And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into Hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Luke 12:4-7)

Worth More Than A Small Bird

Fear is a very strong emotion. It can cause the heart to shrink away in dread from the presence of a greater force. Many things bring fear to the mind of man, like uncertainty, disease, death, and what other men may do. The inhumanity of man against his neighbor can bring about a life of fear, dreading the threats and intimidations brought on by the reprisals of death. When evil men persecuted the church, the fear of death caused many to deny Christ and give up their faith. Facing the sword or being burned alive brought great fear. The faith of many was not strong enough to withstand the blows of the fear of death.

An innumerable multitude of people gathered around Jesus to listen to His teaching. He warned them against the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders who pressured them to submit to doctrines and teachings that were their own and not the law of God. The Pharisees bound heavy burdens on the people to oppress them. Jesus tells the crowd that they should not fear the threats of the Pharisees, but rather fear God. If a man threatens to kill another if he does not submit to him, the reality is that death is all a man can do to another. What happens after death is beyond the control of the will of man. Jesus reminds the people that the one to fear is the one they face after death. What men say and do matters little, but what God says and does matters for eternity.

Fear must be understood in the context of consequences. A man can torture and kill a person, but that is all they can do. God is the One whom all men face after death, who decides the eternal fate of every human being. There is nothing that man can do either for himself or others after death. If a man dies condemned before God, he will remain in that state for eternity. In the story of Lazarus and the rich man, Abraham reminded the rich man that the eternal fates of all men remain unchanged. God is to be feared as the judge of eternity. But Jesus reminds the people that fearing God is not to bring dread to the heart, but joy, knowing how great God’s power is.

First, Jesus tells the people to fear God, who is able to cast someone into Hell, which He will do if a man is disobedient. But for the faithful children of God, there is nothing to fear because God will care for and protect His children from the power of Satan. Sparrows were sold in the marketplace for two copper coins. They were the most inexpensive offerings as they were so small. Jesus reminds the crowd that His Heavenly Father cares for all creation, even the little tiny sparrows. If God cares for the small creatures of the world, He will care for every person who remains faithful to Him. God numbers the hair on the dead. The point Jesus makes is that while birds are important to the Creator, the soul of man is of even greater value to Him.

Fear can bring joy when it is understood in the proper context. God has the power to destroy the soul in Hell, and that is sadly what will happen to most people in the world. Jesus shows that while there is a certain amount of fear in recognizing the eternal power of His Father, the child of God should remember that God knows and cares for all His people and that He will not forget the spirit of faith that dwells in them. God knows, He cares, and He protects His faithful followers. The child of God has an eternal Father who created the world. There is nothing to fear from a benevolent Father who is so powerful, mighty, and omnipotent. Fear is bound in the love of God to care for and protect the people of God. God must be respected and feared, but that brings joy, not dread.

It is a wonderful thought to know that in all the eight billion souls that walk on the face of the earth, God cares for every soul that is faithful to Him. It matters not whether the world knows the heart of the Christian – God knows. Many unsung heroes of faith walk quietly through life serving the Lord and loving His Son. The world may not recognize them, but the Father does. God will not forget the sparrow, and He will not forget His child. Do not be afraid of what men say or do because there is nothing they can do to change a heart determined to serve the Lord. What joy to know the love of God.