Luke 12:5

“But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear, I will be your monitor, and direct you to the proper object of fear and reverence, and whom you should be careful to displease and offend: fear him, which after he hath killed; your body, as the Persic version adds; hath taken away the life of it, by separating soul and body asunder, by sending one disease or another, or death in one shape or another: hath power to cast into hell; your soul, as the above version also adds; yea, to destroy both body and soul in hell, as in (see Gill on “<401028>Matthew 10:28”) yea, I say unto you, fear him; and none else, not with a servile, but with a filial fear.”

“Fear Him . . . Fear Him--how striking the repetition here! Only the one fear would effectually expel the other. after he hath killed, &c.--Learn here--(1) To play false with one's convictions to save one's life, may fail of its end after all, for God can inflict a violent death in some other and equally formidable way. (2) There is a hell, it seems, for the body as well as the soul; consequently, sufferings adapted to the one as well as the other. (3) Fear of hell is a divinely authorized and needed motive of action even to Christ's "friends." (4) As Christ's meekness and gentleness were not compromised by such harsh notes as these, so those servants of Christ lack their Master's spirit who…”

“Nothing covered - See the notes at Matthew 10:26-32. Luke 12:3 Shall be proclaimed upon the housetops - See the notes at Matthew 10:27. The custom of making proclamation from the tops or roofs of houses still prevails in the East. Dr. Thomson (“The Land and the Book,” vol. i. p. 51, 52) says: “At the present day, local governors in country districts cause their commands thus to be published. Their proclamations are generally made in the evening, after the people have returned from their labors in the field. The public crier ascends the highest roof at hand, and lifts up his voice in a long-drawn call upon all faithful subjects to give ear and obey. He then proceeds to announce, in a set…”

“Fear him who hath power to cast into hell - Even to his peculiar friends, Christ gives this direction. Therefore the fearing of God as having power to cast into hell, is to be pressed even on true believers. Luke 12:6”

“12:5 hell (Greek Gehenna): The Valley of Hinnom was a ravine along the southwestern side of Jerusalem. It became a metaphor for hell because Israelites had offered their children as sacrifices there (Jer 32:35) and later used it as a place to burn garbage (Jer 19:2, 10-13). Jesus’ disciples should never be afraid of enemies who can only take away their life on earth. Instead, they should fear God, who can give eternal punishment.”

“forewarn: Mar 13:23; Th1 4:6 Fear: Pro 14:26; Jer 5:22, Jer 10:7; Rev 14:7, Rev 15:4 power: Psa 9:17; Mat 10:28, Mat 25:41, Mat 25:46; Pe2 2:4; Rev 20:14 Luke 12:6”