Matthew 10:31

Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses His disciples during the mission discourse, immediately following the declaration that every hair on their heads is numbered.

The words — The negative command hinges on μὴ (mē), "not," paired with φοβεῖσθε (phobeisthe), "do fear," to form a present imperative prohibition. The comparative clause διαφέρετε (diapherete) στρουθίων (strouthiōn) literally states "you are worth more [than] sparrows."

The thread — The text's emphasis on divine valuation and providential care runs parallel to the bird illustrations in Matthew 6:26 and Luke 12:24, while the underlying theme of human worth recalls Psalm 8:5.

Why it lands — The passage commands the abandonment of fear by grounding it in the factual reality of God's precise attention and superior valuation of His people. It requires a reader to align their anxiety with the stated weight of their worth before God.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.