Fear God More Than Man

The following is from Matthew Poole's commentary, edited and modernized.

And I say unto you my friends, "Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him."

Luke 12:4-5

Our Savior arms his disciples to encounter those storms of persecution which he knew they would meet with after he should be taken up into heaven. Here are two arguments in this verse:

1. The one drawn from the impotency, or limited power, of the most malicious enemies: they can kill the body, but can do no more.
2. From the mighty power of God, who can cast us into hell. Matthew says, who can cast body and soul into hell fire.

Whence is evident, that:

1. There are punishments beyond this life. All men's punishments will not end with the killing of their bodies.
2. Men have souls as well as bodies, and both souls and bodies of sinners will in the resurrection be made capable of eternal punishment.
3. The ready way to bring us under that misery is to be more afraid of the wrath of men than of the wrath of God.

There is nothing so effectual to drive out of our hearts a slavish fear of man in the doing of our duty, as a right apprehension of the power of God, begetting a fear of him in our souls.