DO NOT BE AFRAID OF MEN

Passage: Matthew 10:24-33

Key verse: 28

NIV

24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master.(A) 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul,(B) how much more the members of his household!

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.(C) 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(D) 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.(E) 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.(F)

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

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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

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

Have No Fear

26 “So have no fear of them, (C)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 (D)the housetops. 28 And (E)do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him (F)who can destroy both soul and body in hell.[c] 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?[d] And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But (G)even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; (H)you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 (I)So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but (J)whoever denies me before men, (K)I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 10:24 Or bondservant; also verse 25
  2. Matthew 10:25 Greek lacks will they malign
  3. Matthew 10:28 Greek Gehenna
  4. 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. A student is like his master (24-25)

It is enough for us to be like Jesus. We must be like him in his gracious, loving character. And we should expect to be misunderstood and rejected as he was.

2. Fear only God (26-31)

Fear is the devil's great tool to keep men in chains. But God's servant doesn't need to fear men or to fear death. We must fear God. To fear God means to love him. He loves us and knows all about us--even how many hairs are on our heads. 'His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.' When we fear and love God in our hearts, then all inner fears are driven out and we are free.

3. Acknowledge Jesus before men (32-33)

It is not enough just to overcome fear of men. Jesus wants his servants to be his witnesses to all men. This is how the gospel of salvation is spread throughout the world.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for my human fears. Teach my heart to love and fear you so that I may freely acknowledge you anywhere, anytime, to everyone.

One Word: Fear God and be free