HeartScripture Logo
HeartScripture

Fear of Man

Topic illustration
Jacob Chen Zhe
Jacob Chen ZheJune 1, 2025

The fear of man lies at the root of many compromises made by modern-day Christians. When we worry that our faith in Jesus might bring strange looks or disapproval, we often hide our identity as believers. When we know that our values differ from the crowd, we stay silent—not because we’ve changed our convictions, but because we fear what others might think or do if they discover we’re different.

But the fear of man is a snare—a deadly one. Remember King Saul, who spared Amalekites’ best sheep and cattle because he gave in to the pressure of people. Perhaps he thought it was a small matter, maybe he even believed he was just listening to public opinion. But the consequence was grave: he lost his kingship and the trust of God. What a tragic loss for what seemed like a minor compromise!

Likewise, if Paul had not stood up to Peter and the others when they were acting in fear of the Jews, we might have ended up with a distorted gospel—a strange mix of grace and law. We owe Paul a great debt of gratitude. He stood firm against the pressure of men and triumphed over the fear of man.

Even more so, look at Jesus. He was rejected by many, especially the powerful and elite, yet he never once gave in to the fear of man. Let’s follow in his footsteps. Yes, we may be hated by the world as He was, but we must remember: our heavenly Father is the Creator of heaven and earth. Should we fear mere mortals? Absolutely not! If God is for us, who can stand against us?

May these truths set you free from the fear of man, and lead you into the abundant life found in Christ!

Warnings

1 Samuel 15:24

24Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.

Galatians 2:11-13

11But when Peter came to Antioch, I resisted him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12For before some people came from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

Proverbs 29:25

25The fear of man proves to be a snare, but whoever puts his trust in the LORD is kept safe.

John 12:42-43

42Nevertheless, even many of the rulers believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they didn’t confess it, so that they wouldn’t be put out of the synagogue, 43for they loved men’s praise more than God’s praise.

Jesus is rejected by men

John 15:18-19

18If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

Isaiah 53:3

3He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering and acquainted with disease. He was despised as one from whom men hide their face; and we didn’t respect him.

1 Peter 2:4

4Come to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious.

1 Peter 2:22-23

22Who didn’t sin, “neither was deceit found in his mouth.” 23When he was cursed, he didn’t curse back. When he suffered, he didn’t threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously.

Exhortations

Isaiah 51:12-13

12“I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you, that you are afraid of man who shall die, and of the son of man who will be made as grass? 13Have you forgotten the LORD your Maker, who stretched out the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth? Do you live in fear continually all day because of the fury of the oppressor, when he prepares to destroy? Where is the fury of the oppressor?

Isaiah 8:13

13The LORD of Armies is who you must respect as holy. He is the one you must fear. He is the one you must dread.

Psalm 118:5-7

5Out of my distress, I called on the LORD. The LORD answered me with freedom. 6The LORD is on my side. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? 7The LORD is on my side among those who help me. Therefore I will look in triumph at those who hate me.

Psalm 27:10

10When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

Romans 8:31-32

31What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things?

Romans 10:11-13

11For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.” 12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him. 13For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

1 Peter 2:6

6Because it is contained in Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen and precious. He who believes in him will not be disappointed.”

Mark 8:38

38For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Matthew 10:32-33

32Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven. 33But whoever denies me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven.

Illustrations

Jesus warns His followers of persecution but encourages to not fear men (Matthew 10:22-33)

22You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.
23But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next, for most certainly I tell you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man has come.
24“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord.
25It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household!
26Therefore don’t be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
27What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops.
28Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
29“Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.
30But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.
32Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven.
33But whoever denies me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven.

Peter disowns Jesus because fear of men (Luke 22:54-62)

54They seized him and led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed from a distance.
55When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat among them.
56A certain servant girl saw him as he sat in the light, and looking intently at him, said, “This man also was with him.”
57He denied Jesus, saying, “Woman, I don’t know him.”
58After a little while someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them!” But Peter answered, “Man, I am not!”
59After about one hour passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Truly this man also was with him, for he is a Galilean!”
60But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.
61The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the Lord’s word, how he said to him, “Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.”
62He went out, and wept bitterly.

The parents of the blind man fear the Jews (John 9:18-23)

18The Jews therefore didn’t believe concerning him, that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight,
19and asked them, “Is this your son, whom you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”
20His parents answered them, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;
21but how he now sees, we don’t know; or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. He is of age. Ask him. He will speak for himself.”
22His parents said these things because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if any man would confess him as Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue.
23Therefore his parents said, “He is of age. Ask him.”

Prayer

Dear Father God, we confess that we often lack the courage to stand against the crowd. We fear the disapproval of others, we dread imagined consequences. Our minds race with worst-case scenarios, and we shrink back from standing firm in our faith and convictions. Have mercy on Your children, Lord, and lift us up from our sense of failure.

Father, give us courage when we feel weak, so we may live a life that is faithful to you and you alone. Help us stand firm against the pressures of people, and keep us from saying or doing anything that doesn’t truly come from our hearts.

Let the yeast of the fear of man be driven far from us. Mold us into the image of Your Son—clear and unwavering in knowing Your will, never compromising the gospel out of fear. Even if persecution comes, comfort us with Your love, reminding us that You will never put us to shame. We will see Your glory both in this life and in the life to come.

Strengthen our faith, Lord, so that we may always boast in You—the God in whom we trust. Though the world may try to shame us, You will never abandon us. Your name will triumph over every other name on this earth.

Related Topics

•God is the Father

•Herd Mentality

•Seek Man’s Approval