Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
MARK 8:38KJVWhat does Mark 8:38 mean?
Mark 8:38 says that anyone who is ashamed of Jesus and his teachings in a corrupt and sinful society will find that Jesus will also be ashamed of them when he returns in divine glory with the holy angels. The verse highlights a direct connection between how a person responds to Jesus now and how Jesus will respond to them in the future.
In this verse, Jesus is speaking to his disciples and the surrounding crowd, warning them about the consequences of denying or distancing themselves from him and his message. The setting is a moment where Jesus is teaching about the cost of following him, and he uses strong language—calling the generation "adulterous and sinful"—to stress the seriousness of loyalty and public allegiance to him.
The Greek behind Mark 8:38
- "Ashamed" (ἐπαισχυνθῇ, epaischynthē): This word means to feel shame or embarrassment about someone or something. In this context, it refers to distancing oneself from Jesus out of fear of what others might think, which is a strong warning against social or personal embarrassment about faith.
- "Adulterous" (μοιχαλίδι, moichalidi): In the Greek, this word often describes unfaithfulness, especially in a spiritual sense. Jesus is not talking about literal adultery but about a generation that has been unfaithful to God, turning to other loyalties.
- "Glory" (δόξῃ, doxē): This word means splendor, honor, or divine presence. Jesus refers to his future return "in the glory of his Father," pointing to a time when he will come with full authority and majesty, not in humility as during his earthly ministry.
Why Mark 8:38 matters
- Mark 8:38 clarifies that following Jesus is not just a private matter; public acknowledgment and loyalty are important, especially in a society that may reject or oppose him.
- The verse connects present choices with future consequences, showing that how a person relates to Jesus now will affect their standing when he returns.
- By calling the generation "adulterous and sinful," Jesus highlights the challenge of staying faithful in a world that often pulls people away from God, making the call to courage and allegiance even more significant.