Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 10:31
Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Mat 10:31
Ye are of more value.
The value of mans nature
Causes-
I. From the capacities of that nature.
II. From the fact that he is the object of the special regard and care of Divine providence.
III. From its everlasting destiny.
IV. From the fact that it has been redeemed with the blood of the incarnate Son of God. (Dr. H. W. Williams.)
Bought at a great price
Do we not hold those things precious which we have bought at a great price. Count we not those things among our treasures, for which we make the most careful provision. Are not those things reckoned the most valuable things upon earth, which receive and give out again to our eyes the beams of light, the rays of the sun, as gold and silver, jewels and precious stones? Will not men venture everything, life and all, for them? And shall not, therefore, Almighty God reckon for precious, them, whom His only begotten Son hath redeemed with His most precious blood? Shall He not hold in exceeding value those for whom He has reserved mansions in His heavenly house, where they may abide for ever? Shall they not be to Him as pearls of great price, as jewels to be numbered up with joyful care, who, being conformed to the image of His Son, who is their light and their righteousness, shine in their works, and glorify their Father. (W. Evans, B. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 31. Fear ye not – ye are of more value] 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. Did the poet intend to contradict Christ when he said: –
“He sees with equal eye, as God of all,
A HERO perish, or a SPARROW fall?”
How cold and meagre is this shallow deistical saying! But could the poet mean, that a sparrow is of as much worth in the sight of God, who regards (if we may believe him) things only in general, as an immortal soul, purchased by the sacrifice of Christ?
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
31. Fear ye not therefore, ye are ofmore value than many sparrowsWas ever language of suchsimplicity felt to carry such weight as this does? But here lies muchof the charm and power of our Lord’s teaching.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Fear ye not therefore,…. Neither be afraid of men, nor distrust the providence of God; for if that reaches to the meanest of creatures, sparrows, and to that which is of the least account with men, the single hair of a man’s head; much more must it regard the lives of men, and still more such useful lives as those of the disciples were, who were called to, and employed in preaching the everlasting Gospel; a work which so much concerned the glory of God, the interest of Christ, and the good of immortal souls:
ye are of more value than many sparrows. Two of them were worth no more than a farthing; there must be a great multitude of them to be mentioned with any man: and indeed there is no comparison between the whole species of them and the life of a single man, and much less between them and the apostles of the Lamb. Any man is more valuable, as a man, than many sparrows, and much more a Christian man, and still more an apostle: the argument then is, that if God takes care of sparrows and is concerned for their lives, much more will he take care of his faithful ministers, and not suffer their lives to be taken away, till they have done the will and work of their Lord.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Than many sparrows ( ). Ablative case of comparison with (our differ).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “Fear ye not therefore,” (me oun phobeisthe) “Therefore you all be not afraid,” based on assurance of His care for you, more than for sparrows.
2) “Ye are of more value than many sparrows.” (pollon strouthion diapherete humeis) “You all excel many sparrows in value,” don’t you? Mat 6:26. Man is of more value than God’s other creatures, either angelic creatures or physical creatures, see? God’s children are even more valuable to Him than those who are not His children, Mat 12:12; Psa 104:27; Mat 6:30.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
31. You are of more value This is true in general of all men, for the sparrows were created for their advantage. But this discourse relates peculiarly to the sons of God, who possess a far higher right than what they derive from creation. Now the rank which belongs to men arises solely from the undeserved kindness of God.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
31. More value than many sparrows 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.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“Do not be afraid therefore, you are of more value than many small birds.”
The third reason why they do not have to be afraid is because they are of more value than many small edible birds which can be bought at a penny a time. And yet, as Deu 22:6-7 makes clear, God was concerned enough about these small birds to legislate for their preservation. How much more then will He preserve those whom He loves.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Ver. 31. Fear not therefore ] This is the third time, in six verses, that they and we are bidden to banish this cowardly base passion, this causeless, fruitless, harmful, sinful fear of men. He that fears God needs fear none else. Moses feared not Pharaoh, nor Micaiah Ahab, when they had once seen God in his majesty. Micaiah will not budge or alter his tale; as the lion fiercely pursued, will not alter his gait, they say, though he die for it. Doctor Taylor, martyr, when being sent for by Stephen Gardiner, his friends persuaded him not to appear, but flee. “Flee you,” said he, “and do as your conscience leads you, I am fully determined, with God’s grace, to go to the bishop, and to his beard to tell him that he doth naught.” This he resolved to do, and this he did accordingly. For at his first appearance, “Art thou come, thou villain?” said the bishop. “How darest thou look me in the face for shame? Knowest thou not who I am?” “Yes, I know who you are,” said he again, “Doctor Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor, yet but a mortal man, I think. But if I should be afraid of your lordly looks, why fear you not God, the Lord of us all? How dare you for shame look any Christian man in the face, seeing you have forsaken the truth, denied your Master Christ and his word, and done contrary to your own oath and writing? With what countenance will you appear before the judgment seat of Christ, and answer to your oath?” &c.
Ye are of more value than many sparrows ] Yea, than many other men, as one pearl is more worth than many pebbles, one little lark than many carrion kites. Noah found more favour with God than all the world besides. The saints are called all things, Col 1:20 . Tabor and Hermon are put for the east and west of the world, Psa 89:12 , as if there were no world but Judaea, that pleasant land, that land of delight, Dan 11:16 ; Dan 11:41 , so styled, because in Judah was God known, and there were those excellent ones in whom is all God’s delight,Psa 16:3Psa 16:3 . He reckons of men by their righteousness, and accounts such more excellent than their neighbours, whomsoever they dwell by, Pro 12:26 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mat 10:31 . . . : once more, as in Mat 6:26 , a comparison between men and birds as to value: ye of more worth than many sparrows; one hair of your head as much worth to God as one sparrow. “It is a litotes to say that there is a great difference between many sparrows and a human being” (Holtz., H.C.). There is really no comparison between them. It was by such simple comparisons that Jesus insinuated His doctrine of the absolute worth of man.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Mat 10:31. , many) opposed to one in Mat 10:29.-, you) even each of you individually.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Mat 6:26, Mat 12:11, Mat 12:12, Psa 8:5, Luk 12:24, 1Co 9:9, 1Co 9:10
Reciprocal: Deu 20:3 – let not Jer 9:3 – valiant Luk 12:7 – ye are 1Pe 3:14 – and be
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
0:31
Did not Jesus know these men would immediately begin to spread the report of their wonderful recovery? They would have been the most unnatural and ungrateful persons in the country to have received such an unspeakably gracious blessing and then not tell anyone about it. But Jesus did not want the public to think he was doing miracles just for the sake of fame. Should anyone accuse him of it, there would be plenty of witnesses to deny the accusation because they had heard him ask the favored ones not to make an ado about it.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 10:31. Fear ye not therefore. In Mat 10:25 the motive was drawn from the relation to Christ, here from the relation to God: ye are of more value, i.e., in the sight of God, who is your Father (Mat 10:29). The humblest of Gods creatures have their value in His sight: how much more human beings. Especially Christians, but above all, the witnesses of Jesus.
The scope of Mat 10:25-31 is: A right sense of our immortality consists in the feeling that we are perfectly safe in the keeping of our Father; let us then not fear men, but boldly and fully proclaim the truth we have from our Master who also suffered from men.