In Matthew 10:28, Jesus says that being killed is not as big of a deal as having your life destroyed. Rather than live in the Valley of Death, God want us to enjoy everything He has given to us in this life. The warnings about gehenna are given by Jesus so that we do not destroy our health, life, family, friendships, and reputation in this life. People who are sent to the Valley of Hinnom (usually because of crime or leprosy) lose their friends and family, and face a life filled with horror, decay, and destruction. Matt 5:22, 29, 30 10:28 18:8-9 23:15, 33 Mark 9:43-47 Luke 12:5 Jas 3:6), Jesus speaks of gehenna, or the Valley of Hinnom in a symbolic way … not to teach about what happens to some people in the afterlife, but rather to teach about what can happen to some people in this life. When the various texts are considered (cf. In my book “What is Hell?” and the online course that goes with it, I says this about gehenna: The Greek word used for hell in Matthew 10:28 is the word gehenna. This word does not refer to some horrible afterlife experience, but to an experience in this life where all that you hold dear and all that is valuable and important to you gets destroyed. However, a third option might be that the “him” is referring to other human beings. However, there are many Christian leaders who think the pronoun is referring to Satan. The primary question about this text is in regards to whom Jesus is referring when He says “fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Who is the “him”? The NKJV version has the “him” capitalized, which shows that they think the pronoun is referring to God. There are several translation issues about this verse which creates some deep divisions in Christianity regarding the meaning of what Jesus says here. I have written about this text previously in connection with the parallel passage in Luke 12:5. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Would you be able to explain this passage?Īnd do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Jeremy, I loved this course and it helped me out immensely, but I’m trying to figure out Matthew 10:28 with this new understanding of hell. One of the members of my online discipleship group is taking my online course about hell, and had a question regarding Matthew 10:28. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Question from a Reader These seem impossible as well, until we understand what Paul is actually saying about how to love our enemies.īut before we look at Ephesians 3:19-21, I want to answer a question from a reader about Matthew 10:28 where Jesus says, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Have you ever tried to actually love your enemies? It’s next to impossible, isn’t it? In Ephesians 3:18-21, Paul provides two ways that we can learn to love our enemies.
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