And Nothing Shall By Any Means Hurt or Harm You
“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” — Luke 10:19
This statement from Jesus is not symbolic language or emotional encouragement. It is a legal declaration of authority and protection. When Jesus said, “nothing shall by any means hurt you,” He was establishing a spiritual reality rooted in divine authority, not denying the existence of opposition. The verse does not suggest the absence of danger; it declares the superiority of God’s covering over danger.
Jesus spoke these words after the seventy disciples returned rejoicing that demons were subject to them in His name. They had just witnessed the reality of spiritual power in action. Yet Jesus redirected their focus—not to power alone, but to authority and position. Authority precedes safety. Protection flows from placement.
The phrase “by any means” is deliberate. It removes loopholes. It means no method, no strategy, no scheme, no spiritual device of the enemy has final permission to harm those operating under Christ’s authority. This aligns with Isaiah 54:17, which declares that no weapon formed against God’s people shall prosper. Weapons may form, but they do not prevail.
This promise does not contradict suffering, trials, or persecution. Jesus Himself warned of tribulation in John 16:33. Yet He followed that warning with assurance: “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Overcoming does not mean avoiding conflict; it means emerging preserved and victorious. Luke 10:19 speaks of preservation, not insulation.
Scripture consistently reveals that God’s protection is covenantal. Psalm 91 repeatedly echoes this truth, declaring that no plague shall come near your dwelling and that angels are assigned to bear you up. These promises are not for the reckless, but for those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High. Protection flows from abiding, not presumption.
The authority Jesus gives in Luke 10:19 is delegated authority. It flows from His victory. Colossians 2:15 tells us that Christ disarmed principalities and powers, making a public spectacle of them. This means the enemy still exists, but he operates from a position of defeat. Authority is now enforced, not earned.
When Jesus speaks of serpents and scorpions, He is referencing both literal danger and spiritual opposition. In Scripture, serpents often symbolize deception and subtle attack (Genesis 3:1), while scorpions represent torment and affliction (Ezekiel 2:6). Jesus was declaring dominion over both visible and invisible threats. Nothing operates outside the jurisdiction of His authority.
This aligns with Psalm 91:13, which says, “You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra; the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.” Luke 10:19 is not a new promise; it is the New Testament enforcement of an Old Testament truth.
Protection, however, must be understood correctly. God’s promise does not eliminate responsibility. Deuteronomy 6:16 warns against testing the Lord. Authority is not license for foolishness. Jesus Himself refused to jump from the temple when Satan tempted Him, even though Scripture promised angelic protection (Matthew 4:6–7). Protection operates within obedience, not arrogance.
Paul’s life demonstrates this balance. He survived shipwrecks, beatings, imprisonment, and persecution, yet he could confidently say that the Lord delivered him from every evil work (2 Timothy 4:18). Evil surrounded him, but it did not terminate his assignment. This is the essence of Luke 10:19—no premature destruction, no stolen destiny.
Romans 8:35–39 reinforces this truth by listing tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and sword—yet concluding that none of these can separate believers from the love of God. Protection does not always mean avoidance; sometimes it means preservation through the fire, as seen with the three Hebrew men in Daniel 3. The fire burned, but it did not consume. God was present in the midst.
Jesus’ promise also carries psychological and emotional implications. Harm is not only physical. Fear, anxiety, condemnation, and despair are forms of harm. Isaiah 41:10 addresses this directly: “Fear not, for I am with you.” When God guards the heart and mind with peace (Philippians 4:7), inner harm loses its grip.
Luke 10:19 must also be read alongside Luke 10:20, where Jesus says, “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Protection is rooted in identity, not performance. The greatest security is belonging to God.
This promise is ultimately fulfilled in Christ. Jesus did not say believers would never face danger; He said danger would never have final authority. Even death itself lost its power through the resurrection. Hebrews 2:14–15 declares that Christ destroyed the one who had the power of death and released those held in fear. When death loses authority, harm loses its final threat.
For the believer, Luke 10:19 becomes a daily posture, not just a verse to quote. It is the confidence to walk without fear, pray without intimidation, and obey without anxiety. It is the assurance that God’s hand is not absent, even when the path is challenging.
Nothing shall by any means hurt you—not because the world is safe, but because God is sovereign. Not because enemies disappear, but because authority has been granted. Not because trouble is unreal, but because God’s word is final.
“The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.” — Psalm 121:7
