Jesus asked this to show His disciples how closely God watches over them. Sparrows were cheap; Gill says the price shows they "were of little account." Yet not one of them falls "without your Father." Barnes explains, "God your Father guides and directs its fall." The question builds an argument from small to great: if God cares for a bird worth half a coin, He will surely care for His children facing danger in His service. Gill says Christ's design is "to assert the doctrine of providence, as reaching to all creatures."

Jesus answered His own question and drew out its meaning. Not one sparrow falls "without your Father" (Matthew 10:29). "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered" (Matthew 10:30). Then came the conclusion: "Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows" (Matthew 10:31).

The "farthing" is the Greek assarion, a small Roman copper coin. Thayer describes it as equal to "the tenth part of a drachma." The word appears only here and in Luke 12:6.

Luke records a slightly different price: "Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings" (Luke 12:6). Two sparrows for one coin, or five for two: either way, sparrows were cheap. Luke adds that "not one of them is forgotten before God."

This question reveals God's care down to the smallest detail. Jesus calls Him "your Father" (Matthew 10:29). The God who rules over all is not distant from His children; He knows when a sparrow falls and has numbered the hairs of their heads. Matthew Henry writes, "See how the care of Providence extends to all creatures, even to the sparrows."

Jesus says this to people who are about to face danger, not to people promised an easy life. The sparrow still falls; the disciples would still be persecuted (Matthew 10:22). The comfort is that nothing happens apart from the Father. That is why Jesus can say "Fear not" three times in this passage (Matthew 10:26, 28, 31).