Here is an insight that only the Son of God could give us. No one could say these words with such authority and assurance who did not have access to the secret thoughts of God.
Can we not rest in this knowledge, and convince ourselves that his care of us is boundless? If our enemies are allowed to prevail over us for a limited time, that does nothing to alter God great love towards us.
All this is said in the context of persecution (verse 5). The fact that your Father in heaven allows these things to happen to you does not mean that he does not love you, or forgets about you. Even if he calls you to lay down your life for his sake, his love does not depart from you. You must be sure of this in order to remain faithful unto death, for the fact that you are loved by God is a consolation that enables you to bear all things. The mind must be engaged during persecution. If his love is upon you, you cannot perish, for you have within you an eternal soul, and God himself is the life of that soul.
Notice that attached to this command to fear – ‘yea, I say unto you, Fear him’ – is this strong reassurance – ‘Fear not therefore’. One fear overcomes another fear. A fear overcomes a bad fear. A good fear is a real fear; a bad fear is a needless fear, a fear based upon a mistruth. Do not trouble yourselves with bad fear, for geed fears will keep you on the right path that leads to life, and they are given you by God.