This morning, I was reading the second half of Matthew 10 (which is a gem of a passage).  One of the verses that stood out to me is a well-known metaphor: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care…  So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29, 31)

I often hear this quoted in the context of God’s care of us – if He can care for the sparrows, then he can definitely care for us.  If He notices when the sparrow falls, then He definitely will provide for our needs.

That’s not a bad interpretation of the verse, and if you read the same story in Luke 12, you’ll get to verses about this very topic (most notably, “If [the lovely lilies] is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you” (Luke 12:28).  But if we look at the context of the verse about the sparrows, we see a totally different perspective.

The verses surrounding the one about God knowing when the sparrows are sold, in both Luke and Matthew, are entirely about fearing people and the things they’ll do.  There are verses about people calling you names (Matthew 10:25), hatred and persecution (Matthew 10:22-23), and even people who try to kill you (whether by word or physically) (Matthew 10:28).

When we’re accused, very often we feel vulnerable and alone.  That’s a natural response, especially when we can see how much we have to lose from the accusations (support, esteem, prestige, reputation, positions, jobs, credibility, etc.)  We like to tell ourselves that it’s God’s reputation we’re really trying to uphold – that if we’re discredited, God’s name will also be discredited.  (That didn’t seem to bother Jesus, though.)

Yet when we’re accused, Jesus says in this passage that we don’t have to be afraid.  In fact, God takes great note of those accusations and what others are trying to do to us.  Even the smallest plot against us, whispered behind a closed door, is majorly worth noticing in God’s mind (and heart).

You’re not alone when it comes to accusations.  You’re not defenseless when people try to discredit you.  In fact, Jesus’s advice for us in these situations is to not be afraid of them – they can’t actually kill your soul (Matthew 10:28).  And remember – If God cares when the sparrows are sold, He definitely cares more when people try to accuse or destroy you.