Matthew 10:29-31 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? &c.— Our Saviour here goes on to encourage his disciples, from the important consideration of God's particular providence. "You should consider that your enemies cannot touch even your bodies without your Father's permission; for the meanest of his creatures are under the protection of his providence; insomuch that nothing befalleth them without his direction or permission." The Greek word ασσαριου, rendered a farthing, denotes a very small piece of money, about the value of which Commentators are not agreed. Fall on the ground is a Hebrew phrase signifying to perish. See Joshua 23:14. Exodus 10:10 and compare Luke 21:18 with Acts 27:34. The next verse is a proverbial expression, which gives a very noble and lively representation of the care God takes of the righteous. See 1 Samuel 14:45. 2 Samuel 14:11. 1 Kings 1:51-52. Than many sparrows, Matthew 10:31, means, "than all the sparrows in the world:" the word many is sometimes put for a great many, or for all. See Daniel 12:2 and compare Romans 5:12; Romans 5:21. These verses contain a full proof of the universality of the divine providence; but the singular interpositions of it in favour of good men may, with still additional force, be argued from the prayers and promises offered in Scripture with regard to particular events, and the promises of temporal blessings made to those who fear and serve God. Nor are we much concerned to determine how far any of these are miraculous, and how far the result of general laws, settled in an exact congruity to the temper and conduct of every individual alleged by it, which an omniscient God foresaw, and for which his perfect schemes might easily provide, by methods to us unsearchable. It is plain that Homer thought divine Providence interested itself in the lives of brute animals. See Iliad, lib. 15. ver. 274 and we have a remarkable instance in the book of Jonah of God's care for all his creatures, small and great; for he urges his compassion to brute creatures as one of the reasons why he would not destroy Nineveh. See Jonah 4:11. Grotius, and Doddridge.