BURKITT : | Mr 8v1-9 | Mr 8:10-13 | Mr 8:14-21 | Mr 8v22-26 | Mr 8:27-33 | Mr 8:34-35 | Mr 8:36-37 | Mr 8v38 |
Reference
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 8:38 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
That is, whosoever shall deny or disown me, either in my person, my gospel, or my members, for any fear or favour of man, he shall with shame be disowned and eternally rejected by me at the great day.
There are two passions that make persons disown Christ and religion in the duty of temptation; namely, fear and shame. Many good men have been overcome by the former, as St. Peter, and others; but we find not any good man in scripture guilty of the latter: namely, that denied Christ out of shame. This argues a rotten, unsound, and corrupt heart.
If any man thinks it beneath his honour and quality to own the opposed truths and despised members of Jesus Christ, he will think it much more beneath him, his honour and dignity, to own them at the great day.
Learn hence, That it is not sufficient that we own Christ by believing in him, but we must honour him with an outward professing of him also.
Secondly, That such as are ashamed of Christ’s doctrine or members, are ashamed of Christ himself.
Thirdly, That such as either for fear dare not or for shame will not own the doctrine of Christ, or the members of Christ now, shall find Christ ashamed to own and confess them at the great day. Whosoever is ashamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and wicked generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father, with the holy angels.