Luke 9:26

For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and [in his] Father's, and of the holy angels.

For {G1063} whosoever {G3739}{G302} shall be ashamed {G1870} of me {G3165} and {G2532} of my {G1699} words {G3056}, of him {G5126} shall {G1870} the Son {G5207} of man {G444} be ashamed {G1870}, when {G3752} he shall come {G2064} in {G1722} his own {G846} glory {G1391}, and {G2532} in his Father's {G3962}, and {G2532} of the holy {G40} angels {G32}.

For if someone is ashamed of me and of what I say, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and that of the Father and of the holy angels.

If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in his own glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels.

Luke 9:26 presents a solemn warning from Jesus concerning the importance of openly acknowledging Him and His teachings. It underscores the profound consequences of denying Christ, especially in the face of societal pressure or fear, by contrasting it with the glorious reality of His future return.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' broader discourse on the true nature and cost of discipleship. Immediately preceding this, Jesus calls His followers to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Him, emphasizing that whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Christ's sake will save it (Luke 9:24). The warning against being ashamed of Him is a direct extension of this call to radical commitment, highlighting the eternal stakes involved in one's allegiance to Christ.

Key Themes

  • The Cost of Discipleship: Jesus makes it clear that following Him is not without challenge. Being "ashamed" implies a reluctance or refusal to identify with Christ and His words, often due to fear of persecution, social rejection, or losing worldly advantages. This verse calls for an unwavering, public confession of faith, even when it's difficult.
  • Public Confession and Denial: The passage emphasizes the reciprocal nature of divine judgment. Just as believers are called to confess Christ before others, Christ will acknowledge or disown them before His Father and the holy angels on the day of judgment. This is a powerful parallel also seen in Matthew 10:33 and Mark 8:38.
  • The Second Coming of Christ: The phrase "when he shall come in his own glory, and [in his] Father's, and of the holy angels" points directly to the glorious return of Jesus Christ. This event will be a display of immense power and divine majesty, far surpassing any earthly glory, and will serve as the ultimate setting for divine judgment.
  • Divine Reciprocity: A core message is that one's present faithfulness (or lack thereof) to Jesus will have eternal consequences. If someone is ashamed of Jesus now, Jesus will be ashamed of them in His glorious future coming. This principle is echoed in 2 Timothy 2:12: "if we deny him, he also will deny us."

Linguistic Insights

  • "Ashamed" (Greek: epaischynomai): This word means to be put to shame, to blush, or to shrink back from something due to feelings of disgrace or fear. In this context, it signifies a deliberate choice to avoid identification with Christ or His teachings, often out of social pressure or fear of consequences.
  • "Son of Man" (Greek: ho huios tou anthrōpou): This is Jesus' most frequent self-designation, drawing on the vision in Daniel 7:13-14, where a figure "like the Son of Man" comes with the clouds of heaven and is given everlasting dominion. It speaks to both Jesus' humanity and His divine authority as a future judge and king.
  • "Glory" (Greek: doxa): This refers to divine splendor, majesty, and renown. The mention of "his own glory," "his Father's," and "of the holy angels" emphasizes the overwhelming, undeniable, and ultimate authority and splendor of Christ's return.

Practical Application

Luke 9:26 challenges believers to examine their commitment to Christ. Are we willing to stand for Him and His words, even when it is unpopular, inconvenient, or costly? This verse encourages boldness in our faith and reminds us that our present choices have eternal implications. It calls us to live in light of Christ's certain return, prioritizing our allegiance to Him above all earthly considerations and motivations. Our willingness to openly confess Jesus now is a testament to our trust in His future glory and His power to save.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Matthew 10:32

    Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

  • Matthew 10:33

    But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

  • Luke 12:8

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

  • Luke 12:9

    But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

  • 2 Timothy 2:12

    If we suffer, we shall also reign with [him]: if we deny [him], he also will deny us:

  • Romans 1:16

    ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

  • Mark 8:38

    Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
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