And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights a crucial distinction: human power stops at the body, but God's power extends to both body and soul. True fear isn't about avoiding physical harm, but about recognizing the ultimate authority over our entire being, urging us to prioritize His judgment over human threats.
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just sent his disciples out as missionaries, warning them of the persecution they'll face and the rejection they'll encounter. He's told them to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves, and that they will be brought before rulers. Now, he urges them not to fear their earthly persecutors, because those who harm them can only touch their physical bodies, not their eternal souls. Instead, Jesus redirects their ultimate fear and reverence to God, who alone holds the power of eternal judgment over both body and soul.
When faced with threats, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by human power. But Jesus offers a radical reframe.
Jesus confronts his disciples with the reality of persecution. People will threaten them, torment them, and even take their lives. He acknowledges this power: "those who kill the body." However, he immediately cuts to the core truth: their power is ultimately limited. They can destroy the physical body, but they have absolutely no dominion over the soul – the eternal, essential part of a person.
This isn't to downplay the suffering or violence people can inflict. It's to put it in perspective. The ultimate sting of death, the destruction of eternal well-being, is beyond their grasp. This is a powerful encouragement to stand firm, knowing that the worst human enemies can do is temporary and incomplete.
If human threats are temporary, who then holds the ultimate power over our existence?
Jesus pivots from the limited power of human persecutors to the absolute sovereignty of God. He introduces a different kind of fear: a holy, reverent awe of the One who possesses supreme authority over both body and soul. God's power is not merely to sustain life, but also, in judgment, to bring about eternal destruction. This is not a capricious or vengeful power, but one that is exercised in perfect justice.
The command to 'fear him' isn't about cowering in terror, but about recognizing His ultimate authority and submitting to His will. It's about orienting our lives around His truth and His kingdom, knowing that all other powers are secondary and subject to His rule. This right fear crowds out the wrong fear.
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Understand the original words
psuchē · Greek Noun
The immaterial part of a person; the seat of life, personality, and the eternal aspect of human beings that survives physical death and remains accountable to God.
sōma · Greek Noun
The physical frame of a human; distinct from the soul, it is the vessel of life on earth which is subject to decay and death.
geenna · Greek Noun
The place of eternal punishment and separation from God; the destination of those under divine judgment for their rejection of His truth.
c. 27-30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Public Ministry and Galilean Campaign
Jesus begins teaching and performing miracles throughout Galilee, gathering disciples and attracting crowds, but also facing increasing opposition from religious authorities.
c. 30 AD
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles
Jesus commissions his twelve closest followers to preach the coming of the kingdom of God, heal the sick, and cast out demons, warning them of the persecution they will face.
c. 30-33 AD
Jesus' Ministry in Judea and Jerusalem
Jesus' ministry shifts towards Jerusalem, where his teachings and actions escalate the conflict with religious leaders, culminating in his arrest and crucifixion.
c. 30-33 AD
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is arrested, tried, and crucified in Jerusalem. His resurrection three days later confirms his divine authority and the promise of future vindication.
c. 33 AD onwards
The Early Church and Its Persecutions
The apostles and early Christians begin spreading the gospel, facing significant opposition, imprisonment, and martyrdom from both Jewish authorities and the Roman Empire.
This passage from Luke is a near-parallel to Matthew 10:28, directly addressing the disciples' fear and the limits of human power versus God's ultimate authority over both body and soul.
1 Samuel 2:6This verse from the Old Testament highlights God's sovereign power over life and death, echoing the principle that ultimate authority rests with Him, not with human rulers or persecutors.
Hebrews 12:28-29This passage emphasizes serving God acceptably with reverence and awe, directly connecting a proper fear of God with the unshakeable nature of His kingdom, contrasting it with the temporary power of earthly forces.
James 4:12This verse directly states there is only one Lawgiver able to save and destroy, reinforcing the exclusivity of God's authority and the foolishness of fearing those whose power is limited compared to His.
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…
barnesMatthew 10:28: "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
Them which kill the body - That is, people, who have no power to injure the soul, the immortal part. The body is a small matter in comparison with the soul. Temporal death is a slight thing compared with eternal death. He directs them, therefore, not to be alarmed at the prospect of temporal death, but to fear God, who can destroy bo…
The verse highlights a crucial distinction: human power stops at the body, but God's power extends to both body and soul. True fear isn't about avoiding physical harm, but about recognizing the ultimate authority over our entire being, urging us to prioritize His judgment over human threats.
Jesus has just sent his disciples out as missionaries, warning them of the persecution they'll face and the rejection they'll encounter. He's told them to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves, and that they will be brought before rulers. Now, he urges them not to fear their earthly persecutors, because those who harm them can only touch their physical bodies, not their eternal souls. Instead, Jesus redirects their ultimate fear and reverence to God, who alone holds the power of eternal judgment over both body and soul.
Jesus has just sent his disciples out as missionaries, warning them of the persecution they'll face and the rejection they'll encounter. He's told them to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves, and that they will be brought before rulers. Now, he urges them not to fear their earthly persecutors, because those who harm them can only touch their physical bodies, not their eternal souls. Instead, Jesus redirects their ultimate fear and reverence to God, who alone holds the power of eternal judgment over both body and soul.
"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." — The verse highlights a crucial distinction: human power stops at the body, but God's power extends to both body and soul. True fear isn't about avoiding physical harm, but about recognizing the ultim…
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Last reviewed October 2026