His Eye Is On The Sparrow

In Matthew 10 Jesus sent out the twelve apostles and “gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease” (Matt. 10:1). This commission was limited in that they were not allowed to “go into the way of the Gentiles” or “enter a city of the Samaritans” (Matt. 10:5). Instead, they were sent “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 10:6). Our Lord also warned them that persecution would accompany their preaching (Matt. 10:16-22). As an encouragement in the midst of this persecution, Jesus told the disciples of His Father’s care: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matt. 10:27-31).

“Sparrow” is the name given to several different species of birds in the Bible—they ate grain and insects and gathered in noisy flocks. Sparrows would often build their untidy nests in the eaves of houses but were not driven away when they built their nests in the Temple (Psa. 84:3). These insignificant little birds were such social creatures that a lone sparrow was the symbol of deep loneliness (Psa. 102:7).

In the days of our Lord sparrows were sold for a very low price—two of them for a copper coin (Matt. 10:29). A copper coin, an asarion, was a very small Roman coin, was worth about 1/16 of a silver denarius, and was therefore worth less than a quarter in U.S. currency today. Those who were poor and could not afford to sacrifice a sheep or a goat might bring a sparrow to the Temple (cf. Lev. 14:1-7).

So insignificant were these little birds that if you bought four sparrows the seller would throw in one more for free (Luke 12:4-7). It was this extra sparrow of which Jesus said, “and not one of them is forgotten before God.” His care for His creation is so great that even this extra sparrow is noted and observed by God!

The point our Lord was making is this: if God is concerned about the tiny sparrow and notes its fate, how much greater must His concern be for man, who is immeasurably greater in value than the sparrow! ~David Padfield