Matthew 10:29

KJV

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

KJV (with Strong's)

Are {G4453} not {G3780} two {G1417} sparrows {G4765} sold {G4453} for a farthing {G787}? and {G2532} one {G1520} of {G1537} them {G846} shall {G4098} not {G3756} fall {G4098} on {G1909} the ground {G1093} without {G427} your {G5216} Father {G3962}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Aren't sparrows sold for next to nothing, two for an assarion? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's consent.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? and not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 10:29 offers a profound assurance of God's meticulous, sovereign care, even over the seemingly insignificant details of creation. As Jesus prepares His disciples for the daunting challenges and persecutions they will face, He comforts them with the truth that not even a single sparrow falls to the ground without the express knowledge and permission of their Heavenly Father. This verse serves as a powerful antidote to fear, establishing a foundational principle that if God's providence extends to the smallest of creatures, His watchful and loving care for His children is infinitely greater and more certain.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Matthew 10:29 is nestled within Jesus' extensive "Missionary Discourse" (Matthew 10:5-42), where He commissions and instructs His twelve disciples before sending them out to proclaim the Kingdom of Heaven. The immediate preceding verses (Matthew 10:26-28) are crucial for understanding this verse. Jesus commands His disciples not to fear men who can only kill the body, but rather to fear God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. The illustration of the sparrows in [Matthew 10:29-31](/matthew/10-29-31 "Matthew 10:29-31 - God's Care for Sparrows and Humanity") serves as the logical and comforting foundation for this call to fearlessness. It transitions from a warning against misplaced fear to a profound reassurance of divine protection and intimate knowledge, reinforcing the disciples' courage in the face of anticipated persecution and opposition.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Judea, sparrows were among the cheapest and most common birds, often caught and sold as food for the poor. The mention of "two sparrows sold for a farthing" (an *assarion*, a small Roman copper coin of extremely low value) underscores their negligible economic worth. This detail is key to Jesus' argument: if God cares for creatures so commonplace and inexpensive, how much more does He value and care for human beings, who are made in His image and are infinitely more precious? This context highlights the radical nature of God's comprehensive providence, extending even to the most overlooked aspects of creation, providing immense comfort to those facing economic hardship or social marginalization.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Matthew's Gospel and biblical theology. Firstly, it emphasizes **God's Meticulous Providence and Sovereignty**, illustrating that His oversight is not general but extends to the minutest details of existence. Nothing, not even the death of a tiny bird, occurs outside of His knowledge and ultimate will. Secondly, it highlights **Divine Care for Humanity**, arguing *a fortiori* that if God cares for sparrows, His care for His image-bearers is immeasurably greater, as further emphasized by Jesus in [Luke 12:7](/luke/12-7 "Luke 12:7 - Even the Hairs of Your Head Are Numbered"). This theme counters anxiety and promotes trust. Finally, the verse undergirds the pervasive biblical theme of **"Fear Not,"** particularly in the context of discipleship and persecution. It directly supports Jesus' command in [Matthew 10:28](/matthew/10-28 "Matthew 10:28 - Fear God, Not Man") by providing a tangible reason for courage: no harm can truly befall God's children without His sovereign permission, ensuring their ultimate security.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Sparrows (Greek, _strouthíon'_):** Derived from a diminutive form, this word literally means "a little sparrow." Jesus' choice of this particular bird emphasizes its smallness, commonness, and perceived insignificance in the human economy. By highlighting God's attention to such a creature, Jesus dramatically underscores the boundless and detailed nature of divine providence, which extends even to the most overlooked aspects of creation.
* **Fall (Greek, _píptō'_):** This verb means "to fall," often implying a descent or collapse, and in this context, it carries the connotation of death or coming to rest on the ground. The phrase "shall not fall on the ground" speaks to the precise moment of a sparrow's demise. The implication is not merely that God *observes* the fall, but that it does not occur *without* His knowledge and, more profoundly, His sovereign permission or decree. This signifies active involvement rather than passive observation.
* **Without (Greek, _áneu'_):** This preposition denotes "without" or "apart from." In the phrase "without your Father," it conveys the absolute necessity of the Father's involvement or knowledge. It is not merely a lack of His presence, but a declaration that the event (the sparrow's fall) is not independent of His will or awareness. This word is crucial for understanding the depth of God's sovereign control and intimate knowledge over all creation.
* **Father (Greek, _patḗr'_):** This term, used by Jesus to refer to God, emphasizes a deeply personal, relational, and caring aspect of the divine. It transforms the concept of abstract sovereignty into the tender, watchful care of a loving parent. The disciples are not merely subjects of a distant deity but beloved children of a Heavenly Father who is intimately concerned with their well-being, even down to the smallest detail of their lives.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?"**: This opening is a rhetorical question designed to elicit an affirmative answer. It establishes the extremely low economic value of sparrows in the common marketplace. A "farthing" (Greek: *assarion*) was a coin of minimal worth, meaning sparrows were cheap and plentiful, often sold two for one coin, or even five for two coins (as in Luke 12:6), further emphasizing their expendability. This sets the stage for the striking contrast to follow.
* **"and one of them shall not fall on the ground"**: This clause introduces the core assertion. The "fall" of a sparrow here refers to its death, its life ending and its body landing on the earth. The negative "shall not fall" highlights the impossibility of such an event occurring randomly or outside of divine oversight. It implies that every single instance of a sparrow's death is specifically accounted for and known.
* **"without your Father."**: This concluding phrase reveals the agent of this comprehensive knowledge and permission: "your Father." The possessive "your" underscores the personal relationship between God and His disciples. The phrase "without your Father" is a powerful declaration of God's absolute sovereignty and meticulous providence. It signifies that not a single sparrow's death is accidental or beyond the scope of God's awareness and ultimate will. This intimate knowledge of the seemingly insignificant provides the basis for the disciples' confidence in God's care for their far more valuable lives.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 10:29 employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound message. The verse opens with a **Rhetorical Question** ("Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?"), which serves to immediately engage the audience and prompt them to affirm the common knowledge of the sparrows' low value. This sets up a powerful **Argument from the Lesser to the Greater (A fortiori)**, even though the greater part is implied in this specific verse and made explicit in the following verse (Matthew 10:31). If God cares for the least valuable creatures, how much more does He care for His beloved children? **Symbolism** is also at play, with the sparrow representing the seemingly insignificant, the overlooked, and the vulnerable. By focusing on the sparrow, Jesus elevates the value of every life, no matter how small, in the eyes of God. Finally, the phrase "shall not fall... without your Father" uses **Understatement (Meiosis)** to powerfully convey God's omnipresence and omnipotence. It's not just that God is *aware* of the sparrow's fall, but that it cannot happen *apart from* His knowledge and sovereign will, implying a profound, active, and meticulous involvement in all of creation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 10:29 is a cornerstone for understanding the biblical doctrine of God's providence. It asserts that God's sovereignty is not a distant, abstract concept but an intimate, active, and meticulous involvement in every detail of His creation. This verse challenges any notion of a deistic God who sets the world in motion and then withdraws. Instead, it reveals a God who is intimately aware of and sovereign over even the smallest, most seemingly insignificant events, including the death of a common bird. This comprehensive oversight forms the bedrock of trust for believers, assuring them that their lives, which are immeasurably more valuable than sparrows, are held securely within the loving and powerful hands of their Heavenly Father. It undergirds the call to fearless discipleship, knowing that no circumstance, no persecution, and no suffering can occur outside of God's ultimate knowledge and permission, and that He works all things for the good of those who love Him.

* [Luke 12:6-7](/luke/12-6-7 "Luke 12:6-7 - God's Care for Sparrows and Numbered Hairs")
* [Psalm 139:1-6](/psalms/139-1-6 "Psalm 139:1-6 - God's Omniscience and Omnipresence")
* [Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "Romans 8:28 - All Things Work for Good")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 10:29 offers profound comfort and a robust challenge to our anxieties in a world often perceived as chaotic or indifferent. For the believer, this verse serves as a powerful reminder that our lives are not subject to random chance or arbitrary fate, but are held firmly within the loving and sovereign hand of a Heavenly Father who knows every detail, orchestrates every event, and cares for us with an intimacy that surpasses human comprehension. When we face uncertainty, fear of the future, or the sting of persecution, this truth empowers us to release our grip on control and embrace a radical trust in God's unfailing providence. It calls us to live courageously, knowing that no harm can ultimately thwart God's purposes for us, and that even our suffering is known and can be redeemed by Him. This verse invites us to cultivate a deeper awareness of God's presence in the mundane and the momentous, transforming our perspective from one of worry to one of worship and confident expectation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the meticulous detail of God's care for a sparrow challenge or affirm your understanding of His providence in your own life?**
* **What specific fears or anxieties do you tend to carry, and how might meditating on Matthew 10:29 help you surrender those to your Heavenly Father?**
* **If God is intimately aware of every detail, how does this truth impact your sense of worth and significance in His eyes?**
* **How can remembering this verse empower you to live more boldly and fearlessly for Christ in a world that may be hostile to your faith?**

### FAQ

**What is a "farthing" and why is its value significant in this verse?**

Answer: A "farthing" in the King James Version of Matthew 10:29 translates the Greek word *assarion* (ἀσσάριον), which was a small Roman copper coin. Its value was extremely low, equivalent to about 1/16th of a denarius (a day's wage for a laborer). The significance of its low value is crucial to Jesus' teaching: sparrows were so common and cheap that two could be bought for this meager sum. By highlighting the minimal economic value of sparrows, Jesus emphasizes that if God's meticulous care extends even to creatures considered so insignificant and expendable by human standards, His care for His infinitely more valuable human children is immeasurably greater. This underscores the depth and breadth of God's providence.

**Does "one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father" mean God causes all suffering or death?**

Answer: This phrase highlights God's absolute sovereignty and comprehensive knowledge, not necessarily that He directly *causes* every negative event in a deterministic sense. The Greek word *áneu* (without) implies that nothing happens *apart from* or *outside the knowledge and ultimate permission* of God. It means that no event, even the death of a tiny bird, occurs independently of His watchful eye and overarching plan. While God permits suffering and death in a fallen world, this verse primarily emphasizes His intimate awareness and sovereign control over all circumstances, assuring believers that even in suffering, they are not outside of His providential care. It's a statement of divine oversight and ultimate authority, providing comfort that nothing can truly happen to His children that is not within His ultimate design or redemptive purpose, as seen in [Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "Romans 8:28 - All Things Work for Good").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 10:29 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. If God's meticulous providence extends to the fall of a sparrow, His ultimate demonstration of care for humanity is revealed in sending His Son. The very Father who knows every detail of creation is the one who "did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all" ([Romans 8:32](/romans/8-32 "Romans 8:32 - God Gave Up His Son")). Jesus Himself, as the Good Shepherd, embodies this divine care, laying down His life for His sheep ([John 10:11](/john/10-11 "John 10:11 - The Good Shepherd")). His resurrection is the ultimate proof that even death, the "fall" of humanity, is not outside the Father's sovereign plan and power to redeem. Through Christ, believers are adopted into this intimate family relationship with the Father, gaining access to His providential care. Furthermore, Jesus' ongoing intercession for believers at the right hand of God ([Hebrews 7:25](/hebrews/7-25 "Hebrews 7:25 - Christ's Intercession")) ensures that the Father's watchful eye and protective hand are always upon His children, providing for their every need according to His riches in glory ([Philippians 4:19](/philippians/4-19 "Philippians 4:19 - God Will Supply All Your Needs")). Thus, the promise of Matthew 10:29 is not merely a general theological truth, but a living reality made possible and guaranteed by the finished work and continuing ministry of Christ.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 12:6

Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

Luke 12:7

But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Psalms 104:27

These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give [them] their meat in due season.

Psalms 104:30

Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.