Reasons Not To Be Afraid

“The student isn’t above the teacher,” said Jesus, “nor is a servant above his master. It’s enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house’s been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!

“So don’t be afraid of them, for there’s nothing concealed that won’t be disclosed, or hidden that won’t be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what’s whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body but can’t kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you’re worth more than many sparrows.

“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I’ll also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I’ll disown before my Father in heaven.

“Do you suppose that I’ve come to bring peace to the earth? No, I didn’t come to bring peace, but a sword. For I’ve come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me isn’t worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me. Whoever doesn’t take up hiscross and follow me isn’t worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose his reward.”

Matthew