FIELDWORK INSTRUCTIONS (III)

Passage: Matthew 10:26-33

Key verse: 31

NIV

26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.(A) 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One(B) who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.[a] 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.(C) 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.(D)

32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others,(E) I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.(F)

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 10:29 Or will; or knowledge
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Have No Fear

26 “So have no fear of them, (A)for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on (B)the housetops. 28 And (C)do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him (D)who can destroy both soul and body in hell.[a] 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?[b] And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But (E)even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; (F)you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 (G)So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but (H)whoever denies me before men, (I)I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 10:28 Greek Gehenna
  2. Matthew 10:29 Greek assarion, Roman copper coin (Latin quadrans) worth about 1/16 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Fear God, not people (26-31)

Jesus continued instructions to the Twelve in their mission. Nothing is hidden from God. Christians should not fear persecution nor even death, because God controls our eternal destiny. We only need to fear God. To fear God is true wisdom. Sparrows are almost worthless; but God cares for them. God cares for us in greater detail than sparrows, even numbering our hairs!

2. Acknowledge Jesus before people (32-33)

Jesus promised to acknowledge before the Father in heaven all those who acknowledge him before people. But whoever disowns Jesus before people, will be disowned before God.

Prayer: Lord, drive out the fear of men from my heart and replace it with the right fear of God. May I acknowledge you Jesus before others and glorify your name through my words and actions.

One Word: Fear God, acknowledge Jesus