possibility or potentiality, depending on circumstances.
Was Jesus speaking to those who, at the time of His message were actively confessing, acknowledging and agreeing with Him? Chapter 10 of the Gospel of Matthew is describing and preparing the apostles for their mission to the lost sheep of Israel. Those hearing this message were, to all appearances, the most committed of His followers.
Jesus warns these followers of the potential of denial.
Paul speak the same later on in his message to Timothy.
2 Timothy 2:12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;
To deny is an option for the believer.
What a far better choice we have, as we agree with the Master, willingly comply with what we know of His message, fully agree with Him and openly confess Him before men. If we do this, Jesus has told us of how He will communicate with the Father.
Perty good news if you tell me!
*I am not, and will never claim to be any level of Greek scholar, but simply depend solely on the work of learned men and women of the past who have provided such great tools as the Strong’s Concordance, in combination with the interlinear provided by Blue Letter Bible website. Any corrections or assistance in understanding the above from a formally taught linguist will be happily received.
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