• Said the Robin to the Sparrow: "I should really like to know Why these anxious human beings Rush about and worry so. Said the Sparrow to the Robin: "Friend, I think that it must be That they have no heavenly Father Such as cares for you and me.

-  Cheney, Elizabeth,  Poem: "Overheard in an Orchard" ,
• The particular providence of God is another reason for your not fearing man.  For this extends to the very smallest things.  And if he has such care over the most inconsiderable creatures, how much more will he take care of you, (provided you confess him before men, before powerful enemies of the truth,) and that not only in this life, but in the other also?

- Wesley, John, Notes Upon the New Testament, Vol. 1, on Matthew 10:29-30
• The disciples are promised that God's providential care is over the world, both to judge the wicked who oppose his people and to watch over his own as they go about fulfilling their witness.

- Howard Clark Kee, Interpreter's One-Volume Commentary: Matthew, p. 622
• None can estimate the value of a soul, for which Christ has given his blood and life!  Have confidence in his goodness; for he who so dearly purchased thee will miraculously preserve and save thee.

- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Matthew 10:31
• The providence of God extends to the minutest things; every thing is continually under the government and care of God, and nothing occurs without his will or permission; if then he regards sparrows, how much more man, and how much more still the soul that trusts in him!

- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Matthew 10:29
• All things are ordered by the counsel of God.  This is a great consolation to those who are tried and afflicted.  The belief of an all-wise, all-directing Providence, is a powerful support under the most grievous accidents of life.  Nothing escapes his merciful regards, not even the smallest things of which he may be said to be only the creator and preserver; how much less those of whom he is the Father, Saviour, and endless felicity!

- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Matthew 10:29
• He encourages them not to fear by two striking considerations: first, that God took care of sparrows, the smallest and least valuable birds; and, secondly, by the fact, that God numbered even the very hairs of the head. The argument is, if he takes care of birds of the least value; if he regards so small a thing as the hair of the head, and numbers it, he will certainly protect and provide for you. You need not, therefore, fear what man can do to you.

- Barnes, Albert, New Testament Commentary, Matthew 10:29-31
• Among the smallest and least valuable birds, yet under the Divine care. So cheap as to be offered in pairs for an insignificant coin, but God notes the fall of one.

- People's New Testament Commentary, Matthew 10:29
• There is comfort in this thought for us all. Our father who knows about the sparrows knows and cares about us.

- Robertson's Word Pictures, Matthew 10:29
•  The care of our heavenly Father is so minute that we ought to dismiss forever all our fears.  If he takes care of us even down to the hairs of our head, we are secure indeed.

- Spurgeon, C.H., Spurgeon's Devotional Commentary, Matthew 10:29-31
• Here is a sermon against fear, and sparrows are the text. Those birds are of little worth, and you are of far greater consideration than many of them.  God observes the death of a sparrow, and he much more notes the lives and deaths of his people. Even the least part of his children’s bodily frame has been registered. The very hairs of their head are counted and catalogued; and, to the most minute circumstance, all their lives are under the arrangement of the Lord of love. Chance is not in our creed: the decree of the Eternal Watcher rules our destiny, and love is seen in every line of

that decree.  Since we shall not suffer harm at the hand of men by their arbitrary conduct, apart from the will and permission of our Father, let us be ready to bear with holy courage whatever the wrath of man may bring upon us.
God will not waste the life of one of his soldiers; no, nor a hair of his head.  If we die in God’s battle we live in the grandest sense, for by loss of life we gain life.
- Spurgeon, C.H., Spurgeon's Commentary on Matthew, Matthew 10:29
• Observe here, 1.  The doctrine which our Saviour preaches to his disciples: and that is the doctrine of divine providence; which concerns itself for the meanest creatures: even the birds of the air, and the hairs of our head, do fall within the compass of God's protecting care.   2.  Here is the use which our Saviour makes of this doctrine; namely, to fortify the spirits of his disciples against all distrustful fears and distraction cares.

 Learn, That the condsideration of the divine care and gracious providence of God over us and ours, ought to antidote our spirits against all distrustful fears whatsoever.  If a hair from the head falls not to the ground without a providence much less shall the head itself; it the very excretions of the body, (such are the hairs,) be taken care of by God, surely the more noble parts of the body, and especially the noblest part of ourselves, our souls, shall fall under his particular regard.
- Burkitt, William, Notes on the New Testament, Matthew 10:29
• Were men as transient in existence as sparrows, they would be of as little value.  The words of the poet would then be true, who says of the Deity, "He sees with equal eye, as God of all, A hero perish, or a sparrow fall."  If man be perishable as the sparrow, he approaches no nearer to infinity than the sparrow.  To the eye of the Infinite, therefore, both would be equal;  but since man's immortal nature endures as long as the Deity himself, he thereby becomes infinitely more valuable than the animal that perisheth.  Under such a protector, then, as God, and so valuable in his sight, why should we fear to suffer, since he will never permit us utterly to perish for his truth?  Fully, therefore, does it follow that it is most safe to suffer for Christ.

- D.D. Whedon, Commentary on the Gospels, Vol. I:  Matthew-Mark, p. 60
• Jesus asks for childlike abandonment to the providence of our heavenly Father who takes care of his children's smallest needs: "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?". . . Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well."

-  Catechism of the Catholic Church, (Missouri: Liguori, 1994)  ¶305
• This is a challenge to fearless proclamation in the face of persecution and an assurance of God's care for his witnesses and of their ultimate vindication.

- Reginald H. Fuller, Preaching the Lectionary, p. 138
• "You are of more value" is not a general statement about the value of human personality;  it is an assurance for the messengers.  While they are on duty delivering their message, they will be guarded, but even this does not exclude martyrdom.  One way or another, the message will be delivered.  That is what is important.

- Reginald H. Fuller, Preaching the Lectionary, p. 138
• God who is the terrible Judge of all is also the loving Father of those who trust Him.

- R.E. Nixon, New Bible Commentary, Revised (1970):  Matthew, p. 829
• The general extent of providence to all the creatures, even the least, and least considerable, to the sparrows, Mt 10:29. These little animals are of so small account, that one of them is not valued; there must go two to be worth a farthing (nay, you shall have five for a halfpenny, Lu 12:6), and yet they are not shut out of the divine care.

- Matthew Henry, Commentary, Vol. 5, p. 144
• He that feeds the sparrows, will not starve the saints.

- Matthew Henry, Commentary, Vol. 5, p. 144
•  Though they are so small a part of the creation, yet even their death comes within the notice of the divine providence; much more does the death of his disciples.

- Matthew Henry, Commentary, Vol. 5, p. 144
•  This God, who has such an eye to the sparrows, because they are his creatures, much more will have an eye to you, who are his children. If a sparrow die not without your Father, surely a man does not,--a Christian,--a minister,--my friend, my child.

- Matthew Henry, Commentary, Vol. 5, p. 144
• There is enough in the doctrine of God's providence to silence all the fears of God's people: Ye are of more value than many sparrows. All men are so, for the other creatures were made for man, and put under his feet (Ps 8:6-8); much more the disciples of Jesus Christ, who are the excellent ones of the earth, however contemned, as if not worth one sparrow.

- Matthew Henry, Commentary, Vol. 5, p. 144
• This is... encouragement to live in a continual dependence upon God's providential care, which extends itself to all occurances, yet without disparagement to the infinite glory, or disturbance to the infiniete rest, of the Eternal Mind.

- Matthew Henry, Commentary, Vol. 5, p. 144
• Truth... is one as the universe is one.  There is nothing despicable or contemptible;  the fall of the sparrow is watched, and the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  God putteth our tears in his bottle, and he writes our names in his book of life.  Sacred universe, sensitive universe;  if I lift a hand I send a shudder to the stars.

- Joseph Parker, People's Bible, Vol. 29, p.157
• Do not let us secrete ourselves in a corner, huddled together like sheep, afraid of a rolling thunder-storm, but let us be out everywhere inquiring, looking, testing, and offering our gospel.  Let us translate it into every language;  let us take it into every society, some speaking it as a high philosophy, others breathing it as a gentle blessing, others loving it as a high promise and tender solace, and all displaying it with a chivalrous and useful consistency.  Then shall the Church, though nineteen centuries old, be fair as the sun, clear as the moon, and terrible as an army with banners.

- Joseph Parker, People's Bible, Vol. 29, p.166
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Genesis 21:8-21
     8   And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same
     day that Isaac was weaned.
     9   And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham,
     mocking.
     10   Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the
     son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
     11   And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.
     12   And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad,
     and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto
     her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
     13   And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy
     seed.
     14   And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water,
     and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away:
     and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
     15   And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the
     shrubs.
     16   And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a
     bow shot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over
     against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
     17   And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of
     heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the
     voice of the lad where he is.
     18   Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.
     19   And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled
     the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
     20   And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became
     an archer.
     21   And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the
     land of Egypt.
 

Romans 6:1b-11
 

     1   What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
     2   God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
     3   Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized
     into his death?
     4   Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was
     raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in
     newness of life.
     5   For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also
     in the likeness of his resurrection:
     6   Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be
     destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
     7   For he that is dead is freed from sin.
     8   Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
     9   Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more
     dominion over him.
     10   For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto
     God.
     11   Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God
     through Jesus Christ our Lord.
 
 

Psalm 86:1-10, (11-15), 16-17
 

     1   Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.
     2   Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in
     thee.
     3   Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.
     4   Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
     5   For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all
     them that call upon thee.
     6   Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.
     7   In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.
     8   Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works
     like unto thy works.
     9   All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and
     shall glorify thy name.
     10   For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
     11   Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy
     name.
     12   I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for
     evermore.
     13   For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the
     lowest hell.
     14   O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have
     sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.
     15   But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and
     plenteous in mercy and truth.
     16   O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant,
     and save the son of thine handmaid.
     17   Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed:
     because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.
 
 

Psalm 17

     1   Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth
     not out of feigned lips.
     2   Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things
     that are equal.
     3   Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me,
     and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
     4   Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the
     paths of the destroyer.
     5   Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
     6   I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me,
     and hear my speech.
     7   Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them
     which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.
     8   Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
     9   From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me
     about.
     10   They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
     11   They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down
     to the earth;
     12   Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in
     secret places.
     13   Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked,
     which is thy sword:
     14   From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their
     portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of
     children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
     15   As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I
     awake, with thy likeness.
 
 

Matthew 10:24-39
 
 

     24   The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
     25   It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord.
     If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call
     them of his household?
     26   Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed;
     and hid, that shall not be known.
     27   What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear,
     that preach ye upon the housetops.
     28   And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather
     fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
     29   Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the
     ground without your Father.
     30   But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
     31   Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
     32   Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before
     my Father which is in heaven.
     33   But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father
     which is in heaven.
     34   Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but
     a sword.
     35   For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter
     against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
     36   And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
     37   He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that
     loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
     38   And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
     39   He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall
     find it.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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