Meanwhile, so many people were crowding together that they were trampling one another underfoot. He began to speak, first to his disciples, “Beware of the leaven—that is, the hypocrisy—of the Pharisees. 2 There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops. 4 I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. 5 I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. 7 Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows. 8 I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. 9 But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. 10 Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. 12 For the holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”
Such a large crowd gathered around Jesus that they were trampling each other. Jesus warned his disciples about the teachings of the hypocritical Pharisees. No matter how persuasively the Pharisees present their teachings, the disciples should not be corrupted by them. Everyone’s hypocritical and false nature will eventually be revealed. The disciples should not be afraid of those who can kill only the body but not the soul. They should be in awe of (fear) the goodness and power of God (Prov. 1:7) who can destroy both the body and soul.
Accepting or rejecting Jesus is the same as accepting or rejecting the Father in Heaven (Mt. 10:32-33). If the religious leaders are persecuting Jesus they will also persecute his disciples. If God cares for the least of His creation, how much more will He care for those who follow His Son? On the day of Judgment, Jesus will acknowledge before his Father those who were faithful to him.
If a disciple who believed in Jesus and received the Holy Spirit then denies the Holy Spirit, he will be guilty of an unforgivable sin (Heb. 6:4-6). The Holy Spirit will speak through the apostles when they are brought before hostile rulers and authorities. To deny Jesus at that time would be to sin against the Holy Spirit.
Almighty God, help us to be stronger in our belief so that we may fearlessly live according to Your Son’s teaching and proclaim the Good News in accordance with Your will. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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