Luke 12:5
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. 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.
Jesus gave this warning to his friends to fear God who has power after death over hell. It stands between his command not to fear those who can kill only the body and his assurance that God does not forget sparrows and numbers even the hairs of the head. God knows human circumstances and cares for those of great value who follow him, so they should not fear men but fear God. People should fear God rather than those who can kill only the body, because God has authority after death to cast into hell and over a person's final fate.
Those who persecute, acting under Satan's influence, can inflict bodily suffering and death but can never harm the soul. They cannot control the conscience, tarnish the soul, or change the character of one who serves God conscientiously. God alone is to be feared because, unlike men who can only kill the body, he has power to destroy both soul and body in hell. As Ruler of the universe, God bears long with perversity but keeps a record of works and will punish men in proportion as they have caused pain to others. Those who torture, imprison, and put to death to compel transgression of his law will themselves suffer and perish.
Those blessed with great light are to put the whole heart into the service of Christ with religious interest and earnestness rather than tame, listless striving. This is done through daily prayer and watchfulness with a burden for souls. Applied to keeping the seventh-day Sabbath, the verse calls people not to let fear of losing work or facing hardship lead them to disobey God. Applied to stewardship, the warning urges people who misuse the Lord's money for unnecessary things instead of supporting his work to take their responsibility seriously and study the chapter.
The chapter holds a lesson of great importance for all the sons and daughters of God to live as pilgrims and strangers whose citizenship is above and to move out by faith. They are to build only what is plain and neat and free from debt without spending the Lord's money in needless adornment. They are to devote their house of worship to educating and training children and youth to guard their hearts and hunger and thirst after righteousness. They are not to live to please themselves or seek human praise, but to make sacrifice without ostentation, hide self in Jesus, and walk in self-abasement and lowliness through sanctification of the Spirit.