What Are You Afraid Of?

Go ahead and grab your Bible and turn to Matthew 10.

This morning — we are continuing our study of Matthew’s eyewitness account of the life and ministry of Jesus. Over the past few weeks — we’ve had front-row seats as Jesus has been preparing His disciples for their first solo mission.

Last week — Jesus revealed the very real opposition we will face as we faithfully follow Him. In fact — Jesus warned us that He is sending us out as sheep among wolves. In other words — as we pursue Christ— as we pursue faithfulness to His mission to make disciples—we will face persecution. We will be opposed, we will be hated, and we will suffer for the sake of Christ.

Following Jesus comes at a cost. But, friends, in the face of hostility — we are not abandoned. God equips us, He sustains us through every trial, and He ensures that we will endure to the end. In our text this morning — Jesus continues with this theme of persecution. But —knowing human nature — He pauses to encourage and comfort our hearts.

Now, If you are able to, please stand for the reading of God’s Word.

Matthew 10:26–31 (CSB)

26 “Therefore, don’t be afraid of them, since there is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered and nothing hidden that won’t be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper, proclaim on the housetops. 28 Don’t fear 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 hell. 29 Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. 30 But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

This is the Word of the Lord

Pray

What are you afraid of? That’s a loaded question — isn’t it? For —we’re all afraid of something. The truth is — in a world as broken and as chaotic as ours — it’s hard to even imagine someone not having a fear of some kind! Fear seems to be woven into our fallen human condition. And fear—well—fear comes in many forms. Maybe you’re afraid of failure, rejection, or losing control. Maybe it’s the fear of what others think, or the uncertainty of the future. From something as small as a spider to the overwhelming reality of social unrest or war — fear is real.

But there’s one fear that’s especially powerful—and that is — the fear of man. It grips our hearts more often than we’d like to admit. And — we fear people because they can humiliate us or expose us. We fear people because they can reject us, ridicule us, or threaten us. And we fear them because they have the ability to hurt, attack, or oppress us.

And if you don’t think this includes you — let me ask you one simple question: Have you ever hesitated to share your faith? Maybe in that moment — you were afraid of being labeled irrational, foolish, or perhaps you were even threatened with violence. You see — the fear of man isn’t just an abstract idea—it affects how we follow Jesus. It silences us when we should speak, it holds us back when we should step forward, and it makes us doubt in situations where we should have faith. The truth is — fear can be overwhelming — for — fear crouches in our hearts and eats away at our confidence, it isolates us, and makes us feel trapped —leaving us feeling small and powerless.

So what do we do? How can we boldly proclaim Christ? How can we endure persecution when the fear of rejection or harm feels so strong? Well — Jesus knew we’d struggle with fear—especially with the fear of man. He knew we’d be tempted to shrink back in fear of what others might say or do to us.

And so Jesus answers our question by showing us that —

“Because God sovereignly cares for us and values us as His children, we can fearlessly proclaim the gospel, knowing that even in the face of persecution, Jesus understands our fears and frees us from them.”

That’s the big idea today and we are going to see this proposition from our text in two distinct and encouraging promises:

1. Jesus Understands Our Fears vv. 24-25

2. Jesus Frees us from Fear vv.26-31

1. Jesus Understands Our Fears

Above all — as we pursue faithfulness to Jesus and to His mission we can be fearless because we share — both in the character and in the work of Jesus. — look at verse 24

Jesus tells us …

Matthew 10:24 (CSB)

24 A disciple is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master.

Now — Jesus is speaking to the subordinate relationship between a disciple and a teacher, or a slave and their master—while the student is still "in the classroom," so to speak. In other words, and this might feel countercultural today, but — the student does not have authority over their teacher. No — the authority rests with the teacher. The student does not teach the teacher — the teacher teaches the student.

Now — this seems obvious and so the question that we have to ask ourselves is this— why does Jesus make this obvious statement? And to understand why — well — we have to remember the context — remember — Jesus is preparing to send out His disciples on their first solo mission— and Jesus warned them— that— on this mission they were going to be brought before councils — they were going to be beaten in the synagogues and forced to testify before governors and kings. Jesus promised them and he promises us that we will be persecuted for spreading the gospel and so Jesus is saying here, “ Look, I am your teacher and you are my disciple. You have seen how the religious leaders have hated me. And I am sending you into the same wolves den. So— don’t leave here with the idea that you will escape the same kind of hatred and suffering that I have experienced. If they hate me, they will hate you for a disciples is not above his teacher.”

Now — it doesn’t matter how awesome you are — the truth is — every one of us —has or will — experience relational tension or even hatred from others at some point in our lives. That’s just life. But let me ask you this — have you ever experienced hatred or hostility from someone because you are a follower of Jesus?

This kind of opposition is different. It’s not just personal — it’s spiritual. It goes beyond misunderstandings or personality conflicts. Jesus warned His disciples that following Him would lead to this kind of rejection — and — it’s not because of anything they did wrong — but simply because they belong to Him.

Now, let’s look at the flip side of this. If you haven’t experienced any sort of "push back"—if you’ve never faced animosity or opposition because of your faith—then it’s time to ask yourself some hard questions. Am I truly living a life that reflects my Teacher? Am I living as though I am somehow above Him? Am I avoiding the discomfort or the cost that comes with following Jesus? Have I distanced myself from my Master? Am I living like a “secret service” Christian?

Brothers and sisters — understandthat — fallen humanity has a natural hatred for God. The Bible makes this abundantly clear. Look at what the Apostle Paul says in Romans 8:7

Romans 8:7 (CSB)

7 The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so.

By nature — mankind is in rebellion against God. In our fallen state — we lack the moral ability to submit to Him. We are at odds with God and estranged from Him.And — this isn’t simply a matter of indifference — No!! There’s hostility—a built-in opposition to God's authority over us.

Consider what Jesus says about this in John 3:20:

John 3:20 (CSB)

20 For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed.

Jesus is making a bold statement here — for he is saying that those who live in sin despise the light of truth. Why? Well — because the light exposes their sin for what it is — sin— and that’s something fallen humanity resents. They don’t just dislike it—they actively avoid it. And when you — as a follower of Christ — walk in that light — some will hate you simply because they hate the light that exposes their darkness.

Dearly beloved — if you have any love for God in your hearts today — you did not achieve that love on your own— rather — your love for God — your faith in Jesus is a gift of God’s grace — and we should praise God for it —we should thank Him for replacing our heart of stone with a heart of flesh— we should praise Him for saving us from the domain of darkness. And— we should not be surprised when those living in the dark hate the light that is within us— in other words — if you're faithfully following Jesus — you should expect some level of opposition. Jesus faced it—He was despised, rejected, and ultimately crucified. Why would it be any different for us, His disciples? Friends — Jesus is clear—as we follow Him we will face opposition. In fact— the hallmark of whether or not we are truly His disciples will often be seen in the opposition we encounter for His name. And this opposition isn’t a sign of failure — it’s a sign that we’re walking in step with our Master.

Think about baptism — how many of you have been baptized as believers? What did your baptism symbolize? Think about it. When you were baptized, you publicly declared that Jesus is both your Savior and your King. As you were submerged under the water, you identified with Christ’s humiliation—His suffering and His death. And when you were raised up out of the water, you identified with His exaltation—His victory and resurrection.

Think about this— Jesus promised that you and I would participate — both—in His glory and in His suffering. Look at what Paul writes in Romans 8:16-17

Romans 8:16–17 (CSB)

16 The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

How amazing is that?! If you’re a baptized believer— you are a coheir with Christ—which means one day — you will share in His exaltation— you will share in His glory. And here’s the best part — You didn’t do anything to earn or deserve this. It’s only by God’s grace that we are able to endure suffering and it is by God’s grace that we’ll one day stand before our Savior and fully experience His glory.

But let’s be honest —we all want to share in Jesus’ glory, but no one wants to share in His rejection, His suffering, His humiliation. The truth is — When we face rejection for following Jesus, the temptation is to act like Peter did—deny Him and to distance ourselves from Him. Why? Because the fear of man can rise up within us and it’s crippling. We start to worry, “What will people think? What will they say? What will they do?” And before you know it, you feel embarrassed to be associated with Jesus. People get big in your life, and God becomes small.

But here’s the thing—Jesus knew this would be a struggle for us. More than anyone, He understands that a person’s value and dignity is not determined by their status in society. Yet, we’re still tempted to believe otherwise. That’s why Jesus is telling us, “As you follow Me — root your identity in Me.” Remember who you are — remember that you have identified with Jesus —both in His glory and in His suffering.

Jesus continues this thought in verse 25

Matthew 10:25 (CSB)

25 It is enough for a disciple to become like his teacher and a slave like his master. If they called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more the members of his household!

Now, who is Beelzebul? That’s quite an unusual term, isn’t it? Well — It refers to Satan— but more specifically — the word translates to “the lord of the flies” or “the lord of the dunghill.” In ancient Jewish culture - this term was often used as an insult directed at Satan.

And in this analogy — Jesus is clearly establishing Himself as the master of the house. He’s telling us that if He—the long-awaited Messiah, the Son of David, the eternally begotten Son of God, the second person of the Trinity—and if He is going to be called Satan — then His disciples should expect to be called even worse.

This means, brothers and sisters, you can anticipate being labeled in your community, in your workplace, and yes—even in your own family—as the “Lord of the Flies,” the “Lord of the Dunghill,” or even as Satan himself. That’s the level of disdain and contempt we should prepare ourselves for if we remain faithful to Jesus.

The reality is this — the road before us can be daunting. No one enjoys being disliked or ostracized. But here’s the truth: the path to glory is marked by suffering. Yet, it’s also marked by the incredible promise that we will be glorified with Christ.

So as we walk this journey— remember to hold fast to your identity in Christ. Embrace the suffering and humiliation that may come your way — because thats a part of your shared experience with Jesus — and — In the end, you will share in His glory too — what an incredible hope we have!

Now in the second movement of our text Jesus tells us that we can have complete freedom from fear.

2. Jesus Frees us from Fear

Many of us might assume that the most repeated command in the Bible is to love God, love others, behave better, or maybe even to worship more or give generously. But here’s the surprise: the most repeated command in Scripture is actually “Do not be afraid.” Hundreds of times, God tells His people not to fear. And in our text today, Jesus repeats it three times!

And — this command isn’t just about staying calm—it's about trust. Jesus knows our hearts — He knows our anxieties and our struggles. He knows the reality of fear that comes with following Him in a broken world. In fact, Jesus doesn’t sugarcoat it. He tells His disciples that they’ll face real trouble: betrayal, rejection, and persecution—even from their own families — But in the middle of that fear, He says, “Do not be afraid.”

Why? How is that even possible? Well — the first reason is —

A. God will Vindicate His Children

look at verse 26

Matthew 10:26 (CSB)

26 “Therefore, don’t be afraid of them, since there is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered and nothing hidden that won’t be made known.

In this verse — Jesus is assuring His disciples that all the secret schemes of the Pharisees will eventually be exposed. As followers of Jesus — as we remain faithful to the mission— we will likely face opposition—our character might be maligned, and false accusations may come our way — all to hinder the work God is doing in and through us. But Jesus promises that one day — whether in this life or the next — every hidden agenda, plot, and conspiracy against Him and His people will be brought to light. All of the false accusations will be revealed for what they truly are—lies.

I find great comfort in this truth. I think that one of the hardest things in life is to be falsely accused or have your character misrepresented. Unfortunately, as a pastor, I’ve faced this more often than I ever expected. And to be honest, the most painful part is that these attacks have often come from people I thought were the closest to me. They spread rumors and lies that simply weren’t true. And — well—my first instinct was to rush to defend myself, scrambling to clear my name. But over time — I’ve found deep peace in this verse. You see— Jesus tells us that we don’t need to live in fear of what people say in the shadows because, eventually, the truth will be brought into the light. And so — I’ve learned to trust and rest in that promise and let God fight these battles for me.

This reminds me of one of my favorite figures in church history — a man by the name of Jonathan Edwards. As a young man — Edwards became the pastor of a church in Northampton, Massachusetts. He was a key figure in the Great Awakening of the 18th Century, and God used him powerfully. But despite all the good that happened under his leadership, things didn’t end well for him. After years of faithful ministry — Edwards was actually removed from his position and publicly humiliated.

Why? Well —there was a man in town who hated the gospel and, in turn, hated Edwards. This man started spreading horrible rumors about him—completely unfounded. But here’s the incredible part: Edwards refused to defend himself. When people urged him to speak up, he simply said that God had promised to vindicate His people. He believed that if he tried to clear his name, that would be the extent of his vindication. But if he waited on God, the truth would come out, and he would be fully and finally vindicated. And here’s what happened: Ten years later—yes, ten years—the man who spread the lies came forward, publicly repented, and confessed that he had made up the rumors out of jealousy and hatred for Edwards.

God vindicated Jonathan Edwards, and He will vindicate you.

So, brothers and sisters, when evil things are spoken against you — don’t be afraid. Remember Jesus' words: “There is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known.” We can trust that God will bring the truth to light. And it’s because of this promise that we can faithfully, and without fear, continue the work of proclaiming the good news of the Gospel in every space and place—in which we live, work, and play.

Look at verse 27:

Matthew 10:27 (CSB)

27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper, proclaim on the housetops.

Friends, this verse is a game-changer for us! It should ignite a fire within us that fuels our boldness—not just for me as I stand here in this pulpit, but for each and every one of you.

Imagine this — when we walk out of these doors, we don’t just carry the truth of Jesus quietly in our hearts. No! We are called to shout it from the rooftops! We are ambassadors of the King, and it’s time to make some noise! We should crank the amplifiers up to eleven and boldly declare, “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand!”

Let’s not allow fear or doubt to hold us back. With the knowledge that God will bring the truth to light, we can step into our workplaces, schools, and communities with courage and confidence. Let’s share the good news with everyone we meet! It’s a message of hope, love, and redemption that our world desperately needs to hear. Together, let’s proclaim the glory of our King, for His light is shining through us, and it’s time for the world to see it!

Now — another reason why we should NOT be afraid is because …

B. God’s Power Will Triumph Over Death

look at verse 28

Matthew 10:28 (CSB)

28 Don’t fear 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 hell.

This verse brings to mind the powerful story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He was one of the few German pastors who had the courage to stand up against the regime of Adolf Hitler. For his bravery in speaking out and helping Jews escape —Bonhoeffer was eventually thrown in prison and he was ultimately executed for His faith — and it was from his prison cell that he wrote these profound words— He said,

“Those who are still afraid of men have no fear of God, and those who have fear of God have ceased to be afraid of men.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Friends, the truth is—you can’t fear both God and man. Jesus's message here is straightforward — He is telling us that we need to fear the right thing. Yes, it’s natural for us to fear being physically harmed because of our faith. But Jesus wants us to understand that that's the worst they can do to you. They might kill your body — but they will never touch your soul.

Yes— following Jesus will come at a cost. Your life may be threatened — you might face physical harm — it’s possible that you may endure beatings — or even be martyred for your faith. And yes, that’s terrifying. And—in those moments — you may be tempted to deny Christ or to shrink back in fear. But let’s remember this — they may kill your body — but they can never harm or touch your soul.

Brothers and sisters, life is short, and eternity is extremely long. Jesus says, “Look, don’t concern yourself with the condition of your body, which is temporary; rather, concern yourself with the condition of your soul, which is eternal.” Don’t fear man, who at worst can kill your body, but fear God, for the Lord has the authority as Judge to condemn both the soul and the body to eternal destruction in hell.

I am reminded of Proverbs 1:7.

Proverbs 1:7 (CSB)

7 The fear of the Lord

is the beginning of knowledge;

fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Consider also Psalm 111:10.

Psalm 111:10 (CSB)

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

all who follow his instructions have good insight.

His praise endures forever.

In other words — A healthy fear of God fosters respect for His authority and power and compels us to live in obedience to King Jesus. And here’s the incredible truth — if you have loved and trusted Jesus as your Savior and King, you have been united with Him in His death and resurrection. And you do not need to fear because your soul is secure.

Friend — if you fear God there is nothing or no one else that you need to fear….and on that inevitable day when your temporary body gives way to death—whether at the hands of persecutors or through natural deterioration—you will stand before your Savior — And —He will wash away the cares and the wounds of this world and awaken you to renewed life. You will receive a new body — and He will welcome you to Himself. You have the assurance that when that day comes — you will stand before your Maker and hear Him say those precious words: “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Now Jesus gives us one more reason why we should NOT be afraid…

C. The Father Knows You and Cares For You

Matthew 10:29–31 (CSB)

29 Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. 30 But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Right after Jesus tells us to fear God— He immediately follows up with “Don’t fear!” — And well— That’s a bit confusing. So, what does Jesus mean here?

First, we need to understand just how special — yet seemingly insignificant — a sparrow is. It’s amazing to think that God is sovereign even over the life of a tiny sparrow. A small, seemingly insignificant bird doesn’t die without God knowing and ordaining it to be so. Think about it—sparrows have little significance and no real value to us. Yet, God knows and cares for each one. And here’s the incredible part: that same omniscient and omnipotent God knows the very number of hairs on your head! Now, for some of you guys — we all know the number of hairs on your head — But what Jesus is saying here is that you are far more valuable than a sparrow. If God cares for each of these seemingly insignificant creatures, how much more does He care for you—His crowning jewel in all of creation?

Listen to how much God loves you! He loves you so much that He brought you into His family; He has adopted you as His child. And even though He has the power to cast you into hell, you don’t need to be afraid of Him because your life is hidden with Christ.

And friend — I believe the solution to our fears hinges on our understanding of what it means to be hidden with Christ. In other words — if we are going to faithfully follow Jesus—if we are going to grow in our love for Him when our flesh and the world tempt us to seek after other things—if we are going to grow in our likeness of Christ’s character when the world sees our pursuit of righteousness as foolish—if we are going to remain steadfast in our mission to lead others to Jesus amidst persecution—we must grasp the profound significance of our lives being hidden with Him.

So with this in mind I want to close our time by considering this phrase, “hidden with Christ”

Consider with me Colossians 3:1-4.

Colossians 3:1–4 (CSB)

1 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Now — when your afraid— what do you do? How do we respond? Well — we hide! Fear causes us to hide. And this is exactly what happened in the Garden of Eden…. when sin entered the world— Adam and Eve’s first response was to hide from God. Why? Well— because they were afraid!

And in Genesis 3:10 Adam says God

Genesis 3:10 (CSB)

10 …“I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”

Adam and Eve foolishly attempted to clothe themselves with fig leaves because they were trying to shield themselves from the One who created them, loved them, and desired fellowship with them. How extremely foolish and tragic! Instead of running to the sound of God’s voice, they hid from Him and tried to solve their own problems. And guess what? Their self-made protection plan failed. But how amazing is it—that— despite their foolishness, God— in His grace—provided a covering for their sin? Even in His judgment, God demonstrated that He truly is the Father of many mercies.

Now, let’s fast forward to the end of the Bible. In Revelation 6:15–16 we read

Revelation 6:15–16 (CSB)

15 Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb,

What a sobering scene! When Jesus returns — the most powerful world leaders will be faced with God’s judgement — and they will cry out to the mountains and hills to fall on them… why!?!? So that they may attempt to hide themselves from God. But — on that climactic day of God’s judgement— unlike in the Garden of Eden—there will be no mercy. The slain Lamb has become the devouring Lion, and there will be nowhere to hide from Him.

Now —Between these two bookends of Scripture—between the tragedy of Eden and the terror of Revelation—stands the cross of Christ. Brothers and sisters — the cross of Christ is the apex of history for the cross is where God’s grace and justice converged. On the cross of Christ — neither grace nor justice was diminished — rather — it was on the cross where the full weight of God's judgment was poured out upon Jesus.

And this truth should bring us to our knees in reverence — it should lead us to raise our hands in extravagant worship— it should absolutely pierce our hearts . Friends— understand that — for God’s just judgment to pass over sinners like you and me, it had to find its target in Jesus. And that — brothers and sister —that is the essence of being “hidden with Christ.” At the cross, the full, unbridled wrath of God fell upon Jesus, and in that moment of judgment, there was nowhere for Him to hide—no fig leaves, no shade trees, no mercy, no grace, no compassion. Clothed in our shame, crowned with our thorns, and exposed to the judgment we deserve, Jesus became our hiding place.

Friends, outside of Christ, there is no safe refuge, and it would be wise to live in fear. However, by grace and through faith, you can be securely hidden with Christ, which provides us with absolute peace and eternal safety. As the hymn beautifully expresses, “Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee.”

Mission Church, you are safe in Jesus! This means you can follow Him without fear. You can leave here and confidently proclaim from the rooftops the truth that Jesus is King and that His Kingdom is at hand! Repent and believe in Christ alone for your salvation. So, let us not shrink back in fear but boldly proclaim that Jesus is King. Let us live in the light of this truth, finding our identity and security in Him, who alone is our refuge and strength.

Lets Pray