Matthew 10:28 Can the Soul Die?

 

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 ^gehenna

Comments: ^{Matthew 10:28} Soul: The body and the soul are not the same thing. Jesus made a difference between the two. The soul is the part of us that is always alive whether the body is dead or not. Jesus just said it. He said our bodies could be killed but only God can kill the soul (i.e., bring true death, which is destruction from ^{separation from} the presence and power of God ^{2 Thessalonians 1:8-9}). True death, according to Jesus, is not cessation of existence. Gehenna: This is surely not the Gehenna outside the city where trash was burned, as it was not possible for that Gehenna to destroy the soul. Jesus said the soul is the part of us that lives on after the body is killed. When Jesus referenced Gehenna, he was speaking of the Second Death in theLake of Fire ^{Revelation 20:13-15}.

Ephesians chapter 4: Baptism of the Holy Spirit / Did Jesus Suffer in Hell / Five-Fold Ministry

        1: I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called 2: With all lowliness and meekness with longsuffering forbearing one another in love 3: Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace ^{Romans 12:18} 4: There is one body and one Spirit even as you are called in one hope of your calling 5: One Lord one faith one baptism[1] 6: One God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all 7: But to every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ 8: Wherefore he says When he ascended up on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts to audawm[2] 9: Now that he ascended what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth[3]  10: He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens that all things [be] fulfilled 11: And he gave some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers 12: For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ 13: Until we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God into fully mature individuals  unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ[4] 14: That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive 4:15 But speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things who is the head even Christ 16: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies according to the effectual working in the measure of every part makes increase of the body to the edifying of itself in love[5] 17: This I say therefore and testify in the Lord that you henceforth walk not as other ethnos walk in the vanity of their minds 18: Having the understanding darkened being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their hearts 19: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness 20: But you have not so learned Christ 21: If so be that you have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus 22: That you put off concerning the former manner of life the old audawm which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts 23: And be renewed in the spirit of your minds 24: And that you put on the new audawm which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness 25: Wherefore putting away lying speak every one truth with their neighbors for we are members one of another 26: Be angry and sin not let not the sun go down upon your wrath 27: Neither give place to the devil ^{2 Kings 18:17-20 We cannot give in to Satan enough. He always wants more.} 8: Let them that stole steal no more but rather let them labor working with their hands the thing which is good that they may have to give to them that need 29: Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace to the hearers 30: And grieve not the holy Spirit of God in whom you are sealed till the day of redemption[6] 31: Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice 32: And be kind one to another tenderhearted forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you

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[1] It is the Baptism of the Spirit—not water baptism—that translates the saved from the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of God’s dear son. All Christians are baptized into the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit ^{1 Corinthians 12:13}.

[2] Before the resurrection of Christ, when the body died, the souls of the righteous were carried by the angels to a place called Paradise or Abraham’s Bosom. The souls of the unrighteous went directly to hades and were tormented ^{Luke 16:19-31, 23:43}. The righteous dead were held captive, for their protection, in a place called Abraham’s Bosom, which was located somewhere in the heart of the earth. This place was beautiful enough to be called paradise, but it was not Heaven ^{Luke 16:22-25, Ezekiel 31:16, Job 14:13}. 

   When Jesus ascended into Heaven, after his resurrection, he took these captive souls with him, but first he had to descend into the “lower parts of the earth” to get them ^{Ephesians 4:8-10}. We read in scripture, that Jesus was quite busy during the three days his body lay in the tomb, and he did not spend any of that time burning in hell fire ^{Luke 23:43, 1 Peter 3:19-20}. 

   Another proof that Jesus never suffered in hell, was when he told the thief who was crucified with him, that they would be together in Paradise—on the very day they both died.

   Remember, according to his own words, the price was completely paid while he was still hanging on the cross.

   Had Christ failed in his mission and refused to die on the cross during that long-ago Passover, possession of the captive souls in Abraham’s Bosom/Paradise would have defaulted to Satan, and they would have been doomed forever.

   Not only would they have been left without hope, but the entire human race, throughout all of history (past, present, and future), would be without hope as well.

[3] While Christ’s body lay in the grave, sleeping, he (Christ) was preaching to the spirits who were in prison (that’s another study), the disobedient ones (Fallen Angels) from the days of Noah ^{John 8:56, 1 Peter 3:18-20}.

   Jesus never suffered in hell during the three days his body laid in the grave. The Bible does not teach the concept of penance and Jesus never did penance in Hades. His redemptive work was completed before he was ever taken down from the cross. His suffering was over the moment he gave up the ghost. He said so himself when he cried out, “It is finished (paid) ^{John 19:30}!” 

[4] Verse :13 dispels the myth that the ministry gifts of apostle and prophet were only available to the early church. All the ministry gifts were given to the Body of Christ for the purpose of building and edifying the Body of Christ throughout the entire dispensation of grace (the time of Christ IN You, which will be completed and consummated when the First Resurrection is initiated by the dead IN CHRIST coming out of their graves and those who are alive and remain caught up with them to meet them in the air) ^{1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52}. 

God has given ministry gifts to the Body of Christ—his Church (which is a dynamic living organism, not a static, man-made--organization), in the form of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers. Those who possess these gifts are instructed to use them for the feeding of the sheep (all believers) ^{John 21:16-17} the equipping of the Saints (all believers), the service of God, and the building up of the Body of Christ ^{Ephesians 4:11-13}. The illustration of Jesus distributing to his disciples and the disciples then distributing to the people, cannot be taken to mean that Jesus came to set up a hierarchal New Covenant system with an inviolable separation between laity and clergy. It does mean that those called of God to win souls and feed God’s flock, should take that calling seriously, remain humble, and remember that they will answer to God for how they did or did not obey him in serving those under their care or within their spheres of influence. The New Covenant (Received Text) instructs all believers—Older, younger, pastors, church members, men, women, etc.—to be subject to one another (meaning to yield to/prefer one another before themselves) ^{1 Peter 5:5}.

For Luke to state (in the book of Acts) that Phillip’s daughters were New Testament prophets ^{Romans 12:6, 1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11-13}, means the gifts of the Holy Spirit and calling of God on these women in ministry was recognized and respected. Some denominations define prophesying as preaching. So be it. The daughters of Phillip the evangelist were preachers. They spoke publicly and authoritatively to anyone God called them to speak to—including men. Nowhere in scripture, do we read that the gifts and callings of the Holy Spirit are distributed according to gender.

[5] Jesus is the creator. He is before all things and all things are made by him. He used a building metaphor in referring to himself as the Chief Cornerstone (Capstone [which is a primary angle]). When Paul writes of his function as “head,” he uses building and physical body metaphors which clarify that he is referencing the creation of the Church, building and encouraging its universal membership, and nourishing the health of his entire “Body” (which is his ekklesia). The only male in the history of the universe who can claim “Headship” over anything, is Jesus, because he is the only one in whom we live and move and have our being.

[6] This is a scripture referenced by those teach eternal security (once saved always saved).

Luke Chapter 16

    1: And he said also to his disciples There was a certain rich man who had a steward and the same was accused to him that he had wasted his goods [misappropriated funds and/or mismanaged resources] 2: And he called him and said to him How is it that I hear this of you give an account of your stewardship[1] for you may be no longer steward 3: Then the steward said within himself What shall I do for my lord takes away from me the stewardship[2] I cannot dig[3] to beg I am ashamed[4] 4: I am resolved what to do that when I am put out of the stewardship they may receive me into their houses[5] 5: So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him and said to the first How much do you owe  to my lord 6: And he said An hundred measures of oil And he said unto him Take your bill and sit down quickly and write fifty 7: Then said he to another And how much do you owe And he said n hundred measures of wheat And he said to him Take your bill and write eighty 8: And the lord commended the unjust steward because he had done wisely for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light 9: And I say to you Make to yourselves friends of the riches of unrighteousness that when you fail they may receive you in to everlasting habitations 10: They who are faithful in that which is least are faithful also in much and they who are unjust in the least are unjust also in much 11: If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous riches who will commit to your trust the true 12: And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's who shall give you that which is your own 13: No servants can serve two masters for either they will hate the one and love the other or else they will hold to the one and despise the other You cannot serve God and riches 14: And the Pharisees also who were covetous heard all these things and they derided him 15: And he said to them You are they who justify yourselves before people but God knows your hearts for that which is highly esteemed among anthropos is abomination in the sight of God 16: The law and the prophets were until John since that time the kingdom of God is preached and every one presses into it 17: And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass than one tittle of the law to fail^{Galatians 3:24/Hebrews 10:1} 18: Whoever sends away his wife and marries another commits adultery and whoever marrieth her that is sent away from her husband commits adultery[6] 19: There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and feasted sumptuously every day 20: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus[7] who was laid at his [the rich man’s] gate full of sores 21: And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table moreover the dogs came and licked his sores 22: And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom[8] the rich man also died and was buried 23: And in hades he lifted up his eyes being in torments[9] and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom 24: And he cried and said Father Abraham have mercy on me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue for I am tormented in this flame[10] 25: But Abraham said Son remember that you in your lifetime received your good things and likewise Lazarus evil things but now he is comforted and you are tormented 26: And besides all this between us and you there is a great chasm permanently established so that they who would pass from here to you cannot neither can they pass to us that would come from there[11] 27: Then he said I ask you then father that you would send him to my father's house 28: For I have five brothers that he may testify to them lest they also come into this place of torment[12] 29: Abraham said to him They have Moses and the prophets let them hear them[13] 30: And he said No, father Abraham but if one went unto them from the dead they will repent 31: And he said to him If they hear not Moses and the prophets neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead

Special Features of the HHBC

The basis of this commentary is the Received Text (Textus Receptus) of the NT and the Ben Chayyim Masoretic text of the OT as found in the Original *Strong’s Concordance, 1894, by James Strong, and compared diligently with the work of respected scholars.

The AV is followed where the language and sense of the translation is clear to the modern reader.

Where a Hebrew or Greek word would serve better than an attempt at translation, the original word is left untranslated, in italics, with the *Strong’s Greek [G] or Hebrew [H] reference number notated beside it.

The words of Jesus are in bold print

Cross-references are noted in line with the text

There is no punctuation in the scripture text

Brackets [ ] indicate alternate rendering or commentary

*20^th Century editions of this work, such as, The New Updated Strong’s, and, The Strongest Strong’s, are not referenced in the HHBT as they do not relate to the Textus Receptus or the Ben Chayyim Masoretic Text this commentary is based upon.

List of Untranslated Words in the HHBT                                     

Anthropos G444 usually referring to a human being either female or male: Sometimes referring to angels who are always identified as males.

Hades G86 The nether world; the realm of the dead; the lower regions  

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[1] Turn over your books and explain the state of my finances!

[2] The only way I am able to make a living

[3] A reference to being unable to physically perform manual labor?

[4] Begging was an option for him, which indicates that he did have a physical handicap of some kind which would qualify him to beg legally. We see an example of this in the story of Blind Bartemaeus, who, in a moment of great faith in Jesus’ ability and willingness to give him sight, threw off his [begger’s] cloak [which showed his legal right to panhandle for a living] when Jesus summoned him and asked what it was he wanted. 

[5] Continue to do business with me

[6] The habit among Jewish men in antiquity was to repudiate their wives [for most any reason they chose regardless of how minor] without divorcing them in order to avoid paying divorce settlements. So Jesus pointed out the obvious that it would be adultery to marry another in that case, as all parties would already be married to someone else. God condemned this practice under the Old Covenant as well through the prophet Malachi (Malachi 2:14-17). This statement of Christ also serves to condemn the practice of polygamy and is backed up by Paul in 1 Timothy 3:2.

[7] This parable is a true story. We know this because Jesus gave the personal name of Lazarus as he revealed the after-life experiences of two real men.

[8] Lazarus’ poverty did not earn him the comfort of eternal paradise, but rather his righteous faith towards God.

[9] It was not wealth which condemned the rich man to eternal torments, but rather a lack of faith towards God

[10] The torment of Hades is real as will be the flames of the Lake of Fire. Jesus spoke of this more than any other. Though this awful punishment was not intended for humans, many will be condemned to it. Matthew 25:41, 46, Revelation 20:15

[11] Acknowledging the sovereignty of God in sending any messenger he chooses for his good purposes, this statement of Abraham’s puts to rest any notion that the dead can be summoned at the will of those with familiar spirits (a practice forbidden to believers) to visit those living on earth, although familiar spirits can and do imitate the dearly departed.

[12] The rich man, self-centered and unbelieving in his earthly life of privilege, becomes evangelical in his zeal to win his family over to God, and this after his own opportunity to serve God with faith and humility—and win souls—is over. Although there is no hope left for him, he is tormented over what he knows is in store for family members he still cares about even in his own wretched condition. His eternal lot is not only to be tormented by flames [of Hades and later the Lake of Fire] and regrets over his own wasted life but also wasted opportunities to influence loved ones still on earth with the hope of eternal life.  It is tragic that after a lifetime of catering to wealth and influence—to the exclusion of God with all his own hope gone—the only thing this formerly rich man cares about, aside from personal relief, is being a soul winner.   

[13] Jesus is speaking here of the scriptures which contain the inspired words of God through Moses and the Prophets (later through the Apostles). Simply reading these has power to save if read with faith, humility, and obedience.  

Luke Chapter 12 commentary

    1: In the mean time when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people insomuch that they trode one upon another he began to say to his disciples First of all beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy 2: For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed neither hid that shall not be known 3: Therefore whatever you have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light and that which you have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops 4: And I say to you my friends Be not afraid of them that kill the body and after that have no more that they can do 5: But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear Fear him which after he has killed has power to cast into Gehenna yes I say to you Fear him[1] 6: Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings and not one of them is forgotten before God 7: But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered Fear not therefore you are of more value than many sparrows 8: Also I say to you Whoever shall confess me before mortals  them shall the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God 9: But they who deny me before mortals shall be denied before the angels of God 10: And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man it shall be forgiven them but to them that blaspheme against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven 11: And when they bring you to the synagogues and to magistrates and powers take ye no thought how or what thing you shall answer or what you shall say 12: For the Holy Spirit shall teach you in the same hour what you ought to say 13: And one of the company said to him Master speak to my brother that he divide the inheritance with me 14: And he said to him Man who made me a judge or a divider over you 15: And he said to them Take heed and beware of covetousness for a person's life consists not in the abundance of the things which they possess 16: And he spoke a parable to them saying The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully 17: And he thought within himself saying What shall I do because I have no room where to store my crops 18: And he said This will I do I will pull down my barns and build greater and there will I store all my fruits and my goods 19: And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have much goods laid up for many years take your ease eat drink and be merry 20: But God said to him you fool this night your soul shall be required of you then whose shall those things be which thou have provided 21: So are they that lay up treasure for themselves and are not rich toward God 22: And he said to his disciples[2] because of this I say to you Take no thought for your lives what you shall eat neither for the body what you shall put on 23: The life is more than food and the body is more than clothing 24: Consider the ravens for they neither sow nor reap which neither have storehouse nor barn and God feeds them how much more are you better than the birds 25: And which of you by worrying can add to your height one cubit 26: If you then be not able to do that thing which is least why take ye thought for the rest 27: Consider the lilies how they grow they toil not they spin not and yet I say to you that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these 28: If then God so clothe the grass which is today in the field and to morrow is cast into the oven how much more will he clothe you O ye of little faith 29: And seek not ye what you shall eat or what you shall drink neither be ye of doubtful mind 30: For all these things do the nations of the world seek after and your Father knows that you have need of these things 31: But rather seek ye the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you 32: Fear not little flock for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom 33: Sell what you have and give alms [to the poor] provide yourselves bags which wax not old a treasure in the heavens that fails not where no thief approaches  neither moth corrupts 34: For where your treasure is there will your heart be also 35: Let your loins be girded about and your lights burning [be ready] 36: And you yourselves like unto those who wait for their lord when he will return from the wedding that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately 37: Blessed are those servants whom the lord when he comes shall find watching truly I say to you that he shall gird himself and make them to sit down to eat and will come forth and serve them 38: And if he shall come in the second watch or come in the third watch and find them so blessed are those servants 39: And this know that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come he would have watched and not have allowed his house to be broken through 40: Be ye therefore ready also for the Son of Man comes at an hour when you think not 41: Then Peter said to him Lord do you speak this parable to us or even to all 42: And the Lord said Who then are those faithful and wise stewards whom their lord shall make ruler over his household to give them their portion of food in due season 43: Blessed are those servants whom their lord when he comes shall find so doing 44: Of a truth I say to you that he will make them rulers over all that he has 45: But and if those servants say in their hearts, My lord delays his coming and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens and to eat and drink and to be drunken 46: The lord of those servants will come in a day when they look not for him and at an hour when they are not aware and will cut them in sunder [off] and will appoint them their portions with the unbelievers 47: And those servants who knew their lord's will and prepared not themselves neither did according to his will shall be beaten with many stripes 48: But they that knew not and did commit things worthy of stripes shall be beaten with few stripes For unto whomsoever much is given of them shall be much required and to whom much has [been] committed of them they will ask the more 49: I am come to cast fire to the earth and what [I] desire [is] that [it be] already kindled [3] ^{Malachi 4:1} 50: But I have a baptism to be baptized with [first] and how I am pressed till it be accomplished 51: Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth I tell you No but rather division 52: For from now on there shall be five in one house divided three against two and two against three 53: The father shall be divided against the son and the son against the father the mother against the daughter and the daughter against the mother the mother in law against her daughter in law and the daughter in law against her mother in law ^{Malachi 4:5-6} 54: And he said also to the people When you see a cloud rise out of the west immediately you say There comes a shower and so it is 55: And when you see the south wind blow you say There will be heat and it comes to pass 56: You hypocrites you can discern the face of the sky and of the earth but how is it that you do not discern this time [4] 57: Yes and why even of yourselves judge you not what is right. 58: When you go with your adversary to the magistrate as you are in the way give diligence that you may be delivered from him lest he hale thee to the judge and the judge deliver you to the officer and the officer cast you into prison 59: I tell you [that] you shall not depart [from] there till you have paid the very last mite[5]

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[1] If Jesus is referring simply to the trash dump outside Jerusalem where the trash was burned (Gehenna), then there is essentially no difference between God and those who can kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But he is not. Scripture confirms that the Gehenna Jesus refers to is located in the heart of the earth (Hades) and will break through to the surface of the earth to form the Lake of Fire on the New Earth—Redemption: Bible Prophecy Simplified, by Jocelyn Andersen.

[2] Jesus’ disciples included more than just the Twelve. They included the 70 he sent forth to preach and do miracles. His disciples also included women who traveled with him and provided for him out of their personal possessions and income.

[3] Luke 12:49-53 aligns perfectly with Malachi chapter four

[4] There was no excuse not to be expecting Messiah at that particular time. Daniel 9:25-26 gave them a time-line from Cyrus' command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem to the Savior. The years could be counted. Anna and Simeon knew this. They not only knew the scriptures, but they also knew by the Spirit, who they were looking at when they saw SON OF MAN as an infant.

[5] For crimes we commit on earth and are convicted of, the sentences served usually pay the debt society requires, and have an end to them. But this is not the case in the sentence of eternal punishment for those who reject the sacrifice made by Jesus when he died on the cross for the sins of the world.  Only Messiah could pay the sin debt to God that was created at The Fall. And Christ gave his life so that all who would come to him might live forever. This passage also refutes the doctrine of Purgatory which implies that the sacrifice of Christ is not complete unless a believer also pays penance for an unspecified length of time after their death, by suffering in a place like hell for their sins. It is not possible for any one to pay God anything that can absolve themselves of sin. Jesus did that for us already—in entirety. When unbelievers die, they go directly to a place of torment the Bible calls Hades or Gehenna. This condition of suffering is forever. When a believer dies, they go directly to be with the Lord in a place Jesus called Paradise and live in eternal joy. This blessing is likewise forever.