Luke 9:26
For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The shame Jesus speaks of isn't just a fleeting embarrassment; it's a deep-seated refusal to align with Him and His message, a choice that will ultimately lead to His own disowning of that person before the Father and all the angels in His ultimate glory. It highlights that our response to Jesus now directly impacts how we are seen by Him in eternity.
Just before this, Jesus has revealed to his disciples that he must suffer and die, a prediction Peter immediately tries to dissuade him from. Jesus then powerfully calls his disciples to embrace suffering and self-denial if they want to follow him, warning that those who try to save their lives will lose them. This verse directly follows that teaching, linking the shame one might feel about Jesus and his message to the ultimate shame Jesus will show toward them when he returns in glory.
Jesus uses a word loaded with social and personal weight. What does it truly mean to be 'ashamed' of Him and His message?
The Greek word translated as 'ashamed' (epaischunomai) carries a deep sense of dishonor and disgrace, often stemming from the fear of what others think. It's not just a mild embarrassment, but a profound grief arising from one's own perceived imperfections or failings in the eyes of the world.
Think of someone who, after boasting about their accomplishments, is publicly humbled. Their shame isn't about the inherent wrongness of their actions, but about the painful awareness of being judged and found wanting by others.
When Jesus speaks of being 'ashamed' of Him and His words, He's talking about the deep-seated human tendency to hide or deny Christ and His teachings because they might lead to social disapproval, ridicule, or personal loss. It's the internal struggle against the 'opinion of men' that drives this shame.
Jesus links our shame with His own potential 'shame.' What does this startling reversal mean when He returns in glory?
Jesus employs a powerful, almost shocking, metaphor: if we are ashamed of Him and His words now, He will be ashamed of us later. This isn't to say the glorified Christ will literally feel shame as we do. Instead, it highlights a profound cosmic reversal and a solemn consequence.
Imagine standing before a glorious King, attended by His royal court (the Father and the holy angels). If that King, who you denied or were embarrassed by in your earthly life, now had to publicly acknowledge you, it would be like a judge acknowledging someone they had previously disowned or felt disgraced by.
The 'shame' He expresses is a declaration of non-recognition, a profound disowning before the highest court imaginable. It's the Son of Man, in His full, divine glory, separating Himself from those who separated themselves from Him and His message during their earthly walk.
Jesus' return isn't just about judgment; it's about His unparalleled glory. What does this 'threefold glory' signify?
Understand the original words
epaischynomai · Greek Verb
To feel or show shame or embarrassment; in a biblical context, it refers to a rejection of identifying with Christ or his teachings, which is a state of spiritual danger.
ho huios tou anthrōpou · Greek Noun phrase
The messianic title Jesus frequently used for himself, derived from Daniel 7:13-14, emphasizing his humanity and his divine authority as the coming judge and king.
doxa · Greek Noun
The radiance, majesty, or splendor associated with God's presence, often manifested in his manifestation to humanity.
angelos · Greek Noun
In the context of the New Testament, these are the created spiritual beings who serve God and accompany Christ in his return to judge the world.
This teaching occurred as Jesus was preparing his disciples for the reality of his suffering and the cost of discipleship, challenging their preconceived notions of a glorious, earthly kingdom and urging them to stand firm in their faith despite potential shame.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Public Discipleship
During this period, Jesus taught, healed, and gathered disciples, openly proclaiming his messianic identity and mission.
c. AD 30
Jesus Foretells His Suffering
Jesus explicitly told his disciples that he would suffer, be rejected by religious leaders, be killed, and rise again, a message met with confusion and resistance, particularly from Peter.
c. AD 30
Teaching on Discipleship and the Cross
In response to the disciples' struggle with his suffering, Jesus taught the necessity of self-denial, taking up one's cross, and the paradox of losing life to gain it.
c. AD 30
Warning Against Shame and Denial
Jesus warned his followers that those who are ashamed of him and his words in this generation will be disowned by him when he returns in glory.
This passage directly parallels the warning in Luke, highlighting the reciprocal nature of confession and denial before God and His angels, reinforcing the gravity of being ashamed of Christ.
Mark 8:38This verse shares the same core warning about the consequences of being ashamed of Jesus and His words, emphasizing the connection between earthly shame and future divine judgment.
2 Timothy 1:8This verse encourages believers not to be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord or of Paul, offering a positive counterpoint and highlighting the courage needed to stand for Christ even in difficult times.
Hebrews 12:2This passage speaks of Jesus enduring the cross, despising the shame, for the joy set before Him, offering a profound example of one who was *not* ashamed, thereby inspiring followers to persevere through their own trials.
vincentLuke 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."
Shall be ashamed (ἐπαισχυνθῇ)The feeling expressed by this word has reference to incurring dishonor or shame in the eyes of men. It is "the grief a mail conceives from his own imperfections considered with relation to the world taking notice of them; grief upon the sense of disesteem" ("South," cit. by Tre…
calvinLuke 9:21-27: "And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;"
- Then he charged his disciples [451] not to tell any one that he was Jesus the Christ. 21. From that time Jesus began to make known to his disciples, that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, and the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and be raised again on the third day. 22. And Peter, taking him aside, [452] began to rebuke him, saying, Lord, spare thyself; [45…
The shame Jesus speaks of isn't just a fleeting embarrassment; it's a deep-seated refusal to align with Him and His message, a choice that will ultimately lead to His own disowning of that person before the Father and all the angels in His ultimate glory. It highlights that our response to Jesus now directly impacts how we are seen by Him in eternity.
Just before this, Jesus has revealed to his disciples that he must suffer and die, a prediction Peter immediately tries to dissuade him from. Jesus then powerfully calls his disciples to embrace suffering and self-denial if they want to follow him, warning that those who try to save their lives will lose them. This verse directly follows that teaching, linking the shame one might feel about Jesus and his message to the ultimate shame Jesus will show toward them when he returns in glory.
Just before this, Jesus has revealed to his disciples that he must suffer and die, a prediction Peter immediately tries to dissuade him from. Jesus then powerfully calls his disciples to embrace suffering and self-denial if they want to follow him, warning that those who try to save their lives will lose them. This verse directly follows that teaching, linking the shame one might feel about Jesus and his message to the ultimate shame Jesus will show toward them when he returns in glory.
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When Jesus speaks of His coming glory, He details a magnificent, multifaceted splendor: 'his own glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels.' This isn't just a dazzling display; it reveals His divine identity and authority.
This vision of glory serves as a stark contrast to the shame associated with denying Him. It assures believers that the suffering and rejection of the present age are temporary, and that Christ's ultimate vindication and reign are certain, attended by the highest powers in the cosmos.
c. AD 30
The Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36)
A select group of disciples witnessed Jesus transfigured, speaking with Moses and Elijah about his coming suffering, followed by a voice from heaven affirming Jesus' identity.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Final Journey to Jerusalem
Jesus resolutely set his face toward Jerusalem, knowing the suffering and rejection that awaited him there, a path he would not be deterred from.
"For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." — The shame Jesus speaks of isn't just a fleeting embarrassment; it's a deep-seated refusal to align with Him and His message, a choice that will ultimately lead to His own disowning of that person bef…
