Charles Spurgeon Commentary Luke 12:3-5

"Wherefore whatsoever ye have said in the darkness shall be heard in the light; and what ye have spoken in the ear in the inner chambers shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, who after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him." — Luke 12:3-5 (ASV)

Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

There is nothing, comparatively, to fear in death considered by itself. If that were the end of man, he would have little or no fear even of God himself. But since after death, there is another state which is everlasting and unchangeable, there is grave cause for the ungodly to fear him who, after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell.