Matthew 10:24-31 – Do not fear

The things Jesus said in the previous paragraph help us to understand why He needs to assure the disciples in this present passage. He had just told them of the hard road ahead - the persecution, the beating, the death sentence that they would face. Hence the purpose of this passage seems obvious. It’s true that no one can be greater than his teacher. If they had already maligned Jesus the Lord, what makes us think that as His followers we would be spared? Therefore the assurances in this passage are certainly needed. Notice, however, how these assurances come in the form of a series of calls not to be afraid! They are most appropriate in the light of the threats that would be confronting them.

 

What do verses 26-27 mean? We know that the disclosure of one’s inner most secret is a fearsome thing. Jesus here assured His disciples that there aren’t any secrets with Him. One’s inner most secrets would be brought to light ultimately. What one hears from the Lord must be proclaimed fearlessly even in the face of dangers and threats. What would be seen on that day of vindication wouldn’t be taken as arrogance and obstinacy, but the display of faith and loyalty. It would be made known to all that the instruction of the Lord of life had been followed to the end. They would be recognized for their sheer determination to follow and obey the Lord whatever the cost.   

 

Why did Jesus talk so much about fear? This passage suggests to us two kinds of enemy that one is confronted with. In Israel’s day it was the Roman, and in our day, they would come in the form of people who have harmful intention against us. These are the ones that can destroy our bodies. Then, there are the enemies that both the Israelites of old, as well as all of us, will face. They are none other than the devil and his cohorts of demons. They are out scheming and designing to trap and destroy our souls. Jesus wants us to be well aware of the issue so as not be lured into the trap of fear. To further assure us, Jesus’ most outstanding promise is the embracing love of God. He not just cares about us, He cares even for the minutest detail of life. Not many of us take note of the hair that come loose, yet the Lord cares even if one should fall off our head.     

 

We should not get the idea that Jesus is talking about God when He talks about the one who can destroy our souls in hell. He is not. What He is saying here is: God is the One we should not fear. Why? Because He loves all of us His children and we can trust our life, our soul and everything to Him.

 

One last thought before we move on. Many of us may think that God is unconcerned about what seems like trivial in our life. Here He is assuring us that we are worth far more than the sparrow, and that He cares about the smallest detail even when we are assailed by temptations and attacks. Like it or not, in life we are confronted with conflict at every level. We can take heart because the most powerful enemy we confront is nothing in comparison with the Lord we worship.