For he that shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him the Son of man shall be ashamed, when he shall come in his majesty and that of his Father and of the holy angels.
ος γαρ αν επαισχυνθη με και τους εμους λογους τουτον ο υιος του ανθρωπου επαισχυνθησεται οταν ελθη εν τη δοξη αυτου και του πατρος και των αγιων αγγελων
9 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 10 commentaries
Christ feels a sense of shame for those who question, ‘How can I trust in a crucified and dishonored God?’ He also bears discontent for those who ridicule the straightforwardness of the gospel. When the Lord returns in His glory, He will not acknowledge such individuals. It is as if He says, ‘Just as a master is embarrassed to refer to a disobedient servant as his own, I too will be reluctant to identify as my servant someone who has renounced me.’
Moreover, to illustrate the rewards that come from our dedication to His service, He states, ‘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 glory, and of his Father, and of his holy angels.’ These words serve a dual purpose that is both beneficial and essential. Firstly, He clearly indicates that those who are ashamed of Him and His teachings will receive the consequences of their actions. What could bring us more joy than this truth?
If there are individuals for whom the Judge feels shame, knowing they are destined to receive the rewards of faithfulness, the honors and crowns owed to their love for Him, and the accolades earned through their bravery, how can we not confidently assert that those who have received such magnificent blessings will undoubtedly live forever in everlasting honor and praise? Additionally, He instills a sense of fear, proclaiming that He will return from heaven—not in His prior state of humility, but in the glory of His Father, adorned with divine and exalted splendor, accompanied by the holy angels. Thus, it would be profoundly tragic and disastrous to be judged for cowardice or negligence when the Judge descends from above, flanked by angelic hosts. The magnificent and blessed anticipation of eternal joy is to be able to celebrate the efforts already made while looking forward to the rewards yet to come. For these individuals will be glorified, and Christ Himself addressed them, saying, ‘Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’ May we also be deemed worthy of these heavenly rewards through the grace and love of Christ, our Savior: to whom, along with the Holy Spirit, be glory and power to God the Father, now and forever, Amen.
Those who admit their shame for Him and His teachings will receive recompense based on their deeds. Jesus instills a sense of reverence in His followers by declaring that He will return from heaven, not in the lowliness and vulnerability that we experience, but in the resplendent glory of His Father, adorned with divine and celestial magnificence, accompanied by holy angels. It is an immense tragedy, leading to destruction, to face condemnation for timidity and slothfulness when the Judge arrives from on high, flanked by the ranks of angels. Conversely, the most wonderful anticipation of eternal joy lies in the ability to take pride in the efforts already made and to look forward to the rewards for those labors.
For such individuals are deserving of accolades, as Christ Himself proclaims to them, “Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matt. 25:34). Through the grace and mercy of Christ, our Savior, we too may aspire to be deserving of these gifts.
Mark also references this in the twenty-fourth chapter, where it is explained. The reason He refers to "the Father and the holy angels" is that the glory of the Father will reflect His own glory, as He is His Son, and the glory of the holy angels will also be His, for He is their Lord.
However, there remains an obstacle that causes us to pursue truth with less diligence toward perfection. Frequently, we observe the fallen state of all things, yet fear of others often prevents us from articulating the truths we hold in our hearts, leading us to dishonor God while defending the truth whenever we allow ourselves to be intimidated by those who oppose it. In response to this predicament, the Lord offers a remedy, stating: If any man be ashamed of me and of my words, of this shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his glory, and of the Father, and of the holy angels. Yet now individuals may convince themselves that they are no longer ashamed of the Lord and His words since they profess Him boldly.
I must point out that many in this Christian community confess Christ simply because they observe that most identify as Christians. If the name of Christ held no honor, the Holy Church would have far fewer who openly profess Him. Therefore, the mere act of vocal confession does not sufficiently demonstrate the faith that universal acknowledgment shields from disgrace.
There is, however, a foundation upon which each person must examine the true evidence that their confession of Christ indicates they are unashamed of His name, having already succumbed to human reproach with all their being. In times of persecution, it is certainly true that believers might feel ashamed when they are stripped of dignity and subjected to suffering. Conversely, in peaceful times, when we face no such adversities, we must still find ways to express our faith. Often, we dread disdain from those around us and find it burdensome to endure slights directed at us. Additionally, when we have disputes with our neighbors, we feel embarrassed to be the first to seek resolution. This arises from the carnal nature, which yearns for the glory of this world and shuns humility. Frequently, individuals who harbor anger wish to reconcile with their adversaries but hesitate to take the initial step toward mending the relationship.
Let us reflect on the deeds of Truth to uncover the sources of our corruption. As members of the exalted Head, we are called to emulate Him with whom we are joined. What does the esteemed apostle Paul teach us as an example to guide our conduct? Just as we pray to God through Christ, we are urged to be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20). Observe how our sins have caused a rift between us and God. Despite this, God has graciously sent His messengers to plead with us, calling us to be reconciled to Him despite our transgressions. Hence, let the pride of humanity be humbled, and let anyone feel shame if they fail to take the initiative to reconcile with their neighbor, especially when the offended God Himself, through His messengers, entreats us for reconciliation in light of our wrongdoing.
Given the unavoidable nature of suffering and death, dictated by the times and inherent to the situation, it was essential that Christ's disciples would experience this, if not always physically, then surely in a spiritual manner. This concept of suffering and death could appear perplexing and at odds with the vision of Christ's kingdom, a sentiment shared not just by Peter. In turning His focus from Himself to the Apostles and the onlookers, the Lord proclaimed with clarity: Let anyone who wishes to follow Me deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Me. Those who are ashamed of this will find the Son of Man ashamed of them when He comes in His glory, alongside the Father and the holy angels.
Through these words, the Lord introduced a new aspect to the prophecy regarding His sufferings, specifically the cross, while simultaneously encouraging those committed to following Him by announcing His future glorious revelation. He emphasized that the kingdom of God would soon be manifested on earth, stating: Some of those standing here will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God coming in power. This assertion reinforced what the Lord had declared about Himself regarding His necessity to endure suffering and death. Acceptance of this truth was unavoidable, yet it was challenging to dismiss the prevailing popular belief about the Messiah, a belief that did not anticipate such suffering at all. This conversation must have profoundly impacted the hearts of the Apostles, especially those nearest to the Lord, who passionately longed to witness Jesus in His glory with the unveiling of His kingdom on earth.
The Gospel writers Mark and Luke note that Jesus Christ delivered these teachings openly to the entire crowd. These instructions were prompted by the disciples' protests regarding His foretelling of His anguish and demise. In this context, Jesus emphasizes and reiterates the necessity of His sufferings and death to the apostles: He must endure suffering and die, and likewise, all who place their faith in Him are called to follow His example in this regard. The significance of this teaching aligns with the message found in Matthew 10:37-39.
The teachings of Jesus Christ regarding His suffering and crucifixion, as well as the trials that His disciples would face, likely left a profound impact on the apostles. It was challenging for them to let go of the long-held expectations of the Jewish people; the idea that the promised Messiah, destined to liberate them from oppression, would endure pain and be executed was difficult to accept. Such turmoil within the apostles could easily lead to shame: when one begins to doubt, they may ultimately arrive at a point of rejecting their earlier convictions; this rejection often leads to remorse, followed by a sense of shame for renouncing one's beliefs.
Understanding the inner struggles of His followers, Christ cautioned them against the perilous nature of shame that doubt can incite: Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation will also be ashamed of the Son of Man when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels (Mark 8:38).
Even in the distant area of Caesarea Philippi, Christ was unable to completely evade the crowds who sought Him, as there were several Jews residing in that region. The Gospel of Mark illustrates that even in that place, large groups of people followed Him, often keeping a distance from Him and the apostles, yet sometimes being summoned to hear the valuable teachings He imparted. Both the crowd and the disciples were still influenced by the same misconceptions that prompted Peter's impulsive intervention. Consequently, He taught them that the foundation of all higher responsibilities and the essence of every truth in life—both the most gratifying service to God and an inspiring example for humanity—lie in the principle of self-denial.
On this occasion, He spoke profound words that significantly uplifted the conscience of humanity, directing their focus from worldly desires to spiritual realities: ‘What good is it to a man if he gains the whole world, but harms his own soul? Or what ransom will a man give for his soul?’ (Mk. 8:36-37). He also reiterated that He Himself would soon face trial.
After correcting the disciple's unsuitable admonition, Jesus Christ spoke to the entire nation, imparting to all His followers the teaching of the cross and the call to self-denial. He stated, “not compelling, but allowing them to choose” (St. Athanasius of Alexandria): If anyone wishes to follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. According to St. Philaret of Moscow, self-denial does not entail neglecting the soul and body but rather renouncing attachments to bodily pleasures, the fleeting life, and its comforts, as well as to the delights of the soul, the desires of our own will, and the cherished ideas of our own understanding.
By referring to our cross, we signify every trial, loss, humiliation, suffering, and enduring hardship or even a painful death that we experience according to God's providential plan. Without imposing upon us His great cross that we could not bear, He merely commands each individual to take up their own, being prepared to withstand whatever tribulations and temptations, internal and external, the guiding and merciful hand of Providence chooses to bestow on each person uniquely. The Savior affirmed that the path of self-denial leads to salvation with these words: if anyone seeks to save his soul—losing it for the sake of this temporal existence—he will ultimately destroy it, but if anyone loses his soul here, not holding back his life for My sake and the Gospel, he will find it for eternal life. What benefit is it to a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this sinful and corrupt generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and His Father’s glory, along with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his deeds. Yet, before His eternal kingdom is established, some will be granted the privilege to witness His kingdom on this earth: Amen I say to you, the Lord concluded, “There are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom, and the kingdom of God coming in power.”
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 28 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS