I understand you completely, I just now looked at it again.....from the NKJV--"Therefore, whoever confesses me before men----etc, etc( whoever speaks up for me) I looked up in Greek "Confess" as used here in Matt...
Confess: " homologue"-----to assent, i.e. covenant, acknowledge----con-(pro)-fess, confession is made, give thanks, promise.
assent---to agree to or approve of something
I just never thought of this in a negative way, I always thought of it like, if I acknowledge Him, then He will acknowledge me.......I am most likely digging a very big hole I probably can not get out of
I could be all wet here, but I have often tried to explain understanding Hebrew and Greek something like this.....Way back in those day of Scripture writing there were enough words to maybe fill up a row-boat, today in English we have enough words to fill up an aircraft carrier. It is very difficult for the smartest of the smart to always get the right Greek or Hebrew translation into English . I suppose that when Jesus said He would send the Spirit back to teach us all things and Paul in 1 Corin. 2 said the the Holy Spirit teaches us all things. I do appreciate you rattling my cage today----but I hope this sticks with you a while
God Bless