Fear Not, Fear Right: What Jesus Teaches About Courage

July 12, 2025 - Saturday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Matthew 10:24–33

Three times in today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us, “Do not be afraid.” And then—almost jarringly—He also says, “Fear.”

“Do not be afraid of them…”

“Fear the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.”

“Do not be afraid… you are worth more than many sparrows.”

This interplay of fear and fearlessness invites us into one of the most challenging teachings in the Gospel: the call to courage rooted in trust—and in rightly ordered fear.

The Fear That Paralyzes

We know the fear of people. It comes naturally. We worry what others think. We hesitate to speak truth when it may cost us. We water down our convictions, sometimes even our faith, just to avoid confrontation.

Jeremiah knew this fear well. When God called him to preach to a stubborn people, his first instinct was resistance. But God told him plainly: “Do not be afraid of them” (Jer. 1:7). Later, when Jeremiah was threatened with death for speaking God's word (Jer. 11:21), he didn't back down. He stayed faithful—because he feared God more than man.

Jesus echoes that call in today’s Gospel:

“Do not fear those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul.”

“Rather, fear the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.” (Matt. 10:28)

Learning the Right Kind of Fear

The Bible is clear: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 1:7). But this kind of fear isn’t about terror or dread. It’s reverence. Awe. A deep awareness of God’s holiness and justice.

Psalm 34 says that those who fear the Lord lack nothing—and that this fear must be learned (Ps. 34:9–11). Why? Because our instincts push us to fear what’s around us, not the One above us. We tremble before people’s opinions, but grow numb to the reality of eternity.

Gehenna—the place Jesus mentions—is a haunting symbol of this reality. It was an actual valley outside Jerusalem where children were once sacrificed to false gods (Jer. 7:31). In time, it became a powerful image for hell: a warning of what happens when we ignore the God of life and love.

From Gehenna to Sparrows

But Jesus doesn’t leave us in fear. Right after warning us about Gehenna, He shifts the scene:

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father knowing… You are worth more than many sparrows” (Matt. 10:29–31).

What a contrast. From the horrors of hell to the gentle care of a Father who notices even a falling bird. Jesus wants us to understand: God’s desire is not to condemn but to save. Not to destroy, but to protect.

“He cares for the birds of the air,” Jesus says elsewhere, “and clothes the grass of the field. How much more you?” (Matt. 6:26, 30)

When fear threatens to overwhelm us—whether it’s fear of rejection, illness, persecution, or failure—Jesus reminds us to look at the sparrows. To remember that we are seen, valued, and never forgotten.

A Spectacle for Heaven

Saint Paul once described the life of an apostle as a “spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men” (1 Cor. 4:9). In other words, our faith is lived on a stage—not for applause, but for witness.

Paul didn’t seek fame. He accepted being called the “scum of the world” if it meant being faithful to Christ (1 Cor. 4:13). What mattered to him wasn’t what people said, but what Jesus would say on the final day:

“Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matt. 25:23)

Jesus promises: “Everyone who acknowledges Me before others, I will acknowledge before My Father in heaven” (Matt. 10:32). That’s our hope. That’s why we live, speak, and act as followers of Christ—even when the world misunderstands us.

Final Thought

So, fear not.

But fear rightly.

Let the fear of God lead you into wisdom, not anxiety.

Let it give you courage to speak when it’s easier to stay silent.

Let it remind you that hell is real—but so is God’s love.

And when you feel small, anxious, or overwhelmed, look at the sparrows.

Because the God who holds the birds in His gaze holds you even closer.

And that, Jesus says, is reason enough to live without fear.