29 “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29–31 ESV)
For those of us who live north of the Equator, it is the summer season. It is the time of year of warm days, extended hours of daylight, outside activities, family vacations, and many other enjoyments. It is when God’s creative handiwork is once again on full display in all that surrounds us.
Think of the birds of the air. Each morning at dawn, they sing a symphony of praise in the trees; from the distinctive call of the Cardinal to the melancholy sound by the Mourning Dove.
Jesus illustrated the believer’s trust in the One, True God of Creation and Covenant by the sparrow. Sparrows are common birds. They live in the depths of coal mines and in cavernous warehouses. In many cultures, sparrows are believed to symbolize joy, community, teamwork, protection, simplicity, hard work or self-worth. In Europe’s Middle Ages, sparrows were believed to represent peasants and the lower class. Sparrows are often viewed as worthless.
Jesus did not ignore this commonly held view of sparrows. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?” The answer to His rhetorical question would have been yes. They were worth no more than a Roman copper coin, which was 1/16 of a denarius (a day’s wages) in value. Sparrows were cheap.
“Sparrows were one of the cheapest items sold for poor people’s food in the marketplace, the cheapest of all birds. Two were here purchased for an Assarion, a small copper coin of little value (less than an hour’s work). Luke 12:6 seems to indicate that they were even cheaper if purchased in larger quantities,” explains commentator Craig Keener.
However, Jesus also said, “And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.” God the Father’s care of sparrows parallels His even greater care of humans who He created in His image (Gen. 1:26-27). Today’s text parallels what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 6).
The Lord intimately knows and cares for each of His children. God is in control of everything. This includes the fall of the sparrow to the number of hairs on our heads. He is sovereign. Therefore, we need not fear when facing persecution for the Gospel. As Jesus said, “Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
“It is surprising that in the middle of giving His disciples a crash course in gospel work—including prospects of bloodshed, betrayal, loneliness, and fear—Jesus suddenly brings up the topic of sparrows. Though they’re small, insignificant birds, not a single struggling fledgling is forgotten by the Father. Jesus tells the disciples, “You are of more value than many sparrows” (Matt. 10:31),” explains Dr. Tim Keesee.
“I’m sure the disciples never looked at sparrows the same way again, because in these unremarkable creatures is the remarkable reminder of God’s constant care for His people.”
Soli deo Gloria!
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