Matthew 10:29-33 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father. 30But even all the hairs of your head have been numbered. 31Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32Therefore, everyone who confesses me before people, I also will confess in him before my Father who is in heaven; 33but whoever denies me before people, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
Jesus next illustrates the care and value disciples are to God. God will take care of those who seek him in sincerity and truth. Sparrows and pennies are small and insignificant in the larger scheme of creation and money, but both are guided by God. Behind Jesus’ illustration is the important theological doctrine of God’s sovereignty and omniscience. God is in control of all things and knows all things. Nothing escapes God’s knowledge, not even the number of hairs on one’s head. Jesus chose extravagant images to help his disciples find comfort in God’s providential care.
Since God’s sovereign care is an essential and clear truth, disciples should find comfort knowing that God is watching over them. Fear of persecution or of what people say in ridicule or shaming should not stop disciples from following Jesus and serving in mission with his authority. We as followers of Jesus are worth more in God’s sight than sparrows. God as our heavenly Father cares for his children.
Knowing God cares for us and will be with us in suffering should motivate us to proclaim Christ to people without fear. Fear can be crippling and cause us to retreat to places we feel are safe. But true and lasting safety can be found only in believing in Jesus. Faith empowers us to obey and do as Jesus commands. Jesus alluded to judgment in verse 28 and returns to that theme in verses 32-33. Initially, fear of facing God’s judgment should motivate us to obedience. We should never lose this sense of fear but transform it to worship and respect.
Obedience to Jesus should then move us to assurance that we have nothing to fear at judgment. If we profess that we are Jesus’ followers before people, Jesus will be our advocate before the judgment seat of the Father. The reverse is also true. Denying Jesus will bring the wrath of God. Denying Jesus means to hide behind our fear of what people will think about us or do to us. The simple command in this passage echoes what Jesus told his disciples in verse 7. Proclaiming the kingdom is all about confessing Jesus. Confess (homologēsei) can mean to acknowledge something or agree about it in a public way.
These words of Jesus are challenging to live out when family, friends, and the people of our culture put tremendous social pressure on us, resulting in shame or threats to our person or property. We have to make a decision of what is more important to us: the acceptance of people or the acceptance of God.
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