The Gospel of Matthew: Who Do You Fear?     

²⁸ “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28 ESV)

Jesus told the Twelve Apostles to not personally fear anyone who could physically hurt them. The Lord did not deny the possibility that these men could face martyrdom for the truth of the Gospel. The implication is clear for believers today.

Fear (φοβέω; phobeo) can mean to be alarmed or afraid. It is a feeling of dread, perhaps when facing physical death. The reason for the believer’s fearlessness in the reality of physical death for Christ is that the enemies of the Gospel cannot kill the believer’s soul. Their inner self is untouchable and inextinguishable.

⁶ “So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, ⁷ for we walk by faith, not by sight. ⁸ Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹ So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.” (2 Corinthians 5:6–9 ESV)

“²⁰ as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. ²¹ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”(Philippians 1:20–21 ESV)

⁶ “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:6–8 (ESV)

Rather, Jesus warned the apostles, and us, to fear the One, True God who has the power and authority to condemn unrepentant sinners to hell; the eternal place of punishment. This is the fear of respect and worship. While believers in Christ are not to fear man, we are to fear God.

“The fear of man is not simply the fear of the harm that men may do to us. Surely the fear of harm partly drives our desire to be approved by men. However, most properly, the fear of man is, as (John) Bunyan put it, “the fear of losing man’s favor, love, goodwill, help, and friendship.” Simply put, it is “an idol of approval.” We seek to avoid persecution because of “idols of approval,” “comfort,” or “pleasure.” These idols lead us to compromise in order to gain approval—to give in to wickedness in order to gain acceptance and peace. It puts us in a vicious cycle of idolatry. Miserable though it is, the fear of man is the soul’s default setting,” explains Rev. Nicholas Batzig.

However, the fear of the Lord “is wisdom” (Job 28:28); “the beginning of knowledge” (Prov. 1:7); “hatred of evil” (8:13); “a fountain of life” (14:27); and “the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13). The Prophet Isaiah called it a “treasure” (Isa. 33:6).

Who, or what, are you fearing today. It must not be man, or the culture of fallen man. Proper fear, respect and worship is to be centered in the One, True, Eternal God of the Scriptures. Have a God-fearing day.

Soli deo Gloria!