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Don`t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
Verse Takeaways
1
The Right Kind of Fear
Jesus contrasts two fears to empower his followers. Commentators explain that fearing people, who can only harm the temporary physical body, is a foolish snare. The proper, healthy fear of God, who holds authority over our eternal destiny (both soul and body), is the ultimate antidote. As Charles Spurgeon noted, fearing the Greater frees us from fearing the lesser.
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Matthew
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12
18th Century
Presbyterian
Them which kill the body. That is, men, who have no power to injure the soul, the immortal part. The body is a small mat…
Destroy both soul and body in hell (κα ψυχην κα σωμα απολεσα εν γεεννη). Note "soul" here of the eternal spirit, not just life in …
19th Century
Anglican
Are not able to kill the soul — Here our Lord uses what we may call the popular dichotomy of man’s nature. The word “soul” include…
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Baptist
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 he…
The second reason for learning not to fear other people emerges from the fact that the worst they can do does not match the worst God can do. Thoug…
16th Century
Protestant
And fear not those who kill the body. To motivate his disciples to despise death, Christ employs the very powerful argument that this frai…
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17th Century
Reformed Baptist
And fear not them which kill the body This is a "periphrasis" of bloody persecutors, who, not content to revile, sco…
Our Lord warned his disciples to prepare for persecution. They were to avoid all things which gave an advantage to their enemies, all meddling with…
13th Century
Catholic
The Lord instructed the Apostles concerning their office and their necessary means of livelihood; but now He instructs them concerning their immine…
