16 Shadrach , Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king , "O Nebuchadnezzar , we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter . 17 "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire ; and He will deliver us out of your hand , O king . 18 " But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king , that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath , and his facial expression was altered toward Shadrach , Meshach and Abed-nego . He answered by giving orders to heat the furnace seven times more than e it was usually heated . 20 He commanded certain valiant warriors who were in his army to tie up Shadrach , Meshach and Abed-nego in order to cast them into the furnace of blazing fire . 21 Then these men were tied up in their trousers , their coats , their caps and their other clothes , and were cast into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire . 22 For this reason e , because e the king's command was urgent and the furnace had been made extremely hot , the flame of the fire slew those men who carried up Shadrach , Meshach and Abed-nego . 23 But these three men , Shadrach , Meshach and Abed-nego , fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up. 24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up in haste ; he said to his high officials , "Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire ?" They replied to the king , "Certainly , O king ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Daniel 3:16-24
Commentary on Daniel 3:8-18
(Read Daniel 3:8-18)
True devotion calms the spirit, quiets and softens it, but superstition and devotion to false gods inflame men's passions. The matter is put into a little compass, Turn, or burn. Proud men are still ready to say, as Nebuchadnezzar, Who is the Lord, that I should fear his power? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not hesitate whether they should comply or not. Life or death were not to be considered. Those that would avoid sin, must not parley with temptation when that to which we are allured or affrighted is manifestly evil. Stand not to pause about it, but say, as Christ did, Get thee behind me, Satan. They did not contrive an evasive answer, when a direct answer was expected. Those who make their duty their main care, need not be anxious or fearful concerning the event. The faithful servants of God find him able to control and overrule all the powers armed against them. Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst. If He be for us, we need not fear what man can do unto us. God will deliver us, either from death or in death. They must obey God rather than man; they must rather suffer than sin; and must not do evil that good may come. Therefore none of these things moved them. The saving them from sinful compliance, was as great a miracle in the kingdom of grace, as the saving them out of the fiery furnace was in the kingdom of nature. Fear of man and love of the world, especially want of faith, make men yield to temptation, while a firm persuasion of the truth will deliver them from denying Christ, or being ashamed of him. We are to be meek in our replies, but we must be decided that we will obey God rather than man.
Commentary on Daniel 3:19-27
(Read Daniel 3:19-27)
Let Nebuchadnezzar heat his furnace as hot as he can, a few minutes will finish the torment of those cast into it; but hell-fire tortures, and yet does not kill. Those who worshipped the beast and his image, have no rest, no pause, no moment free from pain, Hebrews 12:29. Could we but see into the eternal world, we should behold the persecuted believer safe from the malice of his foes, while they are exposed to the wrath of God, and tormented in unquenchable fires.