The verse in Matthew 10:28 reads, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” This is an important verse that teaches an essential truth – that we should fear God rather than men.
In the broader context of Matthew 10, Jesus is sending out his twelve disciples to preach the gospel, warning them that they will face persecution and opposition. People will arrest, flog, and even kill them. So Jesus tells them, “do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.”
The main reasons we are told not to fear those who can kill the body are:
1. God is sovereign over life and death
God is the one who gives life, and only He has the authority to take it away (Deut 32:39). While evildoers may be able to kill our earthly bodies, they cannot do anything to our souls. Our lives are completely in God’s hands, and we need not fear what man can do to us.
As Job said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21). We recognize that God is in control, even in death.
2. Our bodies are temporary, but our souls eternal
Our earthly bodies are not made to last forever. As 1 Peter 1:24 says, “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls.” Our bodies will perish, but our souls will continue on.
While the death of the body is inevitable, the condition of our soul is what matters most. Jesus said, “do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt 10:28). The eternal state of our souls is what’s most important.
3. God will judge evildoers
Though evil people may seem to get away with injustice in this life, God will ultimately judge them for their actions. They cannot escape His righteous judgment. The apostle Paul says God will “repay each person according to what they have done” (Rom 2:6).
Psalm 9:7-8 declares, “But the LORD sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness.” We can trust God to deal justly with those who do wrong.
4. Our suffering is temporary, but its rewards eternal
The suffering we endure for Christ is only for a moment, but it earns us an eternal reward. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:17, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.”
Jesus promised those who follow Him and suffer for His sake will receive the kingdom of heaven (Matt 5:10). The trials we face now cannot compare with the glory to come. We look ahead to the world to come, not fearing those in the present age.
5. Fearing God delivers us from all other fears
The healthiest antidote to the fear of man is the fear of God. When we have a reverential awe and respect for God, we need not be afraid of anyone else. God is with us and is our strength.
Psalm 118:6 encourages us, “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” When we know the sovereign Lord of the universe is on our side, we can confidently obey Him without fear.
6. Faith in Christ overcomes fear of death
As believers in Christ, we have victory over death through His resurrection. Hebrews 2:14-15 tells us that through His death, Jesus “destroyed the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and delivered all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”
Because we know death leads to eternal life with Christ, we can face death with courage and hope, not fear. Our life in Christ is stronger than death. As Paul boldly proclaimed, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Cor. 15:55).
7. Fear of God frees us to do His will
When we don’t need to be afraid of other people, we are free to obey God wholeheartedly. With reverence for God as our motivation, we can boldly follow Christ wherever He leads, trusting Him even in the face of opposition.
The apostles prayed in Acts 4:29, “And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness.” Because they feared God, they could obey Him despite threats. Fear of God frees us from fear of man.
8. God will reward us for enduring persecution
Jesus promised great reward to those who are persecuted for His sake. In Matthew 5:11-12, He said, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.”
The apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ (Acts 5:41). We can joyfully endure persecution, looking ahead to our eternal inheritance.
9. Christ suffered persecution before us
Jesus endured tremendous persecution on our behalf, even unto death. As 1 Peter 2:21 says, “Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” If Christ was willing to suffer and die for us, we are called to follow His example.
The author of Hebrews urges us to consider “him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted” in the midst of opposition (Heb. 12:3). Christ’s own courage strengthens us.
10. God’s presence is with us
Not only did Christ suffer before us, He suffers alongside us. He promises, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). Jesus assures us He is with us always, even to the end of the age (Matt. 28:20).
Knowing God is with us, we need not fear any harm others may try to do to us. As David wrote in Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” God’s presence casts out fear.
11. Our lives are hidden in Christ
As believers united to Christ, our lives are hidden with Him, protected by His power. Colossians 3:3 tells us, “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Even if we die, our lives remain safe with Him.
Because our lives are in Christ’s hands, we need not fear those who can only harm our bodies. Our eternal security is not threatened by earthly violence or persecution. Our lives are hidden safely in Christ.
12. Our suffering identifies us with Christ
When we suffer for following Jesus, we have the privilege of identifying with Him. Philippians 3:10 expresses Paul’s desire to “know Christ and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” Suffering for Christ unites us to Him.
Suffering for the name of Christ also demonstrates the genuineness of our faith. As 1 Peter 1:6-7 explains, trials prove the authenticity of our belief, more precious than perishable things like gold.
13. God uses suffering to refine our faith
Not only does suffering prove our faith, but God uses it to refine and strengthen our faith. As 1 Peter 1:7 goes on to say, suffering leads to “praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” God uses difficulties to purify us.
James says we should “count it all joy” when we suffer various trials, because it produces endurance and maturity in our faith, making us “perfect and complete” (James 1:2-4). Suffering deepens our dependence on God.
14. Our earthly troubles lead to eternal glory
Paul encourages believers that “this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Cor 4:17). The trials we endure now are not even worth comparing to the eternal glory in Christ that awaits us.
In part, our present sufferings help secure that eternal reward. As Paul says just a few verses earlier, “So we do not lose heart…For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Cor 4:16-17). Our current afflictions prepare us for eternal life in God’s presence.
15. Evil cannot ultimately prevail against us
No matter how powerful or malicious the forces of evil and death seem, they cannot ultimately prevail against God’s kingdom. Christ has already dealt the death blow to Satan through His crucifixion and resurrection.
1 John 3:8 declares, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” Death’s power has been broken. Though evil still lingers for a time, it is defeated, and we belong to the victor, Christ.
So we need not fear those who can only kill the body. God has destined us not for wrath but for salvation through Christ (1 Thess 5:9-10). Nothing can snatch us out of His hand or separate us from His love (John 10:28-29; Rom 8:38-39).
16. The Holy Spirit gives us power and comfort
Not only do we have Christ with us, but after His ascension He sent the Holy Spirit to empower and encourage us. Jesus promised His disciples the Spirit would give them the words to say in persecution (Luke 12:11-12). The Spirit fills us with boldness to speak the word of God (Acts 4:31).
The Holy Spirit also comforts us in affliction. Paul writes that “the Holy Spirit comforts us in all our affliction” (2 Cor 1:4). We need not fear suffering when the very presence of God dwells in us by the Spirit, strengthening and comforting us.
17. Our suffering pales in light of eternity
Any suffering we endure in this life is light and momentary compared to the glory of eternity with Christ. As Paul said, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18).
Knowing eternity awaits us, we can endure temporary trials. Our afflictions are preparing us for “an eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor 4:17). We look ahead to the imperishable inheritance waiting for us in heaven (1 Pet 1:4). The suffering now cannot compare to the joy to come.
18. God uses our suffering to help others
Not only does suffering refine our own faith, but God uses it to minister to others. As 2 Corinthians 1:4 explains, God “comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
When we suffer well, trusting God, we can come alongside others experiencing similar trials. Our godly response to suffering becomes a powerful testimony, helping to build up others in their faith.
19. Christ intercedes for us amid suffering
Not only does God send the Spirit to help us in affliction, but Christ Himself intercedes for us. Romans 8:34 reminds us that Christ “is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” Jesus personally pleads our case before the Father.
The author of Hebrews tells us Jesus “always lives to make intercession” for us (Heb 7:25). We have both the Spirit and the Son interceding for us, so we need not fear any earthly opposition.
20. God works through trials for our good
No matter what hardships we face, God promises to use them for our ultimate good. As Romans 8:28 declares, “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
While suffering is hard to endure, God works through it to shape us into the image of Christ (Rom 8:29) and bring us to glory. We can trust Him to use even our pain for our good in His sovereign plan.
In summary, Jesus tells us not to fear those who can only harm our bodies because 1) God is sovereign over life and death, 2) Our eternal souls matter most, 3) God will judge evildoers, 4) Our suffering is momentary but its reward eternal, 5) Fearing God delivers us from all other fears, 6) Faith in Christ defeats death, 7) Fear of God frees us to obey Him, 8) God rewards us for enduring persecution, 9) Christ suffered before us, 10) God’s presence is with us, 11) Our lives are hidden safely in Christ, 12) Suffering unites us with Christ, 13) It refines our faith, 14) It leads to eternal glory, 15) Evil cannot ultimately prevail, 16) The Spirit strengthens and comforts us, 17) Our suffering is light compared to eternity, 18) It allows us to minister to others, 19) Christ intercedes for us, and 20) God works through trials for our good.
When we understand all these powerful truths from Scripture, we do not need to fear those who can only harm our mortal bodies. Our eternal destiny is secure in Christ, who has overcome the world. We can trust Him and courageously follow Him, even through opposition and suffering.