26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. 28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 10:26-33 KJV)
Have No Fear
The apostles could not be cut off until they had finished their testimony. They were to boldly and publicly declare the truths Christ had taught them in private, even proclaiming them from the rooftops, as was the Jewish custom for spreading important messages (Matthew 10:27). This would expose them to hostility and danger, but their persecutors could only kill the body, which would eventually die anyway. They had no power over the immortal soul or its eternal destiny.
Though physical torture would be terrible, it could not compare to the misery God could inflict by destroying both body and soul in hell (Matthew 10:28). The apostles and all followers of Christ should fear not human threats but the righteous judgment of God, which would fall upon those who abandoned their faith to avoid persecution or failed to carry out their ministry.
The apostles might expect their enemies to kill them, but even this could not happen without God’s permission. His providence extends to all creatures, even the smallest. Sparrows, though sold two for a farthing, could not fall to the ground without his will (Matthew 10:29).
If God cares so much for even the smallest birds, how much more would he watch over his people, especially those spreading his gospel? Every detail of their lives, down to the number of hairs on their heads, was under his care (Matthew 10:30). The apostles and all God’s servants were infinitely more valuable than many sparrows, so they could trust that their Father would not allow real harm to come to them without purpose (Matthew 10:31).
To further encourage his followers, Jesus assured them that whoever openly acknowledged him and professed his truth in the face of danger and opposition would be abundantly rewarded. Christ would acknowledge them as his own before his Father (Matthew 10:32), especially on the Day of Judgment when his people would be separated from his enemies. But whoever denied Christ out of fear or worldly motives would be denied by him before the Father and left to perish, regardless of any past profession, gifts, or position in the church (Matthew 10:33).
This does not mean that every instance of denial is unforgivable—Peter denied Christ (Luke 22:61-62) but repented and was pardoned. Rather, Christ speaks of a deliberate and persistent rejection of him. Likewise, not every verbal confession of faith is rewarded, but only that which is the true and constant expression of genuine faith and love (Romans 10:9-10).