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Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple
It is true the fear of the Lord includes "reverence" and "respect". Nonetheless the fear of YHWH in scripture also heavily leans to fear as "fright". There is a move about nowadays to downplay this. It comes from Preachers everywhere.
Note the CONTEXT of Jesus in this verse.
Matt. 10:28
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Christ is talking about fearing God because he can destroy our soul and body in Hell. So on THAT BASIS Christ commands us to fear God.
The context itself shows the true meaning. The Greek word for fear here "phobeo".
Its first two meanings.
1. To frighten
2.To be alarmed.
This is in truth the fear of the Lord that IMO really needs to be restored. The "reverent" fear is good. It is deep respect. Nonetheless sometimes the fear and dread of God will keep you from sin when nothing else will.
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Quote:
Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate
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If people love God, as much as they claim, they will learn to hate evil. And if they hate evil enough, they will depart from it.