"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. "Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Matthew 10:24-31
So let's get to the point of the passage:
Don't be afraid to speak clearly and openly what Christ has taught you even if it costs you your church, your friends, and your life. Or to put the point positively, be courageous to speak the truth of Scripture clearly and openly for all to hear even if it is unpopular and dangerous.
The rest of this text is motivation: There are five reasons given for why we should have courage to speak all that Jesus taught—the popular parts and the unpopular parts—no matter what.
Here they are:
- Notice the "therefore" at the beginning of verse 26: "Therefore have no fear of them." In other words, fearlessness flows from what Jesus just said, namely, "If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more (will they malign) those of his household." Therefore have no fear of them.
Does that help make you fearless?
It should.
Jesus is saying, "Your mistreatment for speaking the truth clearly and openly is not some unexpected, accidental, random, meaningless experience; it's just the way the way they treated me, and so it's a sign that you belong to Me and you are part of Me—I am the same yesterday, today, and forever (See Hebrews 13:8). So don't be afraid of the names they call you when you speak out plainly, those very names bind you and me together."
- Notice the word "for" in the middle of verse 26: "So have no fear of them. For (here comes the second reason not to be afraid) nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known."
How does that help us overcome fear and be courageous in the cause of truth?
It helps us by assuring us that the truth we are speaking will triumph. It will be vindicated in the end and people may reject it now. And they may call it the word of Beelzebul and cast it out.
Plus they may try to bury it and hide it from the world and pretend that it does not exist. But Jesus says in a sense, "Take heart in the cause of truth, because in the end all truth with be revealed, all reality will be uncovered." And those who spoke it with clarity and openness will be vindicated—do not fear.
- Notice in verse 28: "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul." In other words, the worst thing your opponents can do to you when you speak the truth is to kill your body. And that leaves the soul untouched and happy in God forever and ever.
But if you keep silent, if you forsake the path of truth and fall in love with the praise of men you could lose your very soul—that you ought to fear—but don't fear what man can do to you. All he can do is dispatch your soul to paradise—do not fear.
- Notice in verse 30 what Jesus says, "Even the hairs of your head are all numbered." In other words, the suffering you may undergo in speaking the truth is not because God is disinterested in you or unfamiliar with your plight. He is close enough to separate one hair from another and give each one a number.
So fear not:
He is close.
He is interested.
He cares.
Be of good courage and speak the truth come what may.
- Finally, fear not because God will not let anything happen to you apart from His gracious will. The logic of Jesus is plain and precious. Notice verse 31: "you are of more value than many sparrows." And back up to verse 29: "And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will."
The courage-giving conclusion:
As the young missionary Henry Martyn said, "If [God] has work for me to do, I cannot die."
So, don't yield to the spirit of the age.
Love the truth.
What you learn of Christ in the quiet speak in the light.
What you read and see illuminated by the Holy Spirit to you through God's Word proclaim from the housetops.
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