Matthew 10 - 3.25.25
SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 10:28 – 31
28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
OBSERVATION
Jesus is preparing the disciples for what’s to come in the days ahead. There will be persecutions and many more trials – even to the point of death. Jesus doesn’t want them to worry or be afraid and shares what’s more important: our soul and value to the Father.
Jesus knows everyone will be concerned about the worst case scenario: dying. But the death of our body isn’t what matters most but the death of our soul. We will all physically die at one point and there’s nothing we can do about it. But we do have the ability to affect our soul. We can have a healthy fear of “the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” That healthy fear is what causesd me to seek God in my life. But is fear where we should live our life? No, that’s why Jesus immediate shares just how precious and important we are to the Father.
Jesus tries to provide a valuable comparison just to help the disciples understand their fear but to also give them hope and comfort. He takes a common sparrow, which were not valuable then or now, yet are cared so much by God that “not one will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.” What a tender and loving vision this creates of God gently caring for the sweet little sparrows. God’s love doesn’t end there. Jesus goes on to say that “even the very hairs on your head are all numbered.” God loves us that deeply! Jesus comes full circle on the fear of death, our value above sparrows, to then encourage the disciples “So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
APPLICATION
Physical death is inevitable. Our bodies will pass away one day. My fear shouldn’t be about my body but my soul. Am I living a life that glorifies God? Am I more concerned about God or people on this earth? It’s all about our priorities and the choices we make each day. We can live in fear or can live our life for God. Understanding how important and deeply loved we are to our heavenly Father can easily turn every fear into praise.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, thank you for the comfort your Word provides. You care about what we feel – and provide exactly what we need to hear. You help us to see, in comparison with sparrows, that we’re more important to you! Thank you for loving me. Help me to always keep my focus on you. Help me to remember this scripture when any form of worry or fear comes along. In Jesus name! Amen
- Mary Oberg
