Sermon Index
June 21, 2020
“Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Mt. 10:31
When I saw today’s bulletin cover photograph, I knew what message I was given to preach. “Fear not, … you are of more value than many sparrows.” “Fear not, … your life matters much more than many sparrows.”
First, let’s look at the context in Matthew Chapter Ten, and then look at the context of our world today.
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 10:5a, 21–33 [The very hairs on your head are all numbered.]
5a These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them,.
21 “Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul*, how much more will they malign those of his household. [*Beelzebull is like the devil《
“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
“So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”
In Matthew Chapter Ten, before sending the Twelve Disciples out to preach the Gospel throughout Israel, Jesus is giving them some instruction, advice, and encouragement. It will not be an easy mission. There will be opposition, persecution, slander, gossip and lies. The disciples are not to be foolish when there is danger. Jesus says, “When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” The Disciples are not to fear when there is danger. First, because even if they can kill you, they cannot “destroy both your body and soul in hell.” And second, because they are precious to God who will protect them.
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. ” ‘A dime a dozen.’ ‘Two for a nickel.” And yet they are precious to God the Father who loves each of them and cares for them. They do not die and fall to the ground without the knowledge and consent of the Father. (I wonder if God sheds a tear for them.)
God cares for the Disciples, too. He cares so much that He even knows the number of the hairs of our heads! We are of much more value than sparrows, more precious, we matter more. And Jesus sent the Disciples out to proclaim this love of God. Jesus wants all to believe, to confess, to acknowledge that Jesus is the Savior.
We matter more than sparrows. Life matters. Black lives matter. Here on this Island, whenever there is an incident, protestors gather at the Headquarters gate and say in effect, “Okinawan lives matter."
In the Bible, life is precious. When you read Genesis Chapters One and Two, it seems that death was not natural. All creatures were made to live and multiply and live forever in harmony. Then came sin and death. In the Old Testament there is a system of sacrifices with the purpose of giving life through the forgiveness of sin. The blood of the lamb which dies gives life. That is how valuable and precious life is in the eyes of God.
Sinful people cannot love other people in the same way God does. There is pride and fear and greed and competition and strife and power struggle. This leads to discrimination and oppression and bullying. It leads to murder.
It is a self-centered egoism where only I matter, or where only we matter but not them. And so respect and mercy and tolerance and forgiveness are no longer necessary, no, they are rejected. There is no love.
We Christians always talk about love. “Love the Lord your God.” “Love your neighbor as yourself.” We love our neighbor and so can say “Black lives matter” and we can protest and chant slogans and sing protest songs and make new laws. But how are we going to change the sinful human heart? That has to be the work of the Holy Spirit.
In order to be able to love your neighbor, you must first realize that God loves your neighbor. You must know that God loved that neighbor so much that he sent his only Son Jesus Christ to die for that neighbor. John 3:16 says that God loved the world that much. And the word “world” includes all people, of all races and nationalities and social and economic statuses and mental and physical and emotional conditions. God loves even the people that we do not like or trust. He loves those people we fear. He loves the sinners of the world. God even loves those who do not acknowledge or believe in him. He loves little sparrows and big eagles. He loves all people. Jesus died for them all because they have that much worth. They were worth dying for. They matter to him.
Black lives matter to God. And that is why they matter to us. Only the love of God can replace fear and mistrust. Therefore we have hope in these days. That is my prayer.
Amen.
Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church