Matthew Poole and continuators on Luke 12:9

9 But he that denieth me before men, shall be denied before the angels of God.

See the Notes on Matth. 10.32, 33. Here is a fourth and fifth Argument, drawn from the Rewards, and Punishments of such as shall confess, or deny Christ before Men. Confession here signifies, The owning, and adhering to the Truths, and Ways of God, in a time of Opposition; the Reward promised, is, Christs owning those that do it at the Day of Judgment; before the Father (saith Matthew) before the Angels, saith Luke. Christ hath no need of our owning him, his truth and ways; we may by it be profitable to our selves, but not to him, we shall have need in the Day of Judgment of Christs owning us. By the denial of Christ, is meant our Apostacy from the Truths, or ways of God, the denial of his truths, ways, or interest in this World it implys a Persecuting of them▪ but signifyeth something much less, a denial by words, or a forsaking and not adhering to them. The punishment will be Christs denial of us in the Day of Judgment. What that signifyeth Matthew tells us, Ch. 7. v. 23. I will profess unto them, I never knew you. Depart from me, I know you not, ye workers of Iniquity; and Matth. 25, 41. he shall say to them on his left Hand, Depart from me ye Cursed into Everlasting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels. This must be understood not of such as deny him, as Peter did, in an House of great Temptation, and then go out and Weep bitterly, and again return unto him, but of such as Persist in such denials, and return not to confess him.