Matthew 10:31
in Matthew 10So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
KJV
Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
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This verse in Matthew 10
Commentary
13 notes on this verseFear ye not - ye are of more value - None can estimate the value of a soul, for which Christ has given his blood and life! Have confidence in his goodness; for he who so dearly purchased thee will miraculously preserve and save thee. Did the poet intend to contradict Christ when he said: - “He sees with equal eye, as God of all, A Hero perish, or a Sparrow fall?” How cold and meagre is this shallow deistical saying!
This site's exposition
two sparrows sold for a farthing
on Matthew 10:29-31
Two sparrows sold for a farthing names the cheapest creature in the marketplace, and not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father, extending providence down to the least valued life a coin could buy. The very hairs of your head are all numbered pushes the same providence further still, into a count no one keeps for himself, and the conclusion follows without strain, ye are of more value than many sparrows. The bench reads the passage as comfort fitted precisely to the fears just named in verse 28, a Father who numbers hairs is a Father who is not absent from the disciple's worst hour.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
This expresses still more clearly the sense as it was above explained, that they should not fear those who can kill the body, for if the least animal falls not without God's knowledge, how much less a man who is dignified with the Apostolic rank?
No accident then that can befal our bodies is to be feared; thus He adds, Fear not, ye are better than many sparrows. Or this, ye are better than many sparrows, teaches that the elect faithful are better than the multitude of the unbelieving, for the one fall to earth, the other fly to heaven.
But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Therefore, do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. The deeper meaning of our previous explanation is expressed: that those who can kill the body should not be afraid, for they cannot kill the soul, and if even small animals do not fall without God's knowledge, how much more so for humans, who are supported by apostolic dignity! Moreover, when it is said that even the hairs of your head are all counted, it shows the immense providence of God towards humans and signifies His ineffable affection, that nothing about us escapes God, and even the smallest and most insignificant things do not elude His knowledge. They mock the ecclesiastical intelligence in this place, who deny the resurrection of the flesh, as if we were all saying that even the hairs that have been counted and cut by the barber will rise again, when the Savior did not say, 'But all the hairs on your head will be saved,' but 'They are counted.' Where there is number, the knowledge of number is demonstrated, not the preservation of the same number.
A commentator
John ChrysostomHomily on the Gospel of Matthew 34 · Written in the 5th century.
proposed
"Fear ye not therefore; ye are of more value than many sparrows." Seest thou that the fear had already prevailed over them? Yea, for He knew the secrets of the heart; therefore He added, "Fear them not therefore;" for even should they prevail, it will be over the inferior part, I mean, the body; which though they should not kill, nature will surely take with her and depart. So that not even this depends on them, but men have it from nature. And if thou fear this, much more shouldest thou fear what is greater, and dread "Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." And He saith not openly now, that it is Himself, "Who is able to destroy both soul and body," but where He before declared Himself to be judge, He made it manifest.
The Medieval Church1 voice
"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of much more value than sparrows." So that …
6 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
Here he assures them on the ground that they can do little, and what they can do, they cannot accomplish without God's providence. Fear not, therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows: "You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Fear ye not therefore,....
These things, though primarily intended for direction to the apostles, are of use to all Christ's ministers, with whom, by his word, Christ, and will be always to end the world.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows--Was ever language of such simplicity felt to carry such weight as this does? But here lies much of the charm and power of our Lord's teaching.
To do good to souls in this world is very hard. All who try it find this out by experience: it needs a large stock of courage, faith, patience and perseverance. Satan will fight vigorously to maintain his kingdom; human nature is desperately wicked: to do harm is easy; to do good is hard. The Lord Jesus knew this well, when he sent his disciples out to preach the Gospel for the first time. He knew what was before them, if they did not.
To do good to souls in this world is very hard. All who try it find this out by experience: it needs a large stock of courage, faith, patience and perseverance. Satan will fight vigorously to maintain his kingdom; human nature is desperately wicked: to do harm is easy; to do good is hard. The Lord Jesus knew this well, when he sent his disciples out to preach the Gospel for the first time. He knew what was before them, if they did not. He took care to supply them with a list of encouragements in order to cheer them when they felt cast down. Weary missionaries abroad, or fainting ministers at home, disheartened teachers of schools and desponding visitors of districts would do well to study often the nine verses we have just read. Let us mark what they contain. For one thing, those who try to do good to souls must not expect to fare better than their great Master. “A disciple is not above his master, nor a servant above his lord.” The Lord Jesus was slandered and rejected by those whom he came to benefit. There was no error in his teaching; there was no defect in his method of imparting instruction, yet many hated him and called him Beelzebub. Few believed him and cared for what he said. Surely we have no right to be surprised if we, whose best efforts are mingled with much imperfection, are treated in the same way as Christ. If we let the world alone, it will probably let us alone; but if we try to do it spiritual good, it will hate us as it did our Master. For another thing, those who try to do good must look forward with patience to the day of judgment. “There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, and hid that shall not be known.” They must be content in this present world to be misunderstood, misrepresented, vilified, slandered and abused. They must not cease to work because their motives are mistaken and their characters fiercely assailed.
The words behind it
7 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| μὴ | me | Not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| οὖν | oun | therefore | G3767 → | 497 times |
| φοβεῖσθε· | phobeisthe | do fear; | G5399 → | 95 times |
| πολλῶν | pollon | than many | G4183 → | 367 times |
| στρουθίων | strouthion | sparrows | G4765 → | |
| διαφέρετε | diapherete | are worth more | G1308 → | 13 times |
| ὑμεῖς.¶ | humeis | you yourselves. | G4771 → | 2973 times |
μὴNot
meG3361 →1066 times
οὖνtherefore
ounG3767 →497 times
φοβεῖσθε·do fear;
phobeistheG5399 →95 times
πολλῶνthan many
pollonG4183 →367 times
στρουθίωνsparrows
strouthionG4765 →
διαφέρετεare worth more
diaphereteG1308 →13 times
ὑμεῖς.¶you yourselves.
humeisG4771 →2973 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 6:26Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
it leads to
- Psalms 147:9
He provides food for the animals, and for the young ravens when they call.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Job 38:41
Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God as they wander about for lack of food?
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 145:15–16
The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in season.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 10:29–31
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.
- Luke 12:24–32
Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn; yet God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds!
- Psalms 147:9
Through
Psalms 8:5You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor.
it leads to
- Hebrews 2:7
You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor
- Hebrews 2:9
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death…
- Genesis 1:26–27
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the…
- Hebrews 2:7
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies7
About Matthew
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Gospels; Hilary of Poitiers, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Matthew; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Jerome, Commentary on Matthew; John Chrysostom, Homily on the Gospel of Matthew 34; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Matthew and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Matthew.