Have You Ever Attended the
Funeral of a Sparrow?
Matthew 10:29, 31
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your father’s care…So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
How much for a sparrow?
In Jesus’ day, a sparrow was the cheapest of all the meat and one of the few things a poor person could buy for food. Matthew 10:29 says you could buy two for a penny (farthing). In Luke 12:67, we are told that you can even get a discount if you buy two penny’s worth. The price was two for a penny or five for two pennies.
Who is at the sparrow’s funeral?
It ought to be obvious that Jesus is not focusing on the insignificance of a sparrow, but is pointing out the importance of people. God even watches over an insignificant sparrow. He notices it when it dies. One writer beautifully said, “God attends the funeral of every sparrow.”
Somewhere in the remotest region of an unexplored forest, there is flock of sparrows. In that flock is a single sparrow. God notices when that little, insignificant bird dies.
What is Jesus telling me?
Jesus is teaching about God’s care for you. He said, “So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Ours is an age of low self-esteem. Too many people feel worthless and feel they don’t measure up to others. There are countless books on how to grow your self-esteem or that of your child, spouse, or other loved one. This verse is God’s way of saying “I notice and care for you.” When you really grasp that thought your will self-esteem grow.
Somewhere in a large city there is a homeless man. He has no money and no place to call home. His family has forgotten him. When he dies, no friend will attend his funeral, but God will be there!
You don’t need the latest self-esteem book. You only need to remember that you are so important that when you die, the King of all Ages will attend your funeral. Even better, He will take you home to live with Him in a place His Son is building just for you (John 14:2-3).
If that doesn’t make you feel significant, you need to read the verse again.
Lonnie Davis
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