Fear God, Not People^(A)

²⁶ “So don’t be afraid of those people, because everything that is ·hidden [concealed; covered up] will be ·shown [revealed; uncovered; disclosed]. Everything that is ·secret [hidden] will be made ·known [clear]. ²⁷ I tell you these things in the dark, but I want you to tell them in the ·light [daylight]. What you hear whispered in your ear you should ·shout [proclaim] from the housetops. ²⁸ Don’t be afraid of people, who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul. The only one you should fear is the one who can destroy [^Lboth] the soul and the body in ·hell [^LGehenna; 5:22]. ²⁹ Two sparrows are sold [^LAre not two sparrows sold…?] for only a penny [^CGreek: assarion; a copper coin of very low value], but not even one of them can ·die [^Lfall to the ground] ·without your Father’s knowing it [or apart from your Father’s will]. ³⁰ God even ·knows [numbers; counts] how many hairs are on your head. ³¹ So don’t be afraid. You are ·worth much more [more valuable] than many sparrows.

³² “All those who ·stand before others and say they believe in me [^Lconfess/acknowledge me before people], I will ·say before my Father in heaven that they belong to me [^Lconfess/acknowledge them before my Father in heaven]. ³³ But all who ·stand before others and say they do not believe in me [^Ldeny/disown me before people] I will ·say before my Father in heaven that they do not belong to me [^Lalso deny/disown them before my Father in heaven].

² Everything that is ·hidden [concealed; covered up] will be ·shown [revealed; uncovered; disclosed], and everything that is ·secret [hidden] will be made known. ³ What you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered ·in an inner room [or behind closed doors] will be ·shouted [proclaimed] from the housetops.

⁴ “I tell you, my friends, don’t be afraid of people who can kill the body but after that can do nothing more to hurt you. ⁵ I will ·show you [warn you about] the one to fear. Fear the one who has the ·power [authority] ·to kill you and also [^Lafter the killing] to throw you into ·hell [^LGehenna; ^Ca valley outside of Jerusalem where in the OT period children were sacrificed to a pagan god; later used as a burning trash heap; a metaphor for hell]. Yes, this is the one you should fear.

⁶ “[^LAre not…?] Five sparrows are sold for only two pennies [^CGreek: assaria; copper coins of very low value], ·and [yet] God does not forget any of them. ⁷ But ·God even knows how many hairs you have on your head [^Leven the hairs on your head have all been numbered]. Don’t be afraid. You are worth much more than many sparrows.

Don’t Be Ashamed of Jesus

⁸ “I tell you, all those who ·stand before others and say they believe in me [^Lconfess/acknowledge me before people], ·I, the Son of Man, [^Lthe Son of Man; ^Ca title for the Messiah; Dan. 7:13–14] will ·say before the angels of God that they belong to me [^Lconfess/acknowledge them before God’s angels]. ⁹ But all who ·stand before others and say they do not believe in me [^Ldeny/disown me before people], I will ·say before the angels of God that they do not belong to me [^Ldeny/disown them before God’s angels].