The phrase “fear not” occurs many times in the Word of God, beginning with the word to Abram in Genesis 15:11After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. (Genesis 15:1) and ending with the word spoken to the Apostle John in Revelation 1:1717And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: (Revelation 1:17). Many times the words come directly from the Lord to one of His own, to encourage them and to allay their fears. However, the words come sometimes from men or women, such as Joseph, David, Elijah, Jael and others. Sometimes even ungodly men like Absalom used the term in Scripture.
In this article it would be impossible to consider all the references in Scripture to “fear not,” but it is significant that the term occurs seven times in the book of Luke. The order in which they are used in Luke is also important.
We know that Luke’s gospel portrays the Lord Jesus as the Son of Man, and it is also the introduction of Paul’s ministry. As such, Luke brings us into contact with souls much more than the other gospels. Some have even called Luke the social gospel. Matthew gives us kingdom truth and thus is much more taken up with the kingdom. However, the Lord Jesus speaks of the church in Matthew and tells us that in the future He would build His church. Mark looks at Christ as the perfect Servant, while John brings out His deity so clearly.
The Coming of Christ
The first three uses of the phrase “fear not” in the book of Luke have to do with the coming of Christ into the world. First of all, the priest Zacharias, while engaged in his service in the temple, sees an angel before him, and he is quite naturally troubled and afraid. But the angel tells him, “Fear not” (Luke 1:1313But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. (Luke 1:13)), and then proceeds to give him wonderful news about a son that would be born to them. The son was John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Lord Jesus, who would “make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:1717And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. (Luke 1:17)).
The second time the phrase is used, it is by the angel who speaks to Mary, the earthly mother of the Lord Jesus, when the news was given to her (John 1:3030This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. (John 1:30)) that she was to give birth to the Messiah in a miraculous way. Mary too was somewhat troubled when the angel of the Lord appeared to her, but she was immediately told not to fear. Mary’s faith was simple but real, and she immediately accepts what had been told her, saying, “Be it unto me according to Thy word” (Luke 1:3838And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:38)).
Finally, when our Lord was born in Bethlehem, once again an angel of the Lord appeared, this time to shepherds who were watching their flocks at night. They too were initially “sore afraid,” because “the glory of the Lord shone round about them” (Luke 2:99And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. (Luke 2:9)). But the angel immediately reassures them by saying, “Fear not” (Luke 2:1010And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. (Luke 2:10)), and then tells them the news of the birth of One who was to be a Savior. The news brought them great joy, and they immediately go and see the One who had been born a Savior.
Love Revealed
The introduction of Christ into the world brought with it the revelation of the love of God. God’s love was there in the Old Testament, for He could say to His people Israel, even after all their failure, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love” (Jer. 31:33The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. (Jeremiah 31:3)). However, that love was hidden and not brought out clearly for all mankind. During the years of the Old Testament following the flood, men were often taken up with idolatry and pagan gods, who used Satanic power to put them in fear. But when Christ came into the world, it was to reveal God’s love and grace, which is the true antidote to all fear. Thus we read in 1 John 4:1818There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18) that “perfect love casteth out fear.” It is appropriate that the first uses of the phrase “fear not” in Luke’s gospel are connected with Christ’s coming into the world — the One who would reveal God’s love to all mankind.
Delivering Power
Then, however, we find four more occasions when our Lord tells His people, “Fear not,” and in these cases it brings in Christ’s delivering power. He first of all assures us of His love, and the Father’s love for us, and then brings in His delivering power.
In Luke 5:1-111And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, 2And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. 4Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. 8When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: 10And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. 11And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him. (Luke 5:1‑11), our Lord begins to call disciples to follow Him, and when He uses Peter’s boat for a small platform from which to preach, He rewards Him with a huge draught of fishes. Peter might have hesitated to give up his livelihood in the fishing business, in order to follow the Lord, but the Lord reassures him, telling him, “Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men” (Luke 5:1010And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. (Luke 5:10)). In the same way, if you and I today are in the path of the Lord’s choosing, all His power is behind us. He knows our needs, and we need not fear that we will not have the necessities of life. The Lord has promised to look after us.
Second, we find our Lord saying “fear not” to Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, when his daughter had died. The people thought that the Lord could heal her as long as she was alive, but felt that raising the dead was beyond His power. The Lord’s message to the father was, “Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole” (Luke 8:5050But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. (Luke 8:50)). God’s power was not limited by death; the Lord Jesus could deliver his daughter from death and raise her up again. God does not normally raise people from the dead today, but we know that at the Lord’s coming, His mighty power will raise up all those who have died in Christ and take them to be with Him.
Them That Kill the Body
Third, we find the Lord Jesus once again reminding His followers that they were following a rejected Christ. There would be those who could kill the body, but they could not touch the soul. Also, not even one common sparrow fell to the ground without the Lord noticing it, and He reminds His own that they were of more value than many sparrows. More than this, there would be a reward in a coming day for those who confessed Christ before men; they would in turn be confessed before the angels of God in a coming day. It is worth it to give up present advantage in this world in order to have future gain with the Lord in heaven.
We also today follow that same rejected Christ, and the current of thought today, even in countries that have been based on Christian principles, is more and more contrary to God’s claims. It may well be that before our Lord comes to take us home, we too may suffer persecution for adhering to the Word of God and seeking to be faithful to Him.
The Coming Kingdom
Finally, in the same chapter 12 of Luke, we find our Lord saying “fear not” concerning the coming kingdom. We have already pointed out that Luke’s gospel is more concerned with souls and their needs than with the kingdom, yet the Lord Jesus knows that many were looking for a visible kingdom. They were disappointed when it did not appear and felt as if their hopes were being dashed to the ground. Would there be a kingdom? Yes, there would be, and in a coming day the godly remnant of the nation of Israel will inherit it. Thus the Lord says to them, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:3232Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)).
However, at the same time the Lord weaves into His words to them the clear thought of heavenly blessing. There was something even more wonderful than the coming kingdom — the preciousness of laying up treasure in heaven. Then, if their treasure were up there, they would find that “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:3434For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Luke 12:34)). Whether it is you and I today, as part of the church, or those among the godly Jews in the tribulation, the encouragement is the same. If death by martyrdom should overtake us or them, both we and they will surely inherit the kingdom on the heavenly side.
In summary then, we are not promised anything in this world; our only future is glory. The love of God revealed in Christ is our bulwark against fear, and Christ’s delivering power is there for us, whether in circumstances down here or even in death, if God should allow that to happen to us.
W. J. Prost