Gospel in Art: Can you not buy two sparrows for a penny?

The House Sparrow, 'Passer Domesticus', by Magnus von Wright. 1927 © Christian Art

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 29 December 2023
Matthew 10:28-33

Jesus said to his apostles: 'Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Can you not buy two sparrows for a penny? And yet not one falls to the ground without your Father knowing. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. So there is no need to be afraid; you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.

'So if anyone declares himself for me in the presence of men, I will declare myself for him in the presence of my Father in heaven. But the one who disowns me in the presence of men, I will disown in the presence of my Father in heaven.'

Reflection on the Antique Ornithological Print

Sparrows in Jesus' time were used as food because they were a threat to the crops. They were largely viewed as pests. Jesus makes the point that you could buy two sparrows for a penny, so they were the cheapest kind of meat around. But yet 'not one sparrow falls to the ground without your Father knowing', which means that what seems valueless and cheap to humans, is important to God. If God takes notice of the smallest and most insignificant birds, how much more will He take notice of the plight of all of us.

Today's illustration is a print depicting the house sparrow by Magnus von Wright (1805 - 1868), who started out his career in the 1820's as a taxidermist. Though a skilful taxidermist, his reputation is mainly as a zoological illustrator, as seen in today's print. The sparrow is a familiar little bird to all of us, and is still a close neighbour in our urban and country settings.

Jesus often used elements from nature, including birds, in his teachings to convey spiritual truths and lessons. His references to birds served as metaphors and illustrations that resonated with his audience, making complex spiritual concepts more accessible and relatable. Birds are often associated with freedom and flight. Jesus thus used birds to also convey the message that in our freedom, we can choose to be with him, or not. Also, birds don't worry about their daily needs; they trust that God will provide. This connects with Jesus' teachings that we should be trusting in God's provision.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-10-28-33-2023/