“Therefore,
Everyone
Who acknowledges me
Before other men,
I also will acknowledge him
Before my Father
In heaven.
But whoever denies me
Before other men,
I also will deny him
Before my Father
In heaven.”
Πᾶς οὖν ὅστις ὁμολογήσει ἐν ἐμοὶ ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὁμολογήσω κἀγὼ ἐν αὐτῷ ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ Πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς·
ὅστις δ’ ἂν ἀρνήσηταί με ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ἀρνήσομαι κἀγὼ αὐτὸν ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ Πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς.
This verse of Matthew is similar to Luke, chapter 12:8-9, indicating a Q source. There is also something similar in Mark, chapter 8:38 and Luke, chapter 9:26, where it was more about being ashamed of Jesus. Everyone who acknowledged or confessed Jesus before other men (Πᾶς οὖν ὅστις ὁμολογήσει ἐν ἐμοὶ ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων), Jesus was also going to acknowledge or confess them before his Father in the heavens (ὁμολογήσω κἀγὼ ἐν αὐτῷ ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ Πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς). However, anyone who denied or repudiated Jesus before other men (ὅστις δ’ ἂν ἀρνήσηταί με ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων), he was going to deny or repudiate them before his Father in the heavens (ἀρνήσομαι κἀγὼ αὐτὸν ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ Πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς). Jesus wanted loyalty to him, no matter what the circumstances. If they were loyal here on earth, he would intercede with his Father for them in heaven, as their mediator.
