“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father”–Matthew 10:29
My Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Some of our favorite verses from Scripture, especially the direct Words of our Lord Jesus (those in red), seem to develop a life of their own, often quoted and memorized in isolation from their original setting. It’s only natural for us to do this, and we do it with virtually everything we read, be it a novel, biography, history, or work of fiction. A pithy quote is always a good thing to have at the ready! And while no sin is involved in such an exercise, when it comes to Scripture there are, nevertheless, great dangers involved.
Of course, we are always prone to misinterpretation, and this is a given. But another danger is that we ‘flatten’ the Word of God. That is, we reduce it to the level of an independent saying, and we miss the richer content. It’s sort of like squishing a slice of an orange completely flat, the juices running out, and only the pulp is left for our enjoyment.
The Words of our Savior referenced above are often remembered and quoted in such a way–in isolation from their immediate context, which, in this case, is Matthew 10:1-42.
In the first section of chapter 10, we find Jesus giving the Twelve Disciples some final instructions before He deployed them into the Jewish world (see v. 6) with the radical message of salvation, a message that would deeply offend the Jews since it involved the Messiah’s death upon a Roman cross. Included in these orders are some very stark warnings about what they will surely face ‘out there.’
According to our Lord, what is immediately ahead for His Disciples is resistance (vv. 13-14), the threat of arrest and imprisonment (vv. 16-20), civil and familial unrest, and even the disordering of society (vv. 21, 34-37), the experience of unjust and undiluted hatred (v. 22), severe persecution (v. 23), being labeled as insane, demonized, and evil (v. 25), and even martyrdom (vv. 28, 38-39).
It is only then, after laying out in the most agonizing detail all of the peril that awaits them as His witnesses, that Jesus speaks of “ sparrows.”
In that most beloved twenty-ninth verse, Jesus assures His Disciples that there are no grounds for fear, even with the looming certainty of such terrible occurrences befalling them. They are to remember what He had taught them.
First, they have a “ Father” who is in heaven, the Creator and Sovereign One.
Second, they know that their Father’s hand perfectly guides the course of all things, so that His will is accomplished, His children richly blessed, and His Holy Name glorified.
And then, they also know, because Jesus had told them earlier (Matthew 6:25-34), that even the smallest and seemingly most insignificant creatures made are under the Father’s command and constant care. Not even one little sparrow, whose real-world value is virtually nil, shall ever die and “ fall to the ground” unless He has ordained it from all eternity!
It is, then, upon this basis that Jesus says, “ do not fear” (v. 28), and again, “ do not fear” (v. 31). Why? Because everyone who belongs to the Son is “ of more value than many sparrows” (v. 31).
With all of my heart, I believe this explains why there is something missing in the New Testament Epistles.
As we read the letters of Paul, John, Peter, James, Jude, and the unidentified author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, we find no sense of panic at all.
Now this is surely odd, since every New Testament letter, to one degree or another, was written to Christians who were serving their Savior in a most hostile world. In every case, there was a two-fold threat of persecution. The Jewish leaders were deeply opposed to their message, and frequently harassed them, stirring up local opposition to their worship and witness. And then the Roman authorities were always ready to smash them out of existence if too much trouble resulted from their activities, especially as they went about claiming that ‘Jesus is Lord.’
But what is not in any New Testament Epistle is any hint of an emergency about all of this!
There is in each letter, to be sure, the candid acknowledgment of the reality of their peril. But there is not the slightest fraction of any note of terror or alarm.
Rather, there are abundant calls to rejoice, to pray, to carry on undeterred, to trust in the power and wisdom of God, to rest securely in His love, to look toward heaven and the promise of a “ better country,” to obey, to walk in holiness, to wear God’s armor, to resist and then to flee when necessary, to worship faithfully, to share the Gospel in confidence, to stand together in sweet fellowship and unity, and to stay on guard while serving the King. But no being ‘freaked out’ or consumed with the frenetic activity of preparing for a disaster! They are only to remember the sparrows!
Let me ask you to do something today, and I mean to do it literally.
Somewhere along your path on this new Monday, find a sparrow, or some other little bird, and just watch it for a moment (after all, Jesus commanded us to “ Look at the birds of the air” in Matthew 5:26). Take note of what such little creatures do. See how happy, how at ease, how ‘trusting’ they are, how dependent upon the Father they seem to be. Remember that, according to Jesus, your Creator is feeding and caring for them constantly! And keep in mind that not even one bird on this entire planet will die today outside of your Father’s perfect will and plan!
And then, hear the Words of Jesus aimed precisely at you, His beloved disciple: “Therefore do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows”!
It is true for sure that the landscape of our mission field has apparently changed in the last few days. More change may be on the way. But what shall never change is the government of your Father, even down to what little birds do!
I pray that you will rest in this truth, and serve your Savior faithfully in this new week!
You are my joy and I love you all dearly,
Mike