Don't Be Afraid: The Most Repeated Commandment in the Bible

Sheep Among Wolves

"I'm sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves." Jesus is very honest with his disciples. Here in Matthew chapter 10, Jesus gives a warning that following him will be dangerous. They'll be on trial before governors and kings, and it'll mean rejection by their own families.

One of the values held universally is the sacredness of the family. While healthy families are important, Jesus warns that following him may cause division. The Kingdom of God claims priority. He pulled James and John out of the family's fishing business.

Jesus knew this cost personally as well. There are several incidents where Jesus' relationships with his mother and siblings were under real stress. At one point, his family so misunderstood him and his activities that they believed he'd lost his mind, and they wanted to take charge of him. The tensions between Jesus' disciples and Jesus' own family don't really get resolved until we get to the resurrection.

Someone has said, "Just when I'm comfortable with my Jesus meek and mild, the observer of lilies, he goes and disturbs me with wild statements about fire on the Earth and the destruction of families."

Jesus, in many cases, still brings division. I met Bishop Ladoke Tabulu of Nigeria many years ago at a Methodist World Evangelism Conference in Atlanta. He began life as a Muslim prince. He then had a life-changing encounter with Jesus. He not only had to flee his homeland, but his father, the King, put a contract out on his life.

The Most Repeated Commandment

Do you know which commandment is the most repeated in the Bible? We might expect that it's one of the ten that Moses delivered. Perhaps it's "behave" or "be good" or "work hard" or "give more money." Well, in fact, the answer is found in verses 26, 28, and 31 in this passage. Yes, it's repeated three times: "Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid."

It got me thinking about how much fear is at the heart of so much trouble. Fear is the cause of so much inertia, sickness, and bad behavior. Fear of failure, fear of being found out, fear of rejection, fear of poverty, of no longer being needed, fear of what other people will think, fear of the future, and so on.

Jesus is giving a clear warning about the cost of following him, and announcing the kingdom naturally causes his disciples to be very anxious. They're sent in the midst of wolves. But Jesus gives two reasons why we should not allow our fear to silence us or cause us to compromise.

Reason One: The Truth Will Prevail

The first reason Jesus gives for not being afraid is surprising. It's not that God will look after them or us, although he promises to do that. It's that the truth will prevail. A time will come, says Jesus, when everything hidden will be revealed. What is now undercover will be uncovered. The truth will then be clearly seen.

We're halfway through the year, and these months have been plagued by violence, destruction, and worldwide instability. We know the truth is the first casualty of war. So much disinformation. Will we ever know the truth? Well, we're reminded today that evil will not have the last say.

You may be the innocent victim of gossip or fraud or some other form of abuse. The truth will be revealed. Evil will not have the last say.

"Don't be intimidated! Eventually everything is going to be out in the open, and everyone will know how things really are. So don't hesitate to go public now." — Matthew 10:26–27, The Message

Jesus is saying, for those who are faithful, those who are unafraid to speak and act on the truth we have in Jesus Christ, that the truth will out and justice will prevail. As Tom Wright summarizes it well: "Those who have lived with integrity and innocence, despite what the world says about them, will be vindicated."

Reason Two: God Knows You and Cares

The second reason we should not be afraid is that God knows us and our circumstances, and he cares. Jesus says to you and me:

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father's consent. And even the hairs on your head are all counted. So do not be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows."

Jesus stressed often the importance of his disciples living with the constant recognition of God's personal knowledge of them, each one. The Good Shepherd knows his sheep by name, and they know his voice, and they follow him. "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me." That's such an encouraging song, isn't it?

These words of Jesus give me some answers that are foundational for my life as a follower of Jesus:

• They help me to see myself as having great value to my Heavenly Father and Creator, who cares for me and my needs with all my faults and failures.
• They cause me to be more considerate toward the needs of others because they are made in God's image, and they are also precious to him.
• They encourage me to be bold in speaking to others about a Heavenly Father who, with boundless love, numbers hairs on heads and watches sparrows play.

A Word for You Today

Whatever you may be anxious about today, I hope you're listening to this word from God. It's for you. You're not alone. God knows you and your situation better than you do yourself.

Be concerned with what God wants for you. How you speak and act in your situation will be your witness to Jesus — your honesty, truthfulness, generosity, mercy, and love. Trust God with whatever your burdens may be.