Matthew 10:29 Meaning and Explanation
“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Context of Matthew 10:29
Continuing His reassurance to the persecuted apostles, Jesus illustrates the Father's detailed care with the example of sparrows, leading into the promise that they are numbered and valued.
What Does Matthew 10:29 Mean?
Jesus assures His followers that the Father's care extends even to the smallest, cheapest creature, so nothing escapes His notice. Two sparrows sold for a farthing, a coin of tiny value, were among the least regarded things in the marketplace. Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from the Father's awareness and involvement. The point moves from the small to the great: if God attends to a sparrow, how much more to His own children. Jesus speaks these words to disciples bracing for hardship and persecution, reassuring them that whatever befalls them happens within the circle of the Father's knowledge and care. Sparrows do fall, so this does not promise that the faithful never suffer. What it does promise is that nothing happens outside the Father's loving attention. There are no forgotten people in God's world, no overlooked sorrows. The same God who governs the heavens stoops to notice a falling sparrow. That intimate, tender attentiveness is the foundation Jesus lays beneath the call to fearless faith in the verses that follow.
Matthew 10:29 in the Original Language
The Greek strouthion means a small sparrow, and assarion, the "farthing," was a coin of the smallest worth, stressing how little such birds cost.
Bible Verses Related to Matthew 10:29
“Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?”
- Luke 12:6
“Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?”
- Psalm 56:8
“Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”
- Matthew 6:26
How to Apply Matthew 10:29 Today
Rest in the assurance that your Father notices every detail of your life, so that no trouble you face is beyond His loving attention.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 10:29
What does Matthew 10:29 mean?
Jesus assures His followers that the Father's care extends even to the smallest, cheapest creature, so nothing escapes His notice. Two sparrows sold for a farthing, a coin of tiny value, were among the least regarded things in the marketplace. Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from the Father's awareness and involvement. The point moves from the small to the great: if God attends to a sparrow, how much more to His own children. Jesus speaks these words to disciples bracing for hardship and persecution, reassuring them that whatever befalls them happens within the circle of the Father's knowledge and care. Sparrows do fall, so this does not promise that the faithful never suffer. What it does promise is that nothing happens outside the Father's loving attention. There are no forgotten people in God's world, no overlooked sorrows. The same God who governs the heavens stoops to notice a falling sparrow. That intimate, tender attentiveness is the foundation Jesus lays beneath the call to fearless faith in the verses that follow.
What is the context of Matthew 10:29?
Continuing His reassurance to the persecuted apostles, Jesus illustrates the Father's detailed care with the example of sparrows, leading into the promise that they are numbered and valued.
How can I apply Matthew 10:29 today?
Rest in the assurance that your Father notices every detail of your life, so that no trouble you face is beyond His loving attention.