Luke 12:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

However, the one who turns away is not cast aside by the authority of God; He refrains from adding, ‘By Me,’ instead stating, ‘Whoever rejects “Me” rejects.’

The remainder, those who have rejected and scorned Him, will find themselves cast aside when the Judge utters the words foretold by the ancient prophets: ‘As ye have done, so shall it be done unto you; and your vengeance shall be recompensed upon your own head,’ and He will repudiate them with, ‘Depart from Me, ye workers of iniquity, I know you not.’ Who are these individuals destined for rejection? Foremost, they are those who, when faced with persecution and hardship, abandoned their faith. The hope of such individuals will wither away from its very foundation; for mere human words will not suffice for them, as wrath, judgment, and unquenchable fire will be their fate. In a similar vein, both followers and proponents of heresy will renounce Him.

It is similarly stated later in the same chapter. In one instance, it mentions "before My Father who is in heaven," while in another, it refers to "before the angels of God." However, there is no distinction between the two situations, as at the time of judgment, both the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit will be heralded by angels.

He has bestowed upon us this grace, ensuring that we who are alive do not offer sacrifices to lifeless idols or venerate them; instead, we have come to know the Father of all truth through Him. Consequently, how can we respond to Him, except by acknowledging Him through whom we have gained this knowledge? He Himself declares, “Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him will I also confess before My Father” (Matthew 10:32). This is the reward we receive when we acknowledge Him, our Savior. But in what manner do we confess Him? By adhering to His teachings and remaining faithful to His commandments, and by honoring Him not merely with our words, but with our entire heart and mind. As it is stated in Isaiah: “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me” (Is 29:13).

In the Gospel, our Lord declares that anyone who acknowledges Him publicly, He too will acknowledge before His Father in heaven; conversely, those who disown Him will face the same treatment (Matt 10:32-33, Luke 12:8-9). If those who renounce their faith bear no fault, then surely those who stand firm will not earn the reward of bravery. Moreover, if faith that triumphs is deserving of a crown, it would follow that treachery must be met with consequences. Therefore, martyrs possess no power if the Gospel can be overturned; yet if the Gospel remains steadfast, martyrs will not act against it. Beloved brothers, let no one tarnish the esteemed status of the martyrs, nor strip them of their glory and rewards.

Although the Pharisees and legal experts, who had invited the Lord to their gathering with the intention of testing Him, likely received such admonitions and reproaches, they also attempted to twist His words for deceitful purposes. Meanwhile, a large crowd gathered at the Pharisee's house. Turning away from the Pharisees, the Lord directed His attention to His disciples and the assembly, continuing His teaching in light of their previous discussion. He cautioned His disciples once again to be vigilant against the leaven of the Pharisees, which signifies hypocrisy, a threat that becomes more perilous and deceptive as it distorts the true message of His words and teachings.

Proclaim boldly from the rooftops everything I have shared with you in secret; understand that your concealed and profound mission to illuminate the world with the truth will eventually be made manifest to all. You who have faced scorn and persecution will ultimately be acknowledged and honored by all nations. Before my Father in heaven, I will affirm you as my devoted disciples, deserving of everlasting joy because you have openly testified about me to others. This is how I will treat everyone who openly acknowledges me. However, anyone who repudiates me before others will also be repudiated before my Father in heaven (Matt. 10:33), and on the final day, I will declare, ‘I do not know you!’ (see Luke 13:27).

He reassured them by reflecting on His own sufferings and the resistance He faced. They should not fear their calling. The God who tends to the smallest sparrows when they fall, who knows the number of hairs on their heads, the God who controls the fate of eternal life and eternal separation, and who therefore deserves greater reverence than any earthly threat, is with them. He will acknowledge those whom His Son has embraced and will deny those whom He has turned away.

After cautioning His disciples against the leaven of the Pharisees, which represents hypocrisy, and encouraging them to boldly proclaim the truths of the Gospel with confidence in God’s Providence, the Lord also addressed another flaw found among the Pharisees—greed. This warning was prompted by a request from an individual who asked Jesus, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." The person believed that a single command from Christ could resolve the matter to his favor. However, the resolution of such disputes rightly belonged to the authorities, and thus the Savior, dismissing the notions of worldly courts, focused His words on the root of the issue—greed itself. “Who made Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” He then illustrated this truth with a parable, effectively demonstrating the futility of a greedy person's pursuits.