Luke 12:9

9 but 1the one who denies me before men 2will be denied 3before the angels of God.

Luke 12:9 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 12:9

But he that denieth me before men
That is, that continues to deny Christ, and lives and dies a denier of him; for otherwise it is possible for a person to deny Jesus to be the Son of God, or the Messiah, and afterwards confess him, as a Pagan or Jew; and through temptation, a real Christian may be left for a while, in one shape or another, to deny him and his truths, and afterwards truly repent, and at last be saved, as Peter; but they that deny Christ publicly, and persist in it,

shall be denied before the angels of God:
they will be denied by Christ as belonging to him; they will be denied admission into heaven; they will be covered with shame and confusion publicly; they will be sent into everlasting burnings, and be ever tormented with fire and brimstone, in the presence of the holy angels.

Luke 12:9 In-Context

7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
8 "And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God,
9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say,

Cross References 3

  • 1. 2 Timothy 2:12; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 2:23; [Mark 8:38]
  • 2. Luke 13:25; Matthew 7:23; Matthew 25:12
  • 3. [See ver. 8 above]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.