Valuing Sparrows
Matthew records Jesus saying:
"Are not two sparrows sold for
a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your
Father" (10:29).
But Luke’s record has it this way:
"Are not five sparrows sold
for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?" (12:6).
Some have suggested that these two
verses amount to a contradiction in the Scriptures. But there is a simpler
explanation. In that day sparrows were caught, sold, and eaten - if you can
imagine such a thing! But, then as now, sparrows were so common and
numerous that they were of very little value. In fact, you could buy two of
them for a farthing - about two cents. But, it appears that they were so cheap
that if you bought as many as four then a fifth bird would be thrown in for
free. Thus, two for a farthing, and five for two farthings!
What's the point in all of
this? It was not intended as an economic lesson about the advantage of
buying and selling in bulk quantities! It was, rather, an illustration
used to emphasize the point that Jesus was making to His disciples, namely that
God cares for and providentially protects his children. Or, as Jesus said,
"Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows," and
again, "the very hairs of your head are all numbered." (Matthew
10:30.31).
God cares for us - what a wonderful
thought! This should comfort us in life's harder moments. And,
"if God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31).
- by Greg Gwin
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