Jesus said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from my Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Mathew 10:28-31).
The sparrows Jesus is referring to are those that were bought for sacrifice. If an individual was so poor that they did not own livestock or could not purchase a regular sacrifice, they could buy two sparrows for a copper coin and offer them as a sacrifice to God.
Jesus is not saying we can be confident that we will never be killed in persecution because we are more valuable than sparrows. He is saying, we are much more valuable than sacrificial sparrows. He will not allow us to give the ultimate sacrifice of our lives unless there is no other way.
