“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This proverb reassures followers that any hidden suffering or injustice they endure won't remain secret; God sees it all and will ultimately bring what's hidden into the light. It's not just about future vindication, but also about the present reality that God's awareness is the ultimate guarantee against true defeat, even when circumstances seem bleak.
“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is commissioning his disciples, sending them out to preach the gospel and perform miracles, but he's also warning them about the intense opposition and persecution they will face. This verse serves as a powerful reassurance amid those warnings, reminding them that their suffering and their message won't be in vain because God sees everything and will ultimately reveal all truth.
You might feel overlooked or misunderstood, but Jesus assures you that truth has a way of coming out.
Jesus uses a common saying here, "nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known." This isn't just about secrets coming out; it's a profound statement about ultimate accountability and vindication.
God's Unseen Hand
Think of it like this: even when your motives, your struggles, or your faithfulness are unseen by others, God sees them all. The world might not see your integrity or your quiet perseverance, but God does. This promise assures you that His perspective is the ultimate one.
Ultimate Justice and Vindication
Ultimately, this points to a future where all things will be brought into the light. Your faithfulness, even when hidden, will be revealed. The wrongdoings of those who persecute you will also be exposed. This isn't about earthly fame, but about God's perfect justice and the eventual vindication of His people.
Jesus pivots from the fear of others to a deeper, more important fear. What's the difference?
Right after telling His disciples not to fear their persecutors, Jesus introduces a crucial distinction. The 'fear them not' is directly linked to the understanding that human power is limited, but God's power is absolute.
Limited Human Power
Those who threaten you can harm your body, but they cannot touch your soul or your eternal destiny. Their power is temporary and superficial.
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Absolute Divine Power
True fear – the kind that directs our lives – belongs to God. He alone has the power to bring about eternal destruction. Recognizing this shifts our perspective entirely. If we rightly fear God, the lesser fears of human opinion or persecution lose their grip.
Understand the original words
phobeomai · Greek Verb
To be struck with awe, reverence, or terror. In a biblical context, it often refers to the respectful or cowering attitude toward authority, either toward God (the beginning of wisdom) or toward human threats that distract from faith.
kruptos · Greek Adjective/Noun
A state of existence or condition that is concealed or secret; often used to describe truth that is currently unknown but destined to be disclosed by God.
This passage repeats Jesus' words almost verbatim, highlighting the theme that no hidden action or word will remain secret, reinforcing the idea that truth will ultimately be revealed.
1 Corinthians 4:5This verse speaks to the final judgment when the Lord will bring to light what is hidden in darkness, directly paralleling the promise that all things will be revealed.
Ecclesiastes 12:14This Old Testament passage asserts that God will bring every deed into judgment, including everything hidden, emphasizing the ultimate accountability that underpins Jesus' words about revelation.
Romans 2:16This verse confirms that God will judge the secrets of men by Christ Jesus, echoing the certainty that hidden matters will not stay hidden and will face divine scrutiny.
barnesMatthew 10:26: "Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known."
Fear them not ... - He encouraged them by the assurance that God would protect them. and that their truth and innocence should yet be vindicated. It is probable that the declaration, There is nothing covered, etc., was a proverb among the Jews. By it our Saviour meant that their "innocence," their "principles," and their "integrity," though then the world might n…
calvinMatthew 10:26-31: "Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known."
- Fear them not therefore: for nothing is covered that shall not be revealed, and nothing is hid that shall not be known. 27. What I say to you in darkness speak you in light: and what you hear in the ear proclaim on the housetops. 28. And fear not those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul: but rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in ge…
This proverb reassures followers that any hidden suffering or injustice they endure won't remain secret; God sees it all and will ultimately bring what's hidden into the light. It's not just about future vindication, but also about the present reality that God's awareness is the ultimate guarantee against true defeat, even when circumstances seem bleak.
Jesus is commissioning his disciples, sending them out to preach the gospel and perform miracles, but he's also warning them about the intense opposition and persecution they will face. This verse serves as a powerful reassurance amid those warnings, reminding them that their suffering and their message won't be in vain because God sees everything and will ultimately reveal all truth.
Jesus is commissioning his disciples, sending them out to preach the gospel and perform miracles, but he's also warning them about the intense opposition and persecution they will face. This verse serves as a powerful reassurance amid those warnings, reminding them that their suffering and their message won't be in vain because God sees everything and will ultimately reveal all truth.
"“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known." — This proverb reassures followers that any hidden suffering or injustice they endure won't remain secret; God sees it all and will ultimately bring what's hidden into the light. It's not just about fu…
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Last reviewed October 2026