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.
LUKE 9:26KJVWhat does Luke 9:26 mean?
Luke 9:26 says that if someone is embarrassed or unwilling to be connected with Jesus and his teachings, then Jesus will also be unwilling to acknowledge that person when he returns in glory, accompanied by God the Father and the holy angels. The verse highlights a mutual relationship of loyalty or shame between Jesus and his followers.
In this verse, Jesus is speaking to his disciples and the surrounding crowd, warning them about the cost of following him. The setting is one where Jesus is explaining what true discipleship means, just after talking about taking up one's cross. The verse uses strong language to show the seriousness of publicly identifying with Jesus, especially in a world that might reject or mock him.
The Greek behind Luke 9:26
- ἐπαισχυνθῇ (epaischynthē, "ashamed"): This Greek word means to feel shame or to be embarrassed. In this context, it carries the idea of distancing oneself from Jesus out of fear of rejection or ridicule.
- λόγοις (logois, "words"): This refers not just to isolated sayings, but to the whole message and teaching of Jesus. The verse links loyalty to Jesus with loyalty to his message.
- δόξῃ (doxē, "glory"): The Greek word for "glory" often points to honor, splendor, or divine presence. Here, it emphasizes the future moment when Jesus will return, not in humility, but in visible, divine majesty.
Why Luke 9:26 matters
- Luke 9:26 clarifies that following Jesus is not just a private matter; it involves public identification, even when it is difficult or unpopular.
- The verse connects present attitudes toward Jesus with future consequences, showing that loyalty now will be matched by Jesus' loyalty in the age to come.
- This warning fits into a larger section where Jesus prepares his followers for hardship and calls them to a costly, wholehearted commitment.