Matthew 10:5a, 21–33

^5aThese twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, . . . ²¹“Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, ²²and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ²³When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

²⁴“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. ²⁵It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.

²⁶“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. ²⁷What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. ²⁸And 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. ²⁹Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. ³⁰But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. ³²So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, ³³but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

Jesus is giving instructions and encouraging His disciples to boldly proclaim “the kingdom of heaven” even though they will encounter violent opposition.  Jesus says, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master” (24).  As Christ’s disciples and servants, we must be prepared to be treated just as He was.  Jesus goes on to say our heavenly Father is mightier than all our enemies, therefore, “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” (28).  

Yet, we tend to fear people and their reactions too much, and to fear God too little. Jesus says in verse 14 of this 10^th chapter, “If anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.”  We may fear intimidation.  Christians must expect the world will attempt to silence them with various tactics of intimidation.  Christ describes persecution will be encountered by those who faithfully bear His witness “Brother will deliver brother over to death, . . . you will be hated by all for My name’s sake” (21-22).  Jesus is not asking anyone to follow where He has not gone before; He has faced every enemy that causes us fear.  We can be sure Jesus understands our fears, that He can sympathize with all our temptations to be afraid (cf. Hebrews 4:15-16).  Not only has Jesus suffered our fears He promises “in the world you will have tribulation.  But take heart, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  Through His death on the cross and His resurrection on the third day, Jesus has overcome Satan and all his works and ways. 

Here in the 10^th chapter of Matthew,  Jesus is clearly and unmistakably saying that whoever seeks to follow Him will from a human standpoint, have much to fear: rejection, intimidation, all sorts of opposition, persecution that as history reveals has led to martyrdom of Christ’s name.  But from God’s point of view, we do not have anything to fear.  The reason why is that Jesus has already faced the source of every fear.  He has overcome every enemy that can cause us fear.  He promises to be with us, to watch over us in every fearful situation.  Jesus Christ has rescued us from sin, death, Satan, and every evil.  He will protect us from whatever would destroy us but cannot.  With the prophet Jeremiah we can rejoice and “Sing to the Lord!  Give praise to the Lord! for He has delivered the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers” (Jeremiah 20:13).   And He has promised to guide us safely “through the valley of the shadow of death” to the day when we “shall dwell in the house of the Lord” in the new creation where all fears and tears and all suffering will be banished forever and ever.

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