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In fact, even the hairs on your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid;[a] you are more valuable than many sparrows.

“I[b] tell you, whoever acknowledges[c] me before men,[d] the Son of Man will also acknowledge[e] before God’s angels. But the one who denies me before men will be denied before God’s angels.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 12:7 sn This represents the second call by Jesus not to be afraid in the section (previously in v. 4). Since the previous reference was related to fear of persecution, it is probable that this one does as well. Once again the sparrows are mentioned and the argument is from lesser to greater (if God cares about individual hairs on the head and about sparrows, how much more does he care about people).
  2. Luke 12:8 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
  3. Luke 12:8 tn Or “confesses.”
  4. Luke 12:8 tn Although this is a generic reference and includes both males and females, in this context “men” has been retained because of the wordplay with the Son of Man and the contrast with the angels. The same is true of the occurrence of “men” in v. 9.
  5. Luke 12:8 sn This acknowledgment will take place at the judgment. Of course, the Son of Man is a reference to Jesus as it has been throughout the Gospel. On Jesus and judgment, see 22:69; Acts 10:42-43; 17:31.