Have No Fear of Them
Fear is a funny thing. As much as we want to avoid it, it’s often a helpful emotion. The right kind of fear can save your life, while the wrong kind can ruin it. For example, if you (rightly!) fear being hit by a car, you’ll cross the street with greater awareness and a higher likelihood of success. But if you’re afraid of monsters under the bed, you’ll needlessly struggle to get any sleep. Fear is only as good as the facts that back it up, so when we find fear welling up in our hearts, we must ask whether our perception matches reality.
“Fear” is the keyword of Matthew 10:26–33. At this point in the gospel, Jesus’ disciples have been sent out as messengers of good news. The trouble is that sometimes people are known for shooting messengers, no matter their intentions. So what’s a faithful messenger to do? How the disciples face their fear of men will either unleash or undermine their faithfulness to the gospel message they’ve been sent to deliver.
In verse 26, Jesus plainly says, “Have no fear of them,” and then offers instruction that faithful disciples of Christ would be wise to heed as they inevitably wrestle with the fear of man. Here are three patterns to follow:
1. Jesus’ disciples proclaim Christ.
Based on Matthew 10:7, we understand that the gist of our proclamation is this: “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” On one level, this is what disciples are meant to herald—a king and a kingdom, an all-encompassing invasion at the door! Ultimately of course, this is the gospel and all of its facets, the life of following Christ. Consider that Matthew’s gospel ends with the Great Commission which, among other things, expects disciples to teach others to observe all that Christ has commanded (Matt 28:20).
And in v26, he explains, “Nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.” The truth of who Christ is, what he’s come to do, and the life we have in him simply cannot be contained or hidden, and disciples are part of this work! Not only that but the reality of sin and the justice sure to follow will also come to light. The disciples are commanded to “proclaim on the housetops” (v27) what Christ has told them, not to ensure it will be heard but because the Lord has ensured us that it will be heard and cannot be thwarted.
2. Jesus’ disciples fear God rather than men.
In verse 28, the disciples are warned not to “fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” For most of us, death is likely not atop your list of concerns when sharing the gospel or otherwise defending the faith. But what about being canceled, fired, ostracized, disowned, or—maybe worst of all—ignored? There are many ways the kingdom of God conflicts with this world’s values and rules.
Jesus quickly reframes the fear we might be tempted to follow in light of the bigger picture: God alone has authority to “destroy both soul and body in hell.” Disciples must ask themselves, “Just who has what authority?” The answer, of course, is sobering. While men can physically, socially, and emotionally harm us, only God can eternally judge a person. What exactly can the world wield to threaten us then? If the world is our ultimate judge, we should have every reason to fear, but if God is the judge, and if we align with him, why do we dread the lesser condemnation of men?
3. Jesus’ disciples trust their heavenly Father.
The fear of man is a lie that promises comfort and approval but cannot possibly deliver anything but shackles and slavery. The Father, Jesus tells us, is keenly aware of our needs in a way that the world cannot begin to imitate. How “worthless” are sparrows? God care for them and even superintends their ways! How insignificant is a single hair on your head? Yet God has a serial number for each one! The loving consideration of God our Father should inspire fearlessness in us, but so often we live in fear not because the Father has failed but because our eyes don’t see beyond what’s immediately in front of us.
When we fear man, we will always be grasping for security but come up empty-handed. When we rightly stand in awe of the Father, and know him to be our Father, only then will we have true security, because only in his eyes can we be truly, fully known and truly, fully loved.
If you are in Christ, the very reason you have to fear judgment and destruction has been addressed. If you think you stand to lose anything for offending man, you would do well to remember that apart from Christ you and I have eternally offended a holy and just God with our sin. But in Christ our sin has been addressed! You are fully and truly known but not judged or destroyed because Another was judged in your place. Ephesians 1:4–5 says, “In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.” Fully known, yes, and fully loved. If God cares for you—loves you, in fact—then you have no one to fear.
Christians have many people we could fear: rulers, authorities, bosses, neighbors, teachers, parents, even children—anyone who cringes at Christ! But if the greatest Man, the God-man Christ Jesus, is on our side then we can acknowledge him before men who acknowledges us before Almighty God!