Luke 12:6 - Fear God Alone
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?
In the context of first-century Judea, sparrows were among the cheapest birds sold in the market, often used for food by the poor. The reference to "two pennies" (Greek: assarion) indicates a very small amount of money, emphasizing the low value placed on these birds by society. This phrase highlights the economic conditions of the time, where even the smallest creatures were commodified. The sparrow, a common bird, is used here to illustrate God's care for all His creation, regardless of perceived value. This echoes the sentiment found in Matthew 10:29, where Jesus similarly speaks of sparrows to convey God's attentive care.
Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.
This phrase underscores the omniscience and compassion of God, who remembers even the smallest and seemingly insignificant parts of His creation. It serves as a reassurance of God's intimate knowledge and care for all creatures, reflecting the broader biblical theme of God's providence. This idea is consistent with passages like Psalm 147:4, which speaks of God knowing the stars by name, and Isaiah 49:15, which assures that God does not forget His people. The mention of sparrows, despite their low market value, illustrates that God's care extends to all, reinforcing the message of divine love and attention to detail. This also serves as a metaphor for God's care for humanity, suggesting that if He remembers the sparrows, He certainly remembers each person.
Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The speaker of this verse, Jesus is teaching His disciples and the crowd about God's care and the value He places on His creation.
2. Sparrows
Small birds mentioned in the verse, used by Jesus as an example to illustrate God's attention to even the smallest and seemingly insignificant parts of His creation.
3. Disciples and the Crowd
The audience to whom Jesus is speaking, including His close followers and others gathered to hear His teachings.
4. God
The central figure in the teaching, whose omniscience and care for His creation are emphasized.
5. Marketplace
Implied setting where sparrows are sold, representing the economic transactions of the time and the perceived value of sparrows.
Teaching Points
God's Omniscience and Care
God is aware of every detail of His creation, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem to us. This should reassure us of His intimate knowledge and care for our lives.
Value Beyond Measure
The world may assign little value to certain things or people, but God sees intrinsic worth in all He has made. We should adopt this perspective in how we view ourselves and others.
Trust in God's Provision
Just as God provides for the sparrows, He will provide for us. We are encouraged to trust in His provision and not be anxious about our needs.
Living Without Fear
Understanding God's care for us should free us from fear and anxiety, knowing that we are never forgotten by Him.
Reflecting God's Care
As followers of Christ, we are called to reflect God's care and compassion in our interactions with others, valuing them as God does.
Lists and Questions
Top 10 Lessons from Luke 12If God supposedly cares for every sparrow (Luke 12:6–7), how can we reconcile this with the widespread suffering of animals and people throughout history? How do Christians cope with losing a pet?What is the Bible's view on self-esteem?Are you valued more than many sparrows?
(6) Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings?--The variation from St. Matthew's "two sparrows sold for a farthing," seems to reproduce the very bargains of the market-place. The sparrow was of so little value that the odd bird was thrown in to tempt the purchasers. Both this difference, and that between "not one of them shall fall to the ground without your Father," in St. Matthew, and "not one of them is forgotten before God," in St. Luke, are proofs, again, of the independence of the two Gospels.
Verses 6, 7. - Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. Though persecution and bitter suffering, even death, may be the guerdon of the Lord's true servants here, none of these things can happen without the consent of God. This thought will surely give them courage to endure. Suffering undergone in God's service, inflicted, too, with his entire consent, so that the suffering becomes part of the service, - what an onlook is afforded to the brave, faithful servant by such a contemplation! Oh the welcome from God he is sure to meet with when such a death has been endured! These extreme instances of God's universal care - his all-knowledge of everything, however little and insignificant, belonging to his creatures - are chosen to give point to the Master's words. If he knows of the death of these little, almost valueless, birds - ay, even of the falling of one of the many hairs of your head - surely you cannot doubt his knowledge of, his caring for, the life or death of one of his proved and gallant followers. These little sparrows were sold in the markets, strung together, or on skewers. Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
{Are} not
Οὐχὶ (Ouchi)
IntPrtcl
Strong's 3780: By no means, not at all. Intensive of ou; not indeed.
five
πέντε (pente)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4002: Five. A primary number; 'five'.
sparrows
στρουθία (strouthia)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4765: A small bird, sparrow. Diminutive of strouthos; a little sparrow.
sold
πωλοῦνται (pōlountai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4453: To sell, exchange, barter. Probably ultimately from pelomai; to barter, i.e. To sell.
for two
δύο (dyo)
Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 1417: Two. A primary numeral; 'two'.
pennies?
ἀσσαρίων (assariōn)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 787: A small coin equal to the tenth part of a drachma. Of Latin origin; an assarius or as, a Roman coin.
Yet
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.
not
οὐκ (ouk)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.
one
ἓν (hen)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1520: One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.
of
ἐξ (ex)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.
them
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Neuter 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.
is
ἔστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.
forgotten
ἐπιλελησμένον (epilelēsmenon)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1950: To forget, neglect. Middle voice from epi and lanthano; to lose out of mind; by implication, to neglect.
by
ἐνώπιον (enōpion)
Preposition
Strong's 1799: Neuter of a compound of en and a derivative of optanomai; in the face of.
God.
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.
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