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Why do angels say, Be not afraid?
Time and time again in the scriptures, we see that angels declare unto their hearers," Be not afraid", or "do not be afraid."
Why do angels say this?
Examples of angels causing fear in the bible.
| Scripture | Context / Reason for Fear | Verbatim Scripture (Fear Bolded) |
|---|---|---|
| Luke 1:11–12 | Zechariah visited by Gabriel | “And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zechariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.” |
| Luke 1:29 | Mary visited by Gabriel | “And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.” |
| Luke 2:9 | Shepherds visited by angel | “And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.” |
| Daniel 8:16 | Daniel visited by Gabriel | “And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.” |
Why do angels produce fear in humans?
The Power of God
Angels are divine messengers, carrying the authority and presence of God. Encountering them is, in essence, experiencing a glimpse of God’s power and holiness, which naturally evokes awe and fear (Luke 2:9; Daniel 8:16). Their very being reflects God’s majesty, which humans cannot fully comprehend, causing a reverent fear.The Unexpected
Angel appearances often occur suddenly and without warning. Human beings many times are unprepared for such supernatural encounters, making them startling and overwhelming. This suddenness triggers fear as a natural human response to an unexpected, powerful presence (Luke 1:12, 29).The Otherworldly Nature of Their Presence
Angels exist in a spiritual realm and only occasionally appear in physical form. Their appearance is often accompanied by radiant glory, unusual clothing, or extraordinary features. This otherworldly, supernatural aspect reinforces fear because it signals that the human observer is in the presence of a being far beyond ordinary experience (Daniel 8:16; Luke 1:11).
So this begs the question as to why angels frequently say fear not. Here are 2 of the strongest arguments for why this is the case.
Angelic Success and Prophetic Agendas Require Obedience and Willingness
Ungodly fear, interrupts the move of The Spirit of God because God works with your heart. When receiving messages from God, fear must therefore never be at the forefront. We're not talking about godly fear here, which is good, but we're talking about fear that makes you feel frightened or helpless.
The reason fear must be removed is because as a man thinks in his heart, so is he, and out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks according to Luke 6:45.
Also The Scriptures share that we are supposed to guard our hearts with all diligence, for out of it flows the issues of life.
And so if God is speaking to us through an angel and our hearts are filled with fear, the message may not be received well, and the result of that visitation may not prove successful because of our sinful hearts.
Doubt and Unbelief Hinder Angelic Success
When John the Baptist's father was approached by the angel, he couldn't believe and doubted what the angel was saying, and because of this, he was stricken with dumbness so that he couldn't speak. It's almost certain that had he been allowed to speak he would have spoken against the birth and prophetic outlook of the child. God wanted a successful outcome and so the angel made him dumb for a season.
Here are some scholarly views on the topic:
| Scholar / University / Work (Pre-1920) | Scripture Reference | View |
|---|---|---|
| John Calvin – Geneva, Commentaries on Hebrews, 1552 | Hebrews 1:14 | Angels minister to believers, but human doubt can nullify their assistance, as divine messengers rely on receptivity. |
| Thomas Aquinas – Univ. of Paris, Summa Theologica, 1270–1274 | Genesis 3:1–6 | Angels act within divine law, but human free will and disbelief can frustrate angelic moral guidance (e.g., Eve’s temptation). |
| R.H. Charles – Oxford, Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha, 1913 | Exodus 23:20–23 | Angels sent to guide Israel, but human disbelief or disobedience hinders their effectiveness. |
| William Kelly – Ireland, Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews, 1895 | Numbers 20:8–12 | Angels cannot compel obedience; human doubt or disobedience blocks divine instruction (e.g., striking the rock incident). |
| John Gill – England, Exposition of the Bible, 1720 | Exodus 14:19 | Angel of God leads Israel; human fear or doubt affects the experience of angelic protection during the crossing of the Red Sea. |
| Chrysostom – Antioch, Homilies on the Gospel of Luke, 4th c. | Luke 1:11–20 | Gabriel’s message to Zechariah requires faith; doubt delays the fulfillment of the angelic message. |
| Augustine – Hippo, City of God, 426 | Psalm 103:20–21 | Angels serve God to bless humans, but unbelief or resistance reduces the effectiveness of their ministry. |
| Bede – England, Commentary on Genesis, 8th c. | Genesis 18:1–3 | Angels appear to Abraham; human hospitality and faith determine the success of angelic visitation. |
| Joseph Mede – Cambridge, Clavis Apocalyptica, 1627 | Daniel 10:12–14 | Angelic message delayed due to opposition; human or spiritual resistance can hinder angelic mission. |
| Matthew Henry – England, Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1706–1710 | Luke 2:8–15 | Angelic announcement to shepherds is received effectively only because humble faith allows the angelic message to succeed. |
So the category of not being in fear, as spoken by the angels, has to do with the receptivity of the heart to the message from God that they bring. God's word is to received with obedience and willingness and the announcement of the angels to fear not seeks to ready the heart of the hearer for the pronouncement of the decrees and will of Almighty God.
