Matthew 10:26-31
The key word in this passage is "afraid" which is mostly used in the phrase "do not be afraid". Jesus contrasts humans who can only kill the body, to God who can destroy both the body and soul. He compares the value of sparrows and the care God has for them to the value of humans, specifically disciples, and the care God has for them. The main point that Jesus is making is that his disciples should not be afraid because all hidden motives and actions of the persecutors will be uncovered, the gospel will be proclaimed despite their efforts, they can only affect the body and not the soul, and God cares very much for his disciples.
This encouragement is given in the direct context of Jesus' instructions just before he sends the twelve disciples out to spread the message of the kingdom. In the middle of talking about how the disicples will face persecution, likely even from the people who are closest to them, Jesus offers this encouragement.
While this encouragement was given directly to the disciples I can take comfort from it as well. The truth of Jesus' statement still applies today: the hidden motives and actions of those who persecute Jesus' disciples will be uncovered; despite the best efforts of the persecutors, the message of the kingdom continues to spread all over the world; the persecutors can still only destroy the body - only God can destroy both body and soul; God still cares very much about his disciples, right down to knowing how many hairs I have on my head (a number that is easier and easier to keep track of...). This connects very nicely to 2 Timothy 1:6-12 where Paul gives even more reasons for me not to be afraid or ashamed: I have everything I need to testify about the Lord (a spiritual gift, the spirit of love, power and discipline, the gospel itself and a people through out history who serve as examples for me). So, what God has whispered to me in private I will shout from the rooftops; what has been told to me in the dark I will proclaim in the day.
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1 comment:
It's funny how fickle we are. We have nothing to be afraid of and yet we are still afraid. It's like monsters under the bed, in the dark you are afraid of the unknown, wondering what might be under the bed. We are often afraid of the unknown, but we need to trust the will of God, he said we are more valuable than anything else on earth and God wants our souls to be rescued, may we take comfort in this.
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