Matthew 10:28 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus teaches us to set the right fear in its place so that lesser fears lose their grip.
The Context of Matthew 10:28
Spoken as Jesus sends out the twelve apostles, warning them of the opposition they will meet. He is preparing them to carry His message into a world that may reject and harm them, and He steadies their courage.
What Does Matthew 10:28 Mean?
Jesus is sending His friends into real danger, and He does not soften it. People may indeed kill the body, He says, but that is the limit of what they can do; the soul lies beyond their reach. Then He lifts their eyes higher. The One worth our deepest reverence is God, who holds both soul and body in His hands. It is a sobering word, yet Jesus speaks it to free them. When the fear of God is set rightly in its place, the threats of men begin to shrink down to their true size.
This is the same God Jesus calls Father in the very next breath, the One who sees each sparrow fall and numbers the hairs of our head (Matthew 10:29-31). The One we are to reverence above all is also the One who treasures us beyond counting. Jesus, who would soon let men kill His own body and rise again, holds out a courage that runs deeper than the worst this world can threaten, anchored in a Father who will never lose what He loves.
Matthew 10:28 in the Original Language
psuche (ψυχή), 'soul' -- the life or self that outlasts the body, the part no human hand can reach.
How to Apply Matthew 10:28 Today
When we are afraid of what people can do to us, this verse gently reorders our fears. Reverence for God, who holds soul and body alike, puts every smaller threat in proportion. And that same God is the Father who counts our hairs and never loses what He loves.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 10:28
What does Matthew 10:28 mean?
Jesus teaches us to set the right fear in its place so that lesser fears lose their grip.
What is the context of Matthew 10:28?
Spoken as Jesus sends out the twelve apostles, warning them of the opposition they will meet. He is preparing them to carry His message into a world that may reject and harm them, and He steadies their courage.
How can I apply Matthew 10:28 today?
When we are afraid of what people can do to us, this verse gently reorders our fears. Reverence for God, who holds soul and body alike, puts every smaller threat in proportion. And that same God is the Father who counts our hairs and never loses what He loves.