Whom should we fear?

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bsroufek

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Reading the following verse, how do we understand it? Should we fear God or Satan?
I think it means, “Fear God”.

Mt. 10:28 And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
 
The term used did not mean “fear” as in “I am frightened of”, but to have the “proper respect for”.

Why would I fear God? He is the only being in the entire universe who actually has my well being in mind, even above His own. He is a just God though, and accordingly I should have the utmost respect for Him.
 
It is written, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.” Jesus said we should “fear the One who can destroy both body and soul in Gehenna (Hell).”

So I think the Matthew verse above means we should fear God, but I have heard others
interpret it to mean that we should fear Satan.
 
“Fear of the Lord” is the seventh gift of the Holy Spirit. That means to me that we should be in awe of God, as opposed to those who are contemptuous of even the idea of God.
 
Mt. 10:28 And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
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The verse clearly refers to the devil. God isn’t going to destroy both soul and body, and indeed from his goodness he could not.
Gehenna was a garbage dump outside Jerusalem where the fires burned day and night. It’s the image of hell.

“Fear of the Lord” means reverence for God, but not actual fear. It’s an unfortunate wording from the Old Testament.
In Deutoronomy we are urged to love God with our whole heart, whole soul, whole mind, and whole will. but this is impossible if we fear God. You cannot love that which you fear.

Psalm 23 sums up the healthier attitude:
( editted )
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie in green pastures; he leadeth me to still waters.
Though I walk through the valley of death I will fear no evil for Thou art with me.
Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
 
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