Whom to Fear - July 10, 2021 - Bible Commentaries
6m | Jul 10, 2021A Reading of the holy gospel according to Mt 10:24-33
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master; 25 it is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant y like his master. If they have called the master “of the house Be-el'zebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.
26 "So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim upon the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Fathers will. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; 33but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
Reading: Mt 10:25
25 it is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master “of the house Be-el'zebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.
Commentary:
In sharing his mission, Christ's Apostles and disciples would also share in his suffering and rejection. Beelzebul: A name that means "exalted lord, or lord of the world," probably from the title of a pagan deity. It was corrupted into "Beelzebub," meaning the "lord of flies," which was a name for the Devil in the New Testament.
Reading: Mt 10:28
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Commentary:
Soul: The spiritual component of the human person. The body and soul together form a unity that defines us as human persons, for it is the spiritual soul that animates the body. Hell: Elsewhere called Gehenna or "the unquenchable fire," this is the place or state of eternal damnation for those who reject the love of God. See commentary on Matthew 5:22. (CCC 363-365, 1034, 1056-1057)
Reading: Mt 10:29
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Fathers will.
Commentary:
As in Matthew 6:31-33, Christ urged a childlike trust that God the Father would always provide for our needs. (CCC 305)
Reading: Mt 10:32-33
32 So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; 33but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
Commentary:
The faithful, when called upon to do so, must witness their faith in Christ without fear if they wish to be true disciples. (CCC 13-14, 1816, 2145)
Works Cited
Ignatius Press. The Didache Bible : With Commentaries Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2014. Edited by Rev. James Socias, 2nd ed., Downers Grove, Il, Midwest Theological Forum, Inc. ; San Francisco, Ca, 5 Jan. 2015, pp. 4, 782.
---. The Didache Bible : With Commentaries Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2014. Edited by Rev. James Socias, 2nd ed., Downers Grove, Il, Midwest Theological Forum, Inc. ; San Francisco, Ca, 5 Jan. 2015, pp. 4, 782–4, 783.