Commentary – تفسير

4"And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.5I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!6Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God.7But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.8Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God.9But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

Christ strives more strongly against the spirit of hypocrisy among believers. When you intend to guide a person to Christ, do not speak to him about thousands of things, but confess your faith with lowliness, and testify God’s salvation, in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, in order that your methods should not appear as trickery. Say to your friends, "Christ redeemed me and saved you too. Accept this or reject it. However, the Lord is living, and he loves you."
Do not be afraid of any man, and if you became afraid of any man, look at God who is greater than all his creatures. The important thing is not our earthly life, but our being in Christ. Your everlasting life that is the Holy Spirit poured in your heart will not die if you abide in the truth. So choose to die in your body rather than to deny Christ, for judgment is certainly coming, and the examination of your confession is coming upon you. Christ, the Savior is prepared to recognize himself as your brother, Lord, and Redeemer, and to cover and blot out all your transgressions, but he will not support you if you deny him on earth, and do not tell others about him. Your witness to Christ shows the amount of your love and faith.
Let us not forget that Christ speaks to his followers, and not to the unbelievers, about falling into hell. He who knows God, and fears men rather than God, will be destroyed grievously. God’s holiness is like a dissecting knife which cuts off all the liars out of his kingdom, destroys all the hypocrite among his followers, and casts them into hell which is not an imagination, but truth. Christ commands us to fear God lest we sin. Moreover, he commands us to trust God as children trust their father, and he accepts those who confess Christ and his salvation. Your heavenly Father is the Omniscient God who knows your secret thoughts, and the number of the hairs on your head, those that have fallen and the remaining that will certainly fall. If the valueless birds are known to him and numbered, how much more would he love you and care for you of little faith if you confessed him in public, and became in harmony with his will in order that all men should be saved and brought to the knowledge of the truth. Ask that you may realize the true ways of preaching, stop your superficial enthusiasm, and serve your Lord in the lowliness of his Spirit, for Jesus is living, and he instructs you in his love.