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Do Not Be Anxious about the Threats of Man | John Piper · Reformed Thinking

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Welcome to Reformed thinking. Today we're embarking on a deep
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dive into really vital topic, I think one that speaks directly
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to courage, especially, you know, courage in an age that
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often seems to want to quiet truths that aren't popular.
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We're drawing our insights today primarily from Matthew chapter
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10, looking closely at verses 18 through 31.
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That's right. And our guide for this
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discussion is, well, a specific teaching drawn from that
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passage. Do not be anxious about the
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threats of man. A necessary word for sure.
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Absolutely. This deep dive, we hope, is
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designed to equip you, our listener, with solid reasons,
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Biblical reasons to speak truth without fear, even when you know
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the stakes feel high or when society pushes towards silence.
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We'll be looking at this through a Reformed lens, considering
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what commentators and theologians have taught on this
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passage. That's right.
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And the main aim Jesus sets out for us here in Matthew 10,
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which, well, it's very clear and honestly, it couldn't be more
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relevant right now. He wants to grant us the the
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fortitude, the strength to declare His truth and to do it
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with clarity and openness, regardless of what it might cost
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us personally. Clarity and openness, those are
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key. Definitely.
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This teaching directly confronts what some scholars call the gut
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wrenching fear. And that phrase feels right,
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doesn't it? The fear of speaking the truth
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when it might cost us our lives. That's a heavy thought.
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It is, and it's a feel that, as many people observe today, feels
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increasingly relevant. You see societal tolerance
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shifting, maybe becoming less accommodating for claims of
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absolute allegiance to Jesus. So.
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It's not just abstract theology. Not at all.
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We're not talking about just feeling a bit uncomfortable.
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We're talking about facing a really deep seated human fear.
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And if we don't confront it, well, it can stop us from
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fulfilling a central part of Our Calling as believers.
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It's a challenge that needs more than just, you know, a general
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sense of be brave. It needs a specific kind of
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courage, one that's rooted in understanding what Jesus is
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actually saying here. OK, so let's unpack that core
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instruction then, because it seems like it's the foundation
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for everything else in these verses.
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It really is. Throughout this section of
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Matthew 10, Jesus keeps coming back to this basic command.
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Do not be anxious about the threats of man, or even more
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simply, fear not. And what strikes me is the
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repetition. It's not just once.
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He says it three times, verse 26, verse 28 and verse 31.
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That's significant. It has to be, doesn't it, That
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repetition. It's not just Jesus trying to
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add, well, rhetorical flair. It feels like a recognition of
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how deeply this fear is wired into us.
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I think so too. It's like he knew this would be
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our biggest struggle, not just for the disciples then, but for
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us now. Something we constantly have to
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recenter on. Yeah, a constant recalibration.
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It's a direct, strong instruction, isn't it, to
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overcome that worry, that dread that can just paralyze you when
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you think about the consequences of following him faithfully.
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Exactly. The repetition itself tells you
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how serious this instruction is, and how necessary it is for
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anyone who really wants to be his disciple.
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Given the world we live in, it's not just a helpful hint, it's
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foundational. And it's clear from studying
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this passage how how relevant it is right now, today.
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Like you said, timely commentators point out that the
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pressures against speaking Christ's truth are real.
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They're not imagined. Very real.
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They suggest the likelihood is growing that tolerance will hold
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sway for everyone except the person who claims that everyone
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must give absolute allegiance to Jesus.
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That's a chilling thought when you pause on it.
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It is. Think about what that means for
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you listening. It means holding up the unique
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claims of Christ, his exclusivity in a society that's
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often pluralistic or skeptical or even hostile.
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Well, they can fight direct opposition.
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Right. It moves beyond just Oh, we
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disagree. Yeah, it can quickly become
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active marginalization, being pushed to the edges socially,
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maybe professionally, or even open hostility just for stating
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what Jesus taught. So this command, fear not, it
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stops being this abstract religious idea and becomes a
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very practical daily necessity for the believer.
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It hits home in the everyday stuff.
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It really does. And that's a crucial point,
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because the courage Jesus is talking about here, it isn't
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just some vague feeling in a way like psyching yourself up for a
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difficult meeting. Right, it's specific.
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Very specific. It's courage for a particular
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action. Proclaiming His truth, He tells
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his followers what I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and
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what you hear whispered proclaim on the housetops.
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OK, let's break that down. What I tell you in the dark,
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what you hear whispered. What's he getting out there?
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Well, those phrases seem to refer to the intimate personal
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teachings he gave his disciples, the truths he revealed to them
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directly, maybe in private moments away from the crowds.
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The core instruction, The inside scoop.
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Almost. Kind of, yeah.
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The foundational wisdom given to those closest to him first.
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And then he says, say in the light and proclaim on the
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housetops. Right.
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And that dual instruction plays to two things, clarity and
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openness. Both are essential.
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OK, clarity first say in the light.
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It means speaking clearly, no ambiguity, no hedging your bets,
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no obscure language. It's taking what might have been
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taught privately and making it understandable for everyone.
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No hiding it under a bushel, as he says elsewhere.
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Exactly. Strip away the jargon, present
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the truth plainly, then proclaim on the housetops that points to
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openness, doing it publicly. Not secretly.
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Not in whispers anymore. Right, in that culture,
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housetops were, well, the public square in a way.
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The highest points visible audible places for public
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announcements. You'd literally shout it from
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the roof for the whole village to hear.
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So he's calling for a bold public declaration of his
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teaching. Absolutely.
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This isn't a faith meant to be kept private, just between you
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and God, or only within a small group.
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It's a faith that demands to be heard.
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It's inherently public in its scope.
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So putting it all together, the demand becomes quite stark.
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It does. It's basically don't be afraid
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to speak clearly and openly what I have taught you, even if it
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cost you your life. That's the mission.
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That's what this courage is for. Wow.
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Yeah, that is stark. It's about being a clear public
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herald of Christ's message, no matter the consequences.
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The courage isn't for self protection or getting ahead in
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the world. It's for His Kingdom, for
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getting his saving truth out there to a world that needs it.
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It's a call to action, then rooted in trusting the one
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giving the command. Precisely.
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It's a high calling no doubt, but unnecessary one if the
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Kingdom of God is too advanced. I think that's a critical point
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to really let sink in the cost. We've heard the command speak
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fearlessly, but what exactly are these threats of man?
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Jesus refers to the things that caused that gut wrenching fear.
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Our study of this, looking at various theological
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perspectives, highlight several potential costs, things that
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happen when you choose to speak clearly and openly about Jesus's
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teachings. And these aren't just
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hypotheticals. For many throughout church
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history and even today, these are lived realities. 1st and and
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maybe this is the most common one for many of us listening in
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places like ours, simply speaking clearly and openly can
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just get you in trouble. Yeah, that resonates.
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It might not always be dramatic persecution like we read about
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elsewhere. Sometimes it's just
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uncomfortable consequences. Like what for instance?
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Well, it could be social awkwardness or even
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ostracization, finding yourself suddenly on the outside of
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certain groups, maybe at work or in your neighborhood.
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A subtle freeze. Out.
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Exactly. Or maybe it's just quiet
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disapproval from colleagues when your biblical convictions become
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clear. Or that awkward silence at a
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family dinner after you voice a perspective that goes against
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the grain. Especially if that veer is
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rooted in allegiance to Christ above all else.
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Right, That milder form of trouble.
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It can still be incredibly unsettling.
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It can be a powerful reason to just keep quiet, avoid the
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friction. That daily grind, those small
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resistances, they can really wear you down and tempt you
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towards silence, can't they? Just to keep the peace.
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They really can. But Jesus also points to more
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severe possibilities, doesn't he?
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He does beyond those subtler things.
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Second, he mentions the possibility of being dragged
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before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before
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them and the Gentiles. OK, that sounds much more
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serious, being forced into a public adversarial setting.
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Yeah. Imagine standing before powerful
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authorities, maybe people openly hostile to your faith, and
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you're compelled to give an account for believing in Jesus.
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It's. Not a friendly chat.
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No, it's often a legal or political confrontation.
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Your confession of faith itself is on trial.
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That creates huge pressure. It requires not just courage but
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real wisdom, because you're representing Christ before
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worldly powers. You see that in Acts with Peter
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and Paul before councils and rulers.
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Exactly, and history is filled with similar stories.
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It's a direct clash with worldly systems where your allegiance is
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tested very publicly. Then third, he says, disciples
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can expect to be maligned and mistreated.
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And he uses his own experience as the prime example.
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Right. If they have called the master
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of the house Beelzebel, how much more will they malign those of
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his household be eligible? That's linking Jesus directly to
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Satan. It's deeply offensive.
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So this isn't just about people disagreeing with you or offering
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constructive criticism. This is severe insult, false
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accusations, slander, being demonized.
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Commentaries really stress this point, noting it includes the
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names they call you when you speak out plainly.
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Think about that. The attacks are personal.
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They aim to discredit your character, your sanity, your
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message itself being called evil, hateful, irrational,
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dangerous simply for stating biblical truth.
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That has to be incredibly painful, discouraging, stirring
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up that fear. Jesus talks.
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About It's an attempt to isolate you, to make you ashamed of what
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you believe. And then finally, the ultimate
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cost. Jesus addresses it head on.
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Losing your life. Physical death.
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Yeah, he says it directly. Do not fear those who kill the
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body but cannot kill the soul. So he's making it plain physical
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death is a real possibility for those who speak his truth
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boldly, openly. And history confirms this.
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Tragically, countless followers of Jesus have paid that price.
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From the early martyrs right up to believers facing persecution
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today, the cross has been a literal reality for many.
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So the command isn't to pretend death is impossible.
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No, not at all. It's don't be afraid to speak
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clearly and openly what I have taught you, even if it costs you
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your life. That's the stark reality he puts
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before them and us. That definitely demands A
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courage beyond just normal human bravery.
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It requires something supernatural, yes, rooted in a
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completely different view of life and death.
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Which brings us to that crucial distinction.
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Jesus makes right about what really matters, what we should
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really fear. Exactly.
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It reorients everything. While the physical costs are
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significant, even death, Jesus points to a far greater
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consequence, the cost of not speaking his truth.
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He explains that opponents can kill the body, sure, but for the
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believer, the soul remains untouched and happy in God.
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Forever. That's bedrock theology.
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For us, physical death isn't the end.
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Not for the believer. It's not annihilation.
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It's a transition into God's presence, into eternal blessing.
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The body might die, but the redeemed soul is perfectly
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secure in Christ. It's going home.
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But then he gives the counterpoint the danger of
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silence. Yes, the terrifying
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counterpoint. If you choose to keep silent, if
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you forsake the path of truth, maybe because you've fallen in
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love with the praise of men, Jesus warns, the danger is you
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could lose your very soul. And we need to be careful here.
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This isn't saying God snatches salvation away if someone
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stumbles or feels afraid, is it? No, that's not how Reformed
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theology understands it. The warning, as scholars
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explain, is that a life consistently characterized by
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prioritizing human approval or worldly comfort over Christ's
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truth, well, that reveals a heart that may not truly belong
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to Him in the first place. It's a diagnostic, almost.
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It shows where your ultimate allegiance lies.
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Right. Valuing what people think or
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valuing an easy life more than God's truth carries an eternal
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spiritual price that far outweighs anything humans can do
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to your body. The fear of man, if you give
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into it consistently, can lead to compromises that reveal a
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lack of genuine saving faith. So Jesus clarifies who we should
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fear. Precisely, he says rather fear
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him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
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This shifts our perspective entirely.
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Our ultimate fear, our ultimate reverend, should be directed
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towards God alone. Because his authority is
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absolute. Eternal.
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Yes. He holds a final say over our
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physical lives and our eternal destiny.
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Feeling God properly means revering Him, trusting Him,
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obeying Him, knowing He has the ultimate claim on us.
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And when that divine perspective takes hold.
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Then the threats of mere humans, finite beings, they start to
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shrink, don't they? They become secondary concerns
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against the backdrop of eternity.
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That understanding is the ultimate foundation for being
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fearless, OK? So faced with these serious
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threats and also the sobering warning about silence, how can
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we possibly obey this command? How can we be fearlessly
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courageous? It just feels so counter to our
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natural instinct for self preservation.
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It absolutely is. We naturally shrink back from
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danger, seek safety, avoid confrontation.
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But Jesus doesn't just issue the command and say good luck.
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No, thankfully He provides reasons, 5 compelling reasons,
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divine motivations why we can and should have this courage to
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proclaim His truth. And these aren't just platitudes
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like think positive. Not at all.
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These are solid theological foundations rooted in God's
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character and his promises. They're the anchors that hold us
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steady when things get rough. OK, let's walk through them.
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Five reasons for courage. Let's do it.
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Each one builds on the last, constructing this platform of
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confidence despite opposition. Motivation one shared experience
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with Jesus as a mark of belonging.
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This first one comes right after what Jesus said about being
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maligned. He tells us essentially they
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will malign you like they did Jesus.
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If they have called the master of the house Beelzebel, how much
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more will they malign those of his household, his followers?
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Now, at first, hearing that sounds, well, frankly
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discouraging. Like another reason to be
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afraid. Who wants to be called names,
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smeared, linked with evil? We naturally recoil from that.
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We want people to like us or at least respect us.
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We want good standing. Yeah, So avoiding those kinds of
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verbal attacks, maybe softening the message or just staying
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quiet, that seems like the logical way to avoid the pain of
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rejection and slander. Yeah, it feels isolating,
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unfair. It might seem counterintuitive,
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yeah, but Jesus's reasoning here is actually incredibly
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encouraging. And Reformed theology helps us
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see why our mistreatment for speaking the truth.
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It's not some random, meaningless accident that God
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somehow missed. Instead, Jesus says, it's the
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same way they treated me. So when we are mistreated for
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Christ's sake, slandered, rejected, called names because
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we stand for His truth, He says that very experience is a sign
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that you belong to me. Ah, so it's a mark of
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identification. Exactly.
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The horrible names they call you when you speak out plainly
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actually serve to bind you and me together.
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They link us to Christ in His suffering.
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Wow, that completely reframes it.
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It does. It transforms potential fear and
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shame into a confirmation of our identity in Christ, an
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affirmation that we're truly his.
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It becomes a mark of authentic discipleship.
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So sharing in that suffering with Him gives us strength.
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Yes, because it validates our position as His own.
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It takes the sting out of the world's rejection by showing us
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we're in the best possible company, the company of Christ
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himself who endured far worse for us.
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We're not alone in it. That is a powerful way to look
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at it. It turns a negative into a
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positive affirmation. OK, Motivation 2.
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Ultimate vindication of truth. This one sounds hopeful.
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It is. It provides that crucial long
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term perspective. Jesus says.
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So have No Fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not
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be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
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In our world today, it often feels like truth gets buried,
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doesn't it? Distorted.
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Spun. Lost in the noise?
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People actively try to hide facts, create false narratives.
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And it can feel disheartening when you speak the truth and it
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seems like it's immediately shot down, ignored, or maybe even
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actively suppressed by people with with influence.
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You start wondering if your voice even matters.
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It doesn't make any difference. Will the truth ever come out?
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Yeah, that sense of futility can creep in.
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Makes silence seem easier, less frustrating.
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But this statement from Jesus is a profound assurance.
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He guarantees that the truth we speak will ultimately triumph.
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It will be vindicated. Even if people reject it now,
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call it names, try to bury it. Even then, even if the culture
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works hard to silence it, push it aside, declare it dangerous,
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Jesus essentially says take heart, be encouraged in the
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cause of truth. Because in the end, all truth
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will be revealed, all reality will be uncovered and.
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Those who spoke it. And those who spoke it with
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clarity and openness will be vindicated.
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It's a promise of divine revelation and ultimate justice.
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So the truth of Christ, no matter how unpopular now.
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It will stand triumphant eventually.
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That future certainty helps us overcome the fear we feel right
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now. When we face opposition, we know
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our efforts aren't wasted. Because we're speaking something
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eternal, undeniable. Exactly.
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It's like like knowing the final score of the game before it even
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starts. You know who wins in the end?
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That kind of certainty really frees you out, doesn't it?
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To just be faithful? Now it does.
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To play with everything you've got, knowing the outcome is
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secure. That's liberating, knowing the
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record will be sent straight. OK, next motivation 3 Limited
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power of human opponents. Fear not, you can only be
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killed. Yeah, this one is stark, Direct,
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but strangely liberating too. Jesus says and do not fear those
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who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.
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Right now, humans have a deep fear of death.
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It feels like the ultimate end. And that fear could be used as a
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weapon, can't it? To silence truth.
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Absolutely. The threat of physical harm,
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torture, execution. It's been used throughout
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history to force people into silence or compromise.
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The very idea of losing your life for a belief it can cause a
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paralyzing dread makes compromise look sensible.
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Just preserve your life, at least for now.
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But Jesus cuts right through that.
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His instruction means look, the absolute worst thing your
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opponents can do to you when you speak the truth is kill your
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body. Which sounds pretty bad.
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It does from an earthly perspective, but Jesus
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immediately adds the qualifier that action leaves the soul
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untouched and happy in God forever.
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The eternal perspective again. Exactly.
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For the believer, physical death isn't defeat.
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It's not annihilation. It's simply a dispatch to
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paradise, a transition from struggle here to eternal joy
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with God. It completely reorients your
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view of what constitutes real harm.
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It does. The real horror isn't what
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people can do to your physical body because your soul, your
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true self, is beyond their reach.
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It's secure in Christ. But in contrast.
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In contrast, Jesus warns, if you choose silence out of fear, if
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you forsake truth for human approval, you could lose your
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very soul. That prioritizing of man's
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opinion or personal comfort over God's truth that carries an
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eternal spiritual price. Their price far greater than
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physical death. Infinitely greater.
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So Jesus clarifies who we should truly fear.
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Rather, fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
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Our ultimate fear belongs to God alone.
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So it shifts our fear away from finite humans.
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And redirects it toward God, whose authority is eternal.
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This perspective liberates us from fearing human threats
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because it shows how limited they really are in the grand
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scheme of things. That's a radical shift in
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priorities, seeing death as a doorway, not just an end.
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OK, Motivation 4 God's close and intimate attention.
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Even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
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This one brings such deep personal comfort, doesn't it,
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through this image of God's meticulous care.
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It does, because when you're suffering, facing opposition,
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paying a cost for speaking truth, it's easy to feel alone,
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forgotten, like your struggle is just too small to be noticed.
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Does God really see my specific situation?
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Does he care about my sacrifice among billions of people and
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cosmic events? Right.
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The temptation is to feel like your individual pain is
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insignificant to the Creator, which can lead to feeling
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abandoned, maybe despairing. And that feeling of being alone
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in the fight can definitely erode your resolve to keep
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speaking out. But this imagery counters that
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directly. God is giving close and intimate
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attention to all you do. It's incredibly reassuring.
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Any suffering you face for speaking truth isn't because God
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is disinterested or unaware. He's not distant or detached.
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He's close enough to number the hairs on your head exactly.
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Think about that level of detail.
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Every single hair. It's astonishing.
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It means he is intimately acquainted with every part of
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you, every pain, every struggle, every tear you cry.
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Not just general oversight, but personal, granular attention.
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Yes, he is close. He is interested.
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He cares deeply, knowing that intimate awareness from God
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gives such a profound sense of security.
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It removes the fear of being overlooked or abandoned.
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And that security motivates you. It motivates us to speak truth,
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whatever the cost, because we know our ultimate well-being is
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held safely in the hands of a God who sees us, knows us, and
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values us beyond measure. He's truly present, always.
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That makes God feel incredibly personal, incredibly near.
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A truly comforting thought. OK, finally, motivation 5.
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God's sovereign will over all events.
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Not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's
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will. This fifth reason grounds our
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courage and God's ultimate control, His absolute
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sovereignty over everything. Jesus uses the example of
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sparrows. Are not 2 sparrows sold for a
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penny and not one of them will fall to the ground apart from
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your Father? Such a common, seemingly
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insignificant event, a Sparrow falling.
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And then he connects it directly to us.
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Fear not, therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows.
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Right. We live in a world that often
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feels chaotic, random, unpredictable.
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Bad things happen seemingly without reason.
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It can leave you feeling vulnerable, powerless.
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We crave control, certainty, and when we don't feel we have it,
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anxiety sets in. We become reluctant to put
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ourselves in harm's way for truth because it feels like
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stepping into, well, the dangerous unknown.
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But Jesus's point here is profoundly theological and
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especially comforting from a Reformed view of God's
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sovereignty. He's saying God actively governs
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the world, right down to the smallest details, like a bird
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falling. It's not passive permission,
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it's active governance. Exactly.
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Therefore, the implication is, as theologians explain, no harm
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can befall you. But what God wills, nothing
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happens outside His sovereign decree.
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That confidence that's fueled believers for centuries hasn't.
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It immensely. It removes the fear of random
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chance or the fear that evil might I ultimately win.
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It means every challenge, every suffering, even every breath we
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take is under the direct, purposeful and gracious will of
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our Father. We often hear that quote from
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Henry Martin, the missionary. Yes, if God has work for me to
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do, I cannot die. That captures the conviction
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perfectly. It means, in a sense, we are
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immortal until the work God has for us is done.
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No opponent, no threat, no circumstance can actually stop
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God's purpose for your life until His work through you is
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finished. That truth frees us from anxiety
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about what might happen. It lets us focus simply on being
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faithful right now, knowing our lives are ultimately secure.
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In His sovereign, loving hand, He holds it all.
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OK, so those are 5 massive pillars for courage, but Jesus
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also gives something more specific, doesn't he?
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For those really extreme moments.
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He does for when disciples are actually dragged before
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governors and kings, that specific scenario he mentioned
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earlier. Which isn't hypothetical for
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everyone. Yeah, that happens, and you can
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imagine the anxiety. What do I say?
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How do I defend myself? How do I represent Christ well
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under that pressure? The fear of saying the wrong
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thing, of failing it would be overwhelming.
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The dry mouth, the racing heart. But Jesus gives this remarkable
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promise right there. He does.
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He says do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are
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to say. For what you are to say, we'll
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be giving to you in that hour. Wow, so divine help with the
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actual words. Yes, in those high stakes
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moments, divine enablement provides the very words needed.
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It's not about memorizing scripts or relying on your own
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cleverness. It's a supernatural provision of
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wisdom and speech right when it's needed most.
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That takes the burden off you, doesn't it?
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Completely. It removes the burden of
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performance or self-reliance. In the toughest times you can
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just trust God to supply what's needed.
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You become a vessel for His truth, knowing He'll provide the
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words. And this whole idea ties into
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the nature of truth itself, which Jesus also addresses.
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You mentioned commentators warning us not to yield to the
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spirit of the age that moves us into peaceful silence when the
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truth is being trampled. Right.
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That cultural pressure is strong, isn't it?
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The push to avoid conflict, to prioritize social harmony, even
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if it means compromising or silencing God's Word.
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The idea that if speaking truth causes division, maybe silence
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is more loving. Jesus completely shatters that
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illusion. How so?
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In verse 34, he says something startling.
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Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth.
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I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
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A sword that sounds aggressive. It does, but we need to
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understand what he means. Theologians are clear.
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This sword is not the sword of steel.
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It's not a call to violence or earthly warfare.
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OK, So what is? It it's the sword of truth that
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gives life to all who believe. It's the piercing, dividing
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nature of the gospel message itself.
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Meaning that truth, when it's proclaimed, inherently divides.
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It can't help but divide. It draws a line in the sand.
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It separates those who receive it and find life from those who
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reject it and position themselves as opponents.
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It separates light from darkness, belief from unbelief.
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So the truth itself might not bring worldly peace.
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It often doesn't, but it brings spiritual life, and that often
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comes at the cost of friction in the world.
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The truth itself, by its nature, cuts to the heart, reveals where
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people truly stand, and demands a decision.
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Which underscores again why fearless proclamation is so
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necessary. You can't dilute the sword.
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You can't. It's very nature requires it to
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be wielded clearly and openly. So wrapping this up, what does
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this all mean for you listening right now as you go about your
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week? Well, Jesus's command still
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stands, doesn't it? And it's backed up by these
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incredibly solid reasons to obey it with joy, with courage.
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We are to love the truth he implies, and what you learn from
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Jesus in the solitude speak for the house.
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And that's not just for big public moments.
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It applies everywhere truth is challenged or pushed aside.
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Casual conversations, online discussions, Workplace meetings.
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And the core command remains Do not fear the face of any man.
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Be free from intimidation, regardless of who they are,
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their status, their anger, their influence, their ability to make
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trouble for you. It's about liberation from the
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fear of what people think or might do.
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So maybe a point for reflection for everyone listening.
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Yeah, consider this. Where in your life, small
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interactions, maybe bigger conversations, are you tempted
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to stay silent when truth is being suppressed or twisted?
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Could be a theological truth, a moral truth, maybe something
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about Christ's teaching that's just not popular right now.
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And then think, how might these five reasons Jesus gives
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actually equip you? How might remembering that
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mistreatment connects you to Him?
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The truth will win out in the end that.
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Human power is ultimately limited.
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That God cares for you intimately, down to the hairs on
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your head. And that His sovereign will
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directs everything. How might knowing these things
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equip you to speak with more clarity, more openness?
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Knowing that your ultimate safety, your ultimate
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vindication, rests entirely in his hands.
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It really comes down to weighing the cost of silence against the
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cost of speaking and aligning your fear correctly.
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Fearing God alone, the one who holds everything together.
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That's a challenging but also freeing talk to end on.
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Thank you for joining us for this deep dive on reformed
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thinking. Thank you.
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Until next time.