And fear not them, &c.— This was a saying familiar to the Jews. See Wis 16:13-15 and compare Isaiah 51:7-8. Our Saviour most wisely cautions his disciples against the fear of man, since they were going to encounter all the powers of the world and of darkness, by promoting the gospel of purity, and of true holiness.
Dr. Doddridge observes very well, that these words contain a certain argument, to prove the existence of the soul in a separate state, and its perception of that existence, else the soul would be as properly killed as the body; and accordingly he paraphrases the words, "Fear not them who can only kill the mortal body, but cannot kill or hurt the immaterial soul, which will still survive in allits vigour, while its tabernacle lies in ruins." Our Saviour, instead of the word αποκτειναι, to kill, makes use of the word απολεσαι, to destroy, in the second clause, which carries with it the signification also of tormenting. See Grotius. What an awful verse is this before us! How fit is it that this eternal and almighty God should be the object of our humble fear, and that in compassion with him we should fear nothing else! All the terrors, and all the flatteries of the world, are disarmed by this:—an idea which in every state of life should engage us to be faithful to God; so shall we be most truly faithful to ourselves.