Today's Journal
THE COMMON SPARROW
There is a remarkable statement from Jesus in Matthew 10:“Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31). And then there is this as well:
“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:6-7).
What is translated as ‘cent’ or ‘penny’ is actually “assarion,” the smallest and least valuable copper/bronze coin of the Roman government. The purchase of Sparrows in each Gospel is the process of buying Sparrows as food. They were sold strung together or on skewers and sold at markets as a common food for the poor. Sparrows are Kosher in the Torah. The point of both Gospels is to mention their very low cost and seemingly complete insignificance.
Yet, in these two examples we read, “Not one of them falls to the ground without the Father knowing about it,” and “Not one of them is forgotten before God.” To strengthen this, the Lord says, “The Father knows the number of hairs on our head.” The Lord knows when we feel like we are nothing.
The whole point of the Sparrow sales is to teach us ‘not to fear… we are more valuable than many Sparrows, nothing and no one is without value, no one is forgotten, or goes unnoticed in the Fathers view. The Lord is keeping track of all that is going on in our lives. The Father loves us.
“What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” Jesus