Matthew 10:28. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Lord Jesus warned us about persecutions coming our way when He said that we would be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and that we would be hated by all nations because of Him (Matthew 24:9). In his letter to Timothy, Paul echoed what Jesus had said by stating that everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12).
Why do persecutions come when we are trying to obey and proclaim the Word? Often, they come because of religious forces. Jesus told us He was sending us out like sheep among wolves, and therefore we must be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16). These religious systems often become the devil’s primary stronghold, as they prioritize human tradition and institutional control over the liberating truth of the gospel.
Persecutions also come through people of disobedience, as we are warned to be on our guard because we will be handed over to local councils and be flogged in synagogues (Matthew 10:17). We may face opposition through unbelieving leaders of the world, being brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles (Matthew 10:18). Tragically, persecution can even come through family members, where brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, as children rebel against their parents (Matthew 10:21).
While these attacks appear human in origin, we must recognize that Satan is the one using people to block the gospel movement God desires. Satan often uses people to persecute the saints to block the gospel movement that God desires. What must we remember in these moments? First, let us remember that Jesus was also persecuted. He told us that it is enough for students to be like their teachers and servants like their masters, noting that if the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household (Matthew 10:25).
If the world hates you, remember that it hated Christ first (John 15:18). But the power of the gospel within you will eventually be revealed, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known (Matthew 10:26). This hatred is not a sign of your failure, but a confirmation that the light of Christ in you is actively exposing the darkness of the world. While the enemy intends for this opposition to silence your testimony, God utilizes your faithful endurance to display the undeniable reality of His presence in the midst of persecution.
Remember Stephen? As the first martyr of the Early Church, he stands as a staggering testament to the power of the Holy Spirit during persecution (Acts 6:8-7:60). Even as he faced the absolute fury of the religious council, he did not look at the stones in their hands but looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God. Most remarkably, he saw “Jesus standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55-56)—a powerful shift from the usual description of Christ sitting in authority. It was as if the King Himself stood up to honor His faithful witness and receive him home. Through Stephen’s death, the gospel was scattered from Jerusalem into Judea and Samaria, expanding the movement to the ends of the earth.
Just as Stephen stood firm for the King until the end, we must refuse to let opposition silence our testimony. Do not ever get discouraged when proclaiming the gospel. Instead, continue to proclaim it in humility and with boldness. What the Lord tells you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs (Matthew 10:27). Remember what the Early Church did amid severe persecution. They did not simply ask for protection; instead, they prayed that the Lord would consider the threats and enable His servants to speak His word with great boldness, while stretching out His hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Jesus (Acts 4:29-30).
Both your life and the lives of those who persecute you are in the hands of God. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28). Do not forget that there is always God’s plan in all this. Even two sparrows sold for a penny do not fall to the ground outside your Father’s care, and the very hairs of your head are all numbered (Matthew 10:29-30).
Therefore, when you face these inevitable conflicts within your own household, remember that the person in front of you is not the real enemy (Matthew 10:36). But your spiritual struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, and powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12).
When persecuted, rest assured that you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you (Matthew 10:19). The Holy Spirit will empower you with strength from above so that you may acknowledge Jesus as the Christ before those who persecute you, and Lord Jesus will acknowledge you before God (Matthew 10:32).
Discover the infinite worth of the gospel, which is the answer to every problem. The gospel is worth more than our own life, for whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for His sake will find it (Matthew 10:39). Do not be deceived when persecuted. Realize the devil’s evil schemes and discover God’s absolute plans in the midst of the trial. Stay the course and stand firm to the end, for the Lord will give you victory (Matthew 10:22).
Prayer. Father, I thank You for the assurance of victory. Fill me with strength from above so that I may stay the course and stand firm to the end. In Jesus’ name, Amen.