Luke 12:8

I tell you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jesus speaks to his disciples during a lesson on divine providence, directly following the assurance that God numbers every hair. He delivers this instruction as the Son of Man, framing public allegiance as a decisive spiritual matter.

The words — The verb ὁμολογήσῃ (homologēsē) literally means "may confess" or "declare agreement." It carries the sense of a public, verbal acknowledgment that aligns with one's internal conviction before human witnesses.

The thread — This reciprocal confession pattern runs through Matthew 10:32, where Jesus promises to acknowledge the public confessor before the Father, and 1 John 2:23, which links confessing the Son to possessing the Father. It also corresponds to Romans 10:9, which ties mouth confession to heart belief in resurrection.

Why it lands — The text requires a visible declaration of Jesus that parallels his own heavenly acknowledgment of the believer. It demands readers to choose open allegiance over concealed fear, recognizing that earthly confession determines heavenly standing.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

Cross-references

Matthew 10:32 Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven.
1 John 2:23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.
Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
2 Timothy 2:12 if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us;
Luke 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
Revelation 2:13 I know where you live, where the throne of Satan sits, yet you hold fast to My name. You did not deny your faith in Me, even in the days of My faithful witness Antipas, who was killed among you where Satan dwells.
Revelation 3:4 But you do have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments, and because they are worthy, they will walk with Me in white.
Revelation 2:10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Jude 1:24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy—
1 Samuel 2:30 Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever. But now the LORD declares: Far be it from Me! For I will honor those who honor Me, but those who despise Me will be disdained.