Matthew 10:24 A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
Matthew 10:25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.
Matthew 10:26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
Matthew 10:27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
Matthew 10:28 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.
At first glance, with a cursory review of the Scripture provided, my reader may be concluding that Carl is simply not paying attention. Do you even know what you are talking about Carl? This passage has nothing to do with conditional security Carl, but more with the topic of how those outside of the church will treat His followers, and the correct Person the disciples are to fear.
That may be accurate.
Or the teaching may be multileveled, providing some truth that is applicable to this subject. What I would like to offer my reader is to provide an edited passage, following the Lord’s teaching, trying to identify who He is referring to in our passage this morning. For the sake of this exercise, any inserts I add to the passage will be italicized.
Matthew 10:24 A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
Matthew 10:25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they (those outside the church) have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they (those outside the church) malign those (disciples/servants) of his household.
Matthew 10:26 “So have no fear of them (those outside the church), for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
Matthew 10:27 What I tell you (disciples/servants) in the dark, say in the light, and what you (disciples/servants) hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those (those outside the church) who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him (GOD) who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Now as we read through this passage, with the inserts as seem obvious to me, we find that Jesus is speaking towards His disciples of the correct person to place their fear in. God alone is the One to fear. But I find it curious that the Lord defines the God whom the disciples are to fear as the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Of course Jesus may be speaking to the disciples/servants of the fate of those outside the church. This is a possible interpretation, especially if we are committed to a once saved always saved position.
But I wonder. Might He be speaking of the fear of God to the disciples as a possible reality for them? Might this reference to the destruction of both body and soul in hell be directed to the believer who may bow out, may walk away, may apostacize?
No – of course not Carl – You don’t know what you are talking about.
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