Matthew 10:26-27  “…nothing covered that will not be revealed…I tell you in the dark, speak in the light…”
I think the idea in verse 27 follows verse 26 more than proceeds to verse 28.  No deceit of man will remain hidden, so there’s no need to fear what man does.  And even what Christ shares with us, He wants to have proclaimed from the rooftops.  All of the verses through this section also remind us to not fear man, but put our focus and respect toward God.

28  “…fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body…”
Fear of death is irrelevant.  It isn’t the end, only the door out of this existence.  Man may be able or allowed to kill the body, but they cannot touch the soul or spirit.  God has the ultimate say.

31  “…you are of more value than many sparrows”
We don’t always understand what is happening or why it happens.  That’s the way it is most of the time actually.  But Jesus directly assures us that we mean more to God than the sparrows, and He takes great notice of them.  While I may care about someone, I don’t take the time to count the hairs on their head.  But God does.  He knows everything about us.  We mean that much to Him.  Our trust should come even though we don’t understand what is happening.  We can know it is His best plan even if it doesn’t look or behave as a plan.

32  “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men…”
Checking the therefore.  Whoever can realize that Christ is far more important than man.  What Christ desires and requires is far more important than what man may demand.  Who will we follow.  To whom will we commit ourselves.

34  “…I did not come to bring peace but a sword”
If the world acknowledges Christ, they want to say that He only preached love and tolerance and understanding for everyone, regardless of their sin or behavior.  Yes, Christ is love, but He is also holy.  He Himself said He came to bring a sword.  He didn’t mean war or strife as such, but that His truth wouldn’t fit at all with what the world wants.  He makes no compromises with the world and its system of values.  It’s His way or Hell.  Evil has no place before a holy God.

37  “…he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me”
He wasn’t saying we shouldn’t love our families.  But we must understand that He is first.  A person can’t say they will follow Jesus only as long as it doesn’t interfere with their other family relations.  Many a marriage has been destroyed because one spouse allowed their relationship with other family members to interfere with that of their husband or wife.  There can only be one God in our lives.  It cannot be another human.  Many members of false religions have had to leave their families behind to follow Christ.  Some even face the possibility of death by doing so.  But they realized the truth.  Our relationship with Christ is the most important, period.

39  “…he who loses his life for My sake will find it”
Not just dying physically for Christ, but giving up what we have in this life, like family relations if it comes to that.  Seek first His kingdom, and all these things will be added.

40  “He who receives you receives Me…”
Just as those who hate Christ will also hate His followers, those who accept His followers are showing respect and acceptance toward Him.  Like the centurion who recognized both Christ and the One who sent Him.  The other examples Jesus gives aren’t different levels, but all point to the same idea.

42  “…gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water…”
The least of gifts to the least of people, by earthly standards.  All is important to God, even if we don’t consider it so.  He takes into account any act of kindness.

I hope you enjoy reading and studying His word.  May it accomplish what He desires.  Please feel free to comment or post questions.  Thanks for reading!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.