Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The seeming “odd” sparrow, the one thrown in as a bonus to make a sale, is the overlooked gem here. Even this extra, almost valueless bird, isn't forgotten by God, highlighting that His care extends to the least significant among even the insignificant.
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is teaching his followers, warning them against hypocrisy and greed, and then shifting to encourage them not to worry about their earthly lives or possessions. He uses the common sight of inexpensive sparrows sold for mere pennies to illustrate God's profound care, even for the most seemingly insignificant creatures, highlighting that God remembers them all. This point directly leads into the assurance that his followers are far more valuable than many sparrows.
Imagine walking into a market today and finding something so cheap, you almost get it for free. That's the picture Jesus paints with sparrows.
The Ultimate Discount Bird
Jesus uses sparrows to highlight the incredible value God places on us.
When was the last time you thought about a sparrow? Probably never. Yet, not one is forgotten by God.
God's Unfailing Memory
Jesus contrasts the world's forgetfulness with God's perfect awareness.
Ask a follow-up
Jesus uses the sparrows as a setup. If God cares this much for something so cheap, how much more does He care for you?
The Ultimate Comparison
This is where the message gets intensely personal. The sparrows are the baseline; you are the main event.
Understand the original words
strouthion · Greek Noun
A small, common bird often used in the ancient world to represent something of little monetary value. In Scripture, it illustrates God's intimate concern for even the most seemingly insignificant aspects of creation.
epilanthanomai · Greek Verb
In a biblical context, to be 'forgotten' implies being excluded from God's providential care or remembrance. The text asserts that God's attention is so comprehensive that nothing, however trivial, escapes His notice.
phobeomai · Greek Verb
A posture of reverent awe, holy dread, or pious obedience toward God. It is the appropriate human response to the greatness, majesty, and judgment of the Creator.
diapherō · Greek Verb
Refers to the state of being precious or having inherent worth. Biblical value is not self-derived but is established by God’s love, ownership, and redemptive sacrifice for humanity.
This Psalm beautifully echoes the sentiment of our verse, asking 'What is man, that you are mindful of him?' It highlights the incredible divine attention given to humanity, which is so much greater than that given to the birds.
Matthew 10:29-31This passage from Matthew presents a very similar teaching from Jesus, directly stating that not even a single sparrow falls without the Father's notice, and then immediately drawing the conclusion that believers are of far greater worth than many sparrows.
Job 38:41This verse from Job shows God's intimate knowledge and care even for the raven, a creature not typically seen as valuable. It parallels Luke 12:6 by emphasizing that God provides for and notices creatures considered insignificant by human standards.
Romans 8:32Paul's rhetorical question, 'He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?' builds upon the same logic. If God gave His ultimate gift (Jesus), He will surely care for His lesser, but still precious, children.
jfbLuke 12:6: "Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?"
6, 7. five … for two farthings—In Mt 10:29 it is "two for one farthing"; so if one took two farthings' worth, he got one in addition—of such small value were they.than many sparrows—not "than millions of sparrows"; the charm and power of our Lord's teaching is very much in this simplicity.
clarkeLuke 12:6: "Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?"
Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings? - See this explained on Matthew 10:29 (note), from which place we learn that two sparrows were sold for one farthing, and here; that five were sold for two farthings: thus we find a certain proportion - for one farthing you could get but two, while for two farthings you could get five.
The seeming “odd” sparrow, the one thrown in as a bonus to make a sale, is the overlooked gem here. Even this extra, almost valueless bird, isn't forgotten by God, highlighting that His care extends to the least significant among even the insignificant.
Jesus is teaching his followers, warning them against hypocrisy and greed, and then shifting to encourage them not to worry about their earthly lives or possessions. He uses the common sight of inexpensive sparrows sold for mere pennies to illustrate God's profound care, even for the most seemingly insignificant creatures, highlighting that God remembers them all. This point directly leads into the assurance that his followers are far more valuable than many sparrows.
Jesus is teaching his followers, warning them against hypocrisy and greed, and then shifting to encourage them not to worry about their earthly lives or possessions. He uses the common sight of inexpensive sparrows sold for mere pennies to illustrate God's profound care, even for the most seemingly insignificant creatures, highlighting that God remembers them all. This point directly leads into the assurance that his followers are far more valuable than many sparrows.
"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows." — The seeming “odd” sparrow, the one thrown in as a bonus to make a sale, is the overlooked gem here. Even this extra, almost valueless bird, isn't forgotten by God, highlighting that His care extends…
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Last reviewed October 2026