Luke 12:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

NIV: Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

NASB: But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not fear; you are more valuable than a great number of sparrows.

CSB: Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

NLT: And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

KJV: But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

NKJV: But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

The Pharisees and their lawyers use spiritually abusive practices which Jesus has fearlessly condemned (Luke 11:37–52). These men are favorites of the people; the Pharisees are feared by the priests and Sadducees of the Sanhedrin because of that populist adoration. The Pharisees are conspiring to destroy Jesus (Luke 11:53–54) and after His ascension will hound His followers, imprisoning and even killing some (Acts 8:3; 9:1–2; 26:10).

But Jesus has told believers not to fear these hypocrites. At their very worst, they can only kill the body. Instead, they ought to fear a God who will mete out eternal death to those who refuse to repent. It is God who will send sinners to hell, and it is God who knows every sparrow (Luke 12:1–6).

This verse brings out contradictory feelings. Christ-followers are so precious to God that He counts the hairs on their heads. His omniscient ownership of facts translates to love: to work on behalf of those who are His. We are completely secure in Him. And yet, that security does not mean we will escape hardships or even death in His service. Just as God watches when sparrows fall, He watches when we physically die (Matthew 10:29).

In the Christian worldview, life on earth is not all there is to existence. Sometimes, physical death is part of God's work for Jesus-followers. As Jesus mentioned before, "For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?" (Luke 9:24–25). Jesus-followers can confidently faith death and remain true to Jesus (Luke 9:26; 12:8–9; 1 Corinthians 15; Philippians 1:21–26).

Luke 12:4–7 applies Jesus' warning for the disciples to reject the way of the Pharisees (Luke 12:1–3). The disciples will face intense persecution beginning with the Jewish religious leaders, particularly a Pharisee named Saul (Acts 8:1–3; 9:1–2). Many Jesus-followers will lose their lives. Even so, those who belong to God's kingdom will receive eternal life. Jesus goes on to say that when standing accused before those who can do them harm, they needn't worry about what they should say. The Holy Spirit will guide them (Luke 12:8–12). Matthew 10:29–31 covers the same material.

Jesus teaches the disciples about proper priorities. This includes recognizing that God knows all things, even secrets. Believers should honor God more than they fear death, or than they worry about things like food and clothes. Christians are to remain ready for Christ's return, even as faith separates those who believe from those who do not. These ideas revolve around the central theme of verse 34: that a person's heart reflects what they value most.

Luke 12:1—13:9 compares the world with the kingdom of God. Jesus has condemned the hypocrisy of the Pharisees (Luke 11:14–54). He now instructs His disciples to reject the fame and security that Pharisees crave, and hold lightly to their lives, wealth, security, and even family. He then warns the crowd to be wise about their relationships with other people and with God. The next two units each include a miracle and teaching on God's kingdom and salvation (Luke 13:10—15:32). Then the final section in the "travelogue" repeats that three-unit pattern (Luke 16:1—19:27) before Jesus arrives in Jerusalem.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.