10:27
These verses 27-30 give a very important lesson. We have just been told not to be afraid, even though we are in a dangerous situation. Now we are told (obviously, it was the disciples who were told, but the principles apply to all of us) to make known what Jesus tells us in private. God reveals things to us, this is primarily through making us aware of His written word, and opening our minds to understand it, to have “eyes that see and ears that listen”. This is made known to us in private, but we are to proclaim it in the open.
10:28
But what about the fear? What about the threats? What about the real persecution? We are not to be put off by this. Notice that Jesus does not diminish what the opposition can do. They can destroy the body, and there are many instances of this happening, throughout history, and throughout the world today. But we are to have an eternal perspective. They cannot kill the soul. Instead we are to have a greater fear of God, who can destroy both body and soul in hell. See the way in which Jesus is “encouraging” His disciples. Again there is none of the “people will think you are really nice and then see the truth of the gospel” stuff.
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