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Matthew 10:28 - Fear God Only!

Mat.10:28; Fear God Only!

Mat 10:28 (KJV)  And fear not them which kill the body, but are 
not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to 
destroy both soul and body in hell. 

"Do not be afraid of people. They can only kill the body, but 
not the soul." (UBS Translator Handbook Series) 

The reference is not to Satan, as many suppose, but to God who 
alone has power to "destroy both soul and body in hell."  [Scofield 
SB] 

This verse is not talking about Satan, for he does not have the 
power to destroy body and soul in hell. God does, and Christ tells us 
to fear Him and Him alone. When you fear God, you need fear nothing 
else.... What an encouragement it is to know that we represent the King 
of kings and that He is right with us as we serve Him. [Wiersbe 
Expository Outlines] 

God alone is able to destroy both soul and body in hell, [The 
Bible Notebook] 

The second reason for learning not to fear men emerges from the 
fact that the worst they can do does not match the worst God can do. 
Though Satan may have great power (6:13; 24:22), only God can destroy 
soul and body in hell. "The fear of the LORD is" therefore "the 
beginning of wisdom" (Prov 9:10); for if God be truly feared, none other 
need be. Fear of men proves to be a snare (Prov 29:25). [Expositors 
Bible Commentary] 

The fear of God, and of his power reigning in the soul, will be 
a sovereign antidote against the fear of man. (Matthew Henry's 
Commentary) 

It was said of John Knox, as they buried him, "Here lies one who 
feared God so much that he never feared the face of any man." [Barclay 
Commentary] 

What was the strength of those who in the past have suffered 
persecution for Christ's sake? It was union with God, union with the Holy 
Spirit, union with Christ. Reproach and persecution have separated many 
from earthly friends, but never from the love of Christ. Never is the 
tempest-tried soul more dearly loved by His Saviour than when he is suffering 
reproach for the truth's sake. "I will love him," Christ said, "and will 
manifest Myself to him." John 14:21. When for the truth's sake the 
believer stands at the bar of earthly tribunals, Christ stands by his 
side. When he is confined within prison walls, Christ manifests 
Himself to him and cheers his heart with His love. When he suffers death 
for Christ's sake, the Saviour says to him, They may kill the body, 
but they cannot hurt the soul. "Be of good cheer; I have overcome 
the world." "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for 
I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, 
I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness." John 
16:33; Isaiah 41:10. AA85,6 

Jesus predicted that his followers would be severely persecuted 
by those who hated what he stood for. In the midst of terrible 
persecutions, however, they could have hope, knowing that salvation was 
theirs. Times of trial serve to sift true Christians from false or 
fair-weather Christians. When you are pressured to give up and turn your back 
on Christ, don't do it. Remember the benefits of standing firm, and 
continue to live for Christ. Standing firm to the end is not a way to be 
saved but the evidence that a person is really committed to Jesus. 
Persistence is not a means to earn salvation; it is the by-product of a 
truly devoted life. [Life Application SB re Mat.10:16-42] 

Jesus said that God is aware of everything that happens even to 
sparrows, and you are far more valuable to him than they are. You are so 
valuable that God sent his only Son to die for you (John 3:16). Because 
God places such value on you, you need never fear personal threats 
or difficult trials. These can't shake God's love or dislodge his 
Spirit from within you. But this doesn't mean that God will take away 
all your troubles (see Matthew 10:16). The real test of value is how 
well something holds up under the wear, tear, and abuse of everyday 
life. Those who stand up for Christ in spite of their troubles truly 
have lasting value and will receive great rewards (see Matthew 
5:11-12). [Life Application SB re Mat.10:26-42] 

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said that those who suffer 
unjust treatment will have a "great" reward in heaven (see Matt. 5:10). 
The elect who have been abused, abandoned, stolen from, taken 
advantage of--all will be rewarded for their pain. . . . 
God knows when we suffer unjustly. . . . God has not abandoned 
you to the whims and wishes of those who are more powerful. He knows 
when His children are overlooked for advancement because of their 
religious views. Young lady, He knows when less talented women are 
advanced past you because you refuse to compromise morally. He flees the 
abandoned mother who never knows from month to month if her estranged 
husband is going to send a check. God is taking it all in. He has 
already appointed a prosecuting attorney, a jury, and a judge. And they 
are all the same person--the Lord Jesus. On that court date He will 
bring about justice for His elect. Charles Stanley [Time With God SB] 

Have you been sent by Jesus? Being "sent" is not just for 
missionaries. Disciples of Jesus Christ have been sent, but where?  Jesus is 
telling His disciples He is sending them among men who will flog them 
and throw them in prison.  He is warning them that even relatives 
will betray one another to death!  If we have been sent, we must go. 
Wherever it is, whether to serve in the home, in business, on the field, 
in politics, the pulpit or any other place, we must be prepared for 
the response of unbelief. It is natural.  If we never see such 
resistance, we need to ask our Father if we have misunderstood His 
directions to where He has sent us.  Either we are not there, or we are not 
living the life we are sent to live; not proclaiming from housetops 
what God has whispered in our ear.  God forbid we are not serving Him 
because of what we fear man can do.  Do not fear; serve where you've 
been sent and acknowledge Jesus before men. He will acknowledge you 
before the Father.  [In His Time; Walk With Wisdom] 

Here it is again! A description of a job nobody wants.
I mean, who wants work as a sheep among wolves? (10:16) Who 
wants to be handed over to local councils to be flogged? (v. 18) Who 
wants family conflict? (v. 21) Who wants to be hated? (v. 22) Who 
wants to be persecuted? (v. 23) 
It's fine to say things like, all this happened to Jesus first 
(vv. 24-25). And, hey, they can only kill your body, can't they? (v. 
28) But no matter how you cut it, this business of being a disciple 
doesn't look all that attractive. Try putting this kind of ad in the 
paper, and see how many applicants you get. 
But then, at the end of Matthew 11, Jesus added something that 
makes it all worthwhile. He invites us, "Take My yoke upon you and 
learn from Me" (11:29). The yoke, which rested on the shoulders of 
oxen hitched to a plow, was used to distribute the burden of work. 
The oxen pulled together, and neither was overwhelmed. 
Being yoked to Jesus doesn't so much mean that we take on His 
burdens, but that He, pulling alongside us, takes on ours. Yes, it's 
tough to be a disciple. It's a challenging and disciplined life. Yet 
the disciple by the very fact of his commitment is yoked to Jesus. 
And in that relationship, with Jesus taking on most of the load, we 
find not added burdens but an amazing inner rest. 
Despite all appearances, the disciple of Jesus knows the truth. 
Jesus' "yoke is easy and My burden is light." [The 365-Day Devotional 
Commentary] 

Those who are true to God need not fear the power of men nor the 
enmity of Satan. In Christ their eternal life is secure. Their only 
fear should be lest they surrender the truth, and thus betray the 
trust with which God has honored them.  DA356 

Christ foretold troubles, not only that the troubles might not 
be a surprise, but that they might confirm their faith. He tells 
them what they should suffer, and from whom. Thus Christ has dealt 
fairly and faithfully with us, in telling us the worst we can meet with 
in his service;.... It appears plainly, that all who will live godly 
in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution; and we must expect to 
enter into the kingdom of God through many tribulations..... Christ will 
lead us through sufferings, to glory with him. [Matthew Henry 
Commentary] 

Although believers will be persecuted, they can trust that God 
has a plan for all difficult circumstances. [Inspirational SB] 

Temporal death is a slight thing compared with eternal death. 
(Barnes' Notes) 

We do well to remember that the penalties which men can exact 
are as nothing to the penalties which God can exact and to the 
rewards which he can give. [Barclay Commentary]