By: Robert Serreyn
Question? What does Matthew 10:32 & 33 Mean?
Answer: Let me start with the verse in question?,
“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will confess before my father who is in heaven. v33 – But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my father which is in heaven”.
Matthew 10:32 & 33 is often used for salvation and it has led many into confusion, this verse HAS NOTHING to do with salvation, and to qualify that statement, lets start here first by saying in order to get a proper interpretation or application of a verse you MUST first find out to WHOM the verse it written to 2nd find out the CONTEXT of the verse and surrounding verses and 3rd does it contradict other more clear verses on the subject the verse is being referenced or subjected to.
First lets start with the WHOM, when it comes to interpretation ALWAYS check ALL other verses before and after in the case of Matthew 10:32 and 33 we are going to the beginning of the chapter 10 since we are also need to #2 investigate the CONTEXT of verses 32 & 33, being that it is used by some for salvation to find out if there is ANY BASES for that claim in those two verses.
In the beginning of chapter 10 we learn that Jesus is talking to his twelve disciples(11 saved, 1 unsaved -Judas), so the WHOM is Christians, the CONTEXT/Subject CANNOT BE about salvation being that ALL but one is saved, therefore the main emphasis of the preceding and after mentioned verses must be dealing strictly with our testimony or service to the Lord and before men(people) here it is:
V8 – They are to heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons(give proof that Christ is the Messiah),
V16 – Sent out as sheep in the midst of wolves(giving out the gospel and the truth of God’s Word amongst satan’s false preachers and doctrines),
V22 – Who endures to the end will be saved (not for salvation, but kept alive to the end of their ministry for however long God needs to and can use them),
V26 – Told not to fear them that may do harm to them because of the truth of the gospel and word of God exposing there false doctrines,
V29 – 31 – told that not one thing that happens to them is not seen by God, and they are more valuable then sparrows if they remain faithful to the truth.
V32 – whoever confesses Him before men (gives testimony about Christ as the promised Messiah) The Lord willl confess them before God the Father (give testimony to God for blessings here on earth, and for rewards in heaven)
V33 – But whoever denies (will not give testimony that Christ is the promised Messiah) then the Lord will deny them before God the Father(will not give testimony for their service before God for blessings on earth and for rewards in heaven). after walking through chapter 10 the whole Whom and Context is about Service/testimony before God and men.
Now lets do the final comparison to see if it conflicts with the 3rd and final test if verses 32 and 33 could be used for salvation and for that we need to check more clear and known verses on salvation Like John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9, and 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 as we QUICKLY FIND OUT nothing about CONFESSING or DENYING in those verse so Matthew 10:32 and 33 by comparison CANNOT BE ABOUT salvation BUT ALL ABOUT service,blessings and rewards – 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.
Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:24
BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell & the lake of fire); but the GIFT of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH