{3} Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

(3) Great is the reward of a constant confession: and horrible is the punishment for denying Christ; yea, it will be impossible to call the punishment back again, if on purpose, both with mouth and heart we blaspheme a known truth.

People's New Testament

12:6-9 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings? See notes on Mt 10:29-33. Sparrows were the cheapest of all birds offered for sale.

Wesley's Notes

12:8 And I say to you - If you avoid all hypocrisy, and openly avow my Gospel: The Son of man shall confess you - before the angels - At the last day. Mr 8:38; Lu 9:26.

Scofield Reference Notes

Margin Son of man

See Scofield Note: "Mt 8:20"

Margin angels

See Scofield Note: "Heb 1:4".

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

8, 9. confess . deny-The point lies in doing it "before men," because one has to do it "despising the shame." But when done, the Lord holds Himself bound to repay it in kind by confessing such "before the angels of God." For the rest, see on [1647]Lu 9:26.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

12:1-12 A firm belief of the doctrine of God's universal providence, and the extent of it, would satisfy us when in peril, and encourage us to trust God in the way of duty. Providence takes notice of the meanest creatures, even of the sparrows, and therefore of the smallest interests of the disciples of Christ. Those who confess Christ now, shall be owned by him in the great day, before the angels of God. To deter us from denying Christ, and deserting his truths and ways, we are here assured that those who deny Christ, though they may thus save life itself, and though they may gain a kingdom by it, will be great losers at last; for Christ will not know them, will not own them, nor show them favour. But let no trembling, penitent backslider doubt of obtaining forgiveness. This is far different from the determined enmity that is blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which shall never be forgiven, because it will never be repented of.