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The story of how the laborers were sent into the harvest:

 

10:1. And when He had called to himself His twelve disciples, He gave them authority over unclean spirits [demons], to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

 

Καὶ προσκαλεσάµενος τοὺς δώδεκα µαθητὰς αὐτοῦ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν πνευµάτων ἀκαθάρτων ὥστε ἐκβάλλειν αὐτὰ καὶ θεραπεύειν πᾶσαν νόσον καὶ πᾶσαν µαλακίαν.

 

Was Judas Iscariot a believer or an unbeliever? For the first time, the twelve were separated from the hundreds of other disciples and will be promoted to apostles to Israel. These twelve were given authority which could only be given to believers. Can you imagine Jesus Christ delegating responsibility to an unbeliever to evangelize and then to give authority to that same person to cast out demons and to heal all sickness and disease [similar to giving spiritual gifts]? How could anyone accuse Jesus Christ of such folly!    

 

The healing was a credit card for the apostles and would draw the crowds and to allow them to communicate the gospel message to the ‘lost sheep of Israel’. (If Judas were an unbeliever, it would be tantamount to a lost sheep communicating to lost sheep. Since there was no criticism of Judas Iscariot, he apparently did a good job of evangelizing.) So, the purpose of healing was never to alleviate suffering only, but to have opportunity to present the gospel. Salvation is far more important than the alleviation of suffering in time.

 

Verses 2-4: the roster of the apostles to Israel

 

10:2. And the names of the twelve apostles [to Israel] are these: First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James, the son of Zebedee and John his brother.

 

Τῶν δὲ δώδεκα ἀποστόλων τὰ ὀνόµατά ἐστιν ταῦτα· πρῶτος Σίµων ὁ λεγόµενος Πέτρος καὶ Ἀνδρέας ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ Ἰάκωβος ὁ τοῦ Ζεβεδαίου καὶ Ἰωάννης ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ,

 

10:3. Philip and Bartholomew [also called Nathaniel]; Thomas [Doubting Thomas] and Matthew the tax-collector; James, the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, [some manuscripts have the following ‘Lebbeus, whose surname was Thaddeus’] 

 

Φίλιππος καὶ Βαρθολοµαῖος, Θωµᾶς καὶ Μαθθαῖος ὁ τελώνης, Ἰάκωβος ὁ τοῦ Ἁλφαίου καὶ Θαδδαῖος,

 

10:4. Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him [handed Him over].

 

Σίµων ὁ Καναναῖος καὶ Ἰούδας ὁ Ἰσκαριώτης ὁ καὶ παραδοὺς αὐτόν.

 

There must be a reason why they are listed in pairs. They apparently went out to evangelize in six teams. Even in the military, usually a single person is not sent on a mission; the smallest would be a team of two. In this way, if something should happen to one of the members, the other would be present to resolve the issue.

 

10:5. Jesus sent out these twelve, commanding them, saying [last minute instructions namely a briefing], “Do not go into the way of the gentiles, and do not enter into any city of the Samaritans [were the transplanted gentiles who intermarried with the Jewish people in that area.].

 

Τούτους τοὺς δώδεκα ἀπέστειλεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς παραγγείλας αὐτοῖς λέγων, Εἰς ὁδὸν ἐθνῶν µὴ ἀπέλθητε, καὶ εἰς πόλιν Σαµαριτῶν µὴ εἰσέλθητε·

 

Since Jesus has been instructing them for some time including the Sermon on the Mount, they are now prepared for their mission. Now he gives them a briefing before sending them to the lost sheep of Israel.  The gospel must first go to the lost sheep [unbelievers] of Israel and then to Samaria and to the outermost parts of the world.  

 

10:6. But rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel [their objective].”

 

πορεύεσθε δὲ µᾶλλον πρὸς τὰ πρόβατα τὰ ἀπολωλότα οἴκου Ἰσραήλ.

 

After the Jewish areas have been completely saturated with the gospel, the Lord sends them to the gentiles (Matthew 28:19). Romans 1:16. “For I am not ashamed of the good news regarding salvation, for it is the power, the capacity, the ability of God for providing salvation to anyone who believes in Christ, both to the Jew foremost [first in privilege] and likewise to the Gentiles.”

 

10:7. And as you go, proclaim, saying, “The kingdom of Heaven is at hand [since Christ is on the earth].”

 

πορευόµενοι δὲ κηρύσσετε λέγοντες ὅτι Ἤγγικεν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.

 

‘The Kingdom of Heaven’ is the eternal life kingdom promised by the 4 unconditional covenants. Sometimes it is also called the ‘the Kingdom of God and sometimes just ‘the Kingdom.’

 

10:8. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers [had to be reported to the priesthood], raise the dead [resuscitation], cast out demons [eliminate the enemy]. You [twelve] have freely received freely give [All twelve including Judas are the objects of God’s grace which began at their salvation.]. 

 

ἀσθενοῦντας θεραπεύετε, νεκροὺς ἐγείρετε, λεπροὺς καθαρίζετε, δαιµόνια ἐκβάλλετε· δωρεὰν ἐλάβετε, δωρεὰν δότε.

 

How are they going to get the unbelievers to focus on the message of the gospel? They would cast out demons to remove the opposition and to give the one’s afflicted with demon possession and others the opportunity to respond to the gospel. The Lord gave his apostles these gifts to identify them with the Lord Jesus Christ. This great outbreak of healing and miracles was a declaration that the Messiah was here.  

 

Verses 9, 10: how will they be sustained?

 

10:9. Do not provide gold nor silver, nor brass in your money belt,

 

Μὴ κτήσησθε χρυσὸν µηδὲ ἄργυρον µηδὲ χαλκὸν εἰς τὰς ζώνας ὑµῶν,

 

10:10. nor a bread box for your journey, nor two coats, nor [two pairs of] sandals, nor staffs [for protection from robbers] for the workman is worthy of his food [other believers should provide for them]. (All the cities have believers in them whose believers will provide for them, not the unbelievers.)

 

µὴ πήραν εἰς ὁδὸν µηδὲ δύο χιτῶνας µηδὲ ὑποδήµατα µηδὲ ῥάβδον· ἄξιος γὰρ ὁ ἐργάτης τῆς τροφῆς αὐτοῦ.

 

They certainly would not need a staff to protect themselves from robbers since they are not carrying any wealth with them, and also they are under the Lord’s protection. Regarding food and other things needed, they will be provided for by believers in the different cities. Believers will be expected to sustain these apostles, not the unbeliever.  

 

10:11. And into whatever city or village you enter, inquire [make a reconnaissance] who within it is worthy [a believer with whom you can associate and be relaxed and can trust]. And there abide until you go away from there [they will sustain you].

 

εἰς ἣν δí ἂν πόλιν ἢ κώµην εἰσέλθητε, ἐξετάσατε τίς ἐν αὐτῇ ἄξιός ἐστιν· κἀκεῖ µείνατε ἕως ἂν ἐξέλθητε.  

 

These apostles are to stay in a home in which they can relax.  So, they must be careful in picking the right homes. Homes where believers have the capacity to function as team members.

 

10:12. And when you come into a house [of believers who have offered lodging and provisions for the apostles], greet it [enjoy the hospitality and the time spent together]. 

 

εἰσερχόµενοι δὲ εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν ἀσπάσασθε αὐτήν·

 

‘Greeting a house’ is an idiom for relaxing and enjoying each other’s company. The apostles are to gather information about the believers in the cities to which they are going, and to locate those believers who will provide a relaxing environment for them during their work in that city.

 

10:13. And if the house is worthy [advanced believers who are gracious], let your prosperity [provided by the Lord] come on it [enjoy the people in that home and understand the concept of blessing by association. Also, God always provides some type of blessing for believers with capacity.]. But if it is not worthy [the believers are not relaxing to be with because they are legalistic or emotional neurotics and so will not listen to your grace teaching], let your prosperity return to you [get out and let the Lord judge the situation].  

 

καὶ ἐὰν µὲν ᾖ ἡ οἰκία ἀξία, ἐλθάτω ἡ εἰρήνη ὑµῶν ἐπí αὐτήν· ἐὰν δὲ µὴ ᾖ ἀξία, ἡ εἰρήνη ὑµῶν πρὸς ὑµᾶς ἐπιστραφήτω.

 

Verses 14-28 opposition

 

10:14. And whoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words [rejects the message of the Lord’s apostles], when you depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet [pronouncing a curse].

 

καὶ ὃς ἂν µὴ δέξηται ὑµᾶς µηδὲ ἀκούσῃ τοὺς λόγους ὑµῶν, ἐξερχόµενοι ἔξω τῆς οἰκίας ἢ τῆς πόλεως ἐκείνης ἐκτινάξατε τὸν κονιορτὸν [ἐκ] τῶν ποδῶν ὑµῶν.

 

To Israel the dust of a heathen country was unclean and defiled; it was associated with the grave and death. To shake off the dust was to pronounce a curse upon that home or city.

 

10:15. Truly I say to you, it was logically more bearable [sometimes the future tense is used for logical progression, not the future] for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah [when they were judged a couple of thousand years before] in the day of [historical] judgment than for that city [any city where the apostles had to dust off their sandals which cities the Romans will judge in 70 A.D.].

 

ἀµὴν λέγω ὑµῖν, ἀνεκτότερον ἔσται γῇ Σοδόµων καὶ Γοµόρρων ἐν ἡµέρᾳ κρίσεως ἢ τῇ πόλει ἐκείνῃ.   

 

The Romans in 70 A.D. were harder on some Jewish cities like Jerusalem and Capernaum than on others.  The judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah was rather quick, but there was a lot of mental anguish, rape, torture, and slaughter by the Romans and in some cases the Arabs got involved as well in the judgment of some of these Jewish cities. In summary, the suffering on these Jewish cities was greater than the suffering in Sodom and Gomorrah.

 

This verse cannot refer to the Great White Throne Judgment for the following reasons:

 

1. There are no degrees of punishment administered to unbelievers; all unbelievers are cast into the same Lake of Fire.

 

2. All will enter into the Lake of Fire for the only sin which was not judged on the cross namely rejection of Jesus Christ as their savior. Since this is the same sin for all, the judgment will be the same for all.

 

3. The consequences of rejecting Jesus Christ on the cross are dealt with at the Great White Throne Judgment.

 

4. When the unbeliever rejects Jesus Christ as his savior, he is rejecting imputed righteousness. When he rejects divine imputed righteousness, his name is blotted out from the Book of Eternal Life since his everlasting life will not be spent with God.  

 

5. The unbeliever rejects the imputed righteousness received by faith in Jesus Christ because he assumes that his experiential righteousness is sufficient for him to gain access into the eternal kingdom of God.  However, at the Great White Throne Judgment, the Lord Jesus Christ demonstrates that the unbeliever’s righteousness is not good enough. Furthermore, since the unbeliever has been blotted out of the Book of eternal Life, the life that allows him to live with God for all eternity, he is only qualified for the Lake of Fire.

 

6. Apparently, if the unbeliever could prove at the Great White Throne Judgment that he is perfectly righteous and so qualified to live with God, but he can’t because he isn’t, he would be reinstated into the Book of Life, but he won’t be.

 

7. There are no degrees of rejection; one either believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior or rejects Him. So, since there are no degrees of rejection, there can be no degrees of eternal punishment.

 

10:16. Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be as wise as serpents and to be without gimmicks as doves [trust the Lord and stay away from gimmicks].

 

Ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἀποστέλλω ὑµᾶς ὡς πρόβατα ἐν µέσῳ λύκων· γίνεσθε οὖν φρόνιµοι ὡς οἱ ὄφεις καὶ ἀκέραιοι ὡς αἱ περιστεραί.

 

No shepherd knowingly would send his flock into a pack of wolves  unless he could and would protect them. Since their shepherd was the Lord Jesus Christ, their protection was perfect.

 

In the ancient world, the serpent was the emblem of wisdom for example, Hermes (Mercury) carried a caduceus, a winged staff with a couple of serpents winding around it. The Christian needs wisdom if he is going to deal successfully with a ministry.   

 

Doves fly into a certain place at night without gimmicks and they leave without gimmicks. They are quite straightforward. They don’t even use noise to distract hunters like a covey of quail does. For example, if a few hunters are trying to flush a covey of quail from some brush, the quail will cleverly hold fast until the hunters are almost upon them before they take flight. Then, suddenly there will emerge from the brush a startling noise from a covey of 15- 25 birds flapping hard to gain flight which noise can unsettle a hunter for a bit and give them a chance. These apostles are not to mimic quail, but doves namely they are to present the gospel information accurately and in a straightforward manner like doves. No gimmicks, no tricks!

 

10:17. But beware of men [religious types], for they will deliver you up to the Counsel [Sanhedrin for the assignment of Judicial punishment], and they will scourge you in their synagogues [places of religious worship].

 

προσέχετε δὲ ἀπὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων· παραδώσουσιν γὰρ ὑµᾶς εἰς συνέδρια, καὶ ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς αὐτῶν µαστιγώσουσιν ὑµᾶς·

Religion is the greatest persecutor of the truth, always has been and always will be.

 

10:18. And you shall be brought before [Roman] governors [ appointed by the Roman Senate] and kings [client kings appointed by the Roman senate like Herod] for my sake, for a testimony against them [in most case, these governors and kings will reject the gospel] and against the gentiles [other gentiles who reject the gospel].

 

καὶ ἐπὶ ἡγεµόνας δὲ καὶ βασιλεῖς ἀχθήσεσθε ἕνεκεν ἐµοῦ εἰς µαρτύριον αὐτοῖς καὶ τοῖς ἔθνεσιν.

 

10:19. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what you shall speak [don’t become frightened or worried]; for it shall be given you in that same hour what you shall speak.

 

ὅταν δὲ παραδῶσιν ὑµᾶς, µὴ µεριµνήσητε πῶς ἢ τί λαλήσητε· δοθήσεται γὰρ ὑµῖν ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ὥρᾳ τί λαλήσητε·

 

This is not a promise to preachers who have not prepared for a service and need a message miraculously given to them.  This is for a person who has been arrested by some governmental agency for communicating the gospel or teaching a group of believers. It is not a speaking situation, but a situation whereby they are going to be quizzed or interrogated by governmental officials and so are under great pressure.  

 

1. To say the right thing before political leaders will be an ordeal for the disciples.

 

2. So, God will provide special wisdom for this situation of pressure.  

 

3. This promise does not apply to preachers in their preparation of a message, but believers under the pressure of persecution and consequently under the pressure of freezing-up mentally.

 

4. The more doctrine these disciples have the easier it will be for them to answer under pressure.  

 

Verses 20-23: the intensity of opposition

 

10:20. For it is not you who speak, but the [Holy] Spirit of your [to the twelve apostles] Father who speaks in you.

 

οὐ γὰρ ὑµεῖς ἐστε οἱ λαλοῦντες ἀλλὰ τὸ πνεῦµα τοῦ πατρὸς ὑµῶν τὸ λαλοῦν ἐν ὑµῖν.

 

The Holy Spirit under enduement will pull out of their memory center what they (the twelve apostles which includes Judas Iscariot) shall say. You see these are believers with metabolized doctrine taught to them previously by Jesus.

 

All twelve apostles as believers were given the power of the Holy Spirit just as certain believers in the age of Israel had received before them. This ministry we called enduement. Bezelel for example was given the ability to construct the Ark, some were given administrative ability, to others leadership, to still others like the prophets, Biblical information etc. Judas as one of the apostles to Israel was given this power of the Holy Spirit. All who received this power were believers!

 

God the Father is said to be the father of Judas Iscariot, “your Father who speaks in you.” It is the message of God the Father delivered through the power of the Enduement of the Spirit to the twelve apostles to Israel.      

 

10:21. And brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. And the children shall rise-up against their parents and cause them to be put to death.

 

παραδώσει δὲ ἀδελφὸς ἀδελφὸν εἰς θάνατον καὶ πατὴρ τέκνον, καὶ ἐπαναστήσονται τέκνα ἐπὶ γονεῖς καὶ θανατώσουσιν αὐτούς.

As the apostles communicate the gospel message some will respond to their message and others will not. This causes the greatest divisions and antagonisms possible. The antagonism is initiated by those who reject truth. They will develop a hatred toward members of their own family who have accepted the truth of the gospel. This hatred can easily motivated murder lust. So, in many cases, members of a family will murder other members of their very own family. China is the classical example in modern history where members of a family put other members of their family to death. In China after the communist takeover, children were used to kill twenty million adults (the parents of the children). The parents adhering to truth had rejected communism. The children were inculcated in communism and so had rejected the truth as found in the Laws of the Divine Institutions. The concept of family love and bond broke down very quickly under communism.  Whenever truth is rejected whether it be the gospel or the Laws of Divine Establishment, it leads to demonization of the souls of the ones involved. Once this occurs, these people indoctrinated with Satan’s thinking can be used as weapons against those who have accepted the truth.   

 

10:22. And you [the twelve] will be hated by all [who reject the truth and hatred motivates murder lust.] for my name's sake, but he [anyone of the twelve] who endures [under pressure with happiness as per James 1:12] to the end [of this ministry] this one will be delivered [from all the hostility in this ministry to the ‘Lost Sheep of Israel’ and will be promoted to the permanent rank of apostleship in the Church age. The only exception was Judas for since he did not endure under pressure and continue his spiritual life, and so under emotional revolt of his soul took his own life.].

 

καὶ ἔσεσθε µισούµενοι ὑπὸ πάντων διὰ τὸ ὄνοµά µου· ὁ δὲ ὑποµείνας εἰς τέλος οὗτος σωθήσεται.

 

James 1:12, “Happy is the mature believer [the noble man] who endures under the pressure [of undeserved suffering] because having been evaluated [at the Judgment throne of Christ], he will receive the wreath of Life which He promised to those who love Him.”

 

Of the twelve apostles to Israel a temporary promotion, eleven will succeed in their spiritual lives and be promoted to the permanent rank of apostleship in the Church Age. So, during their ministry to the Lost Sheep of Israel, though they faced many dangers from hostile peoples, Jewish leaders and Roman governors and kings, they were delivered from all these dangers. Only Judas Iscariot was not promoted from the temporary rank of apostleship in the Age of Israel to the permanent rank of apostleship in the Church Age because he failed in his spiritual life; he did not persevere in his spiritual life and took his own life.  

 

10:23. But when they [those antagonistic to the gospel message] persecute you [the twelve] in this city, get out and go to another; for truly I say to you, in no way shall you have finished the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes [to the earth at the 2nd Advent which officially ends the Age of Israel; This does not mean that they will not complete their evangelism for the world is completely evangelized in every generation. Rather, this simply means that the time is short. So, don’t waste your time with negative people.].

 

ὅταν δὲ διώκωσιν ὑµᾶς ἐν τῇ πόλει ταύτῃ, φεύγετε εἰς τὴν ἑτέραν· ἀµὴν γὰρ λέγω ὑµῖν, οὐ µὴ τελέσητε τὰς πόλεις τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ ἕως [ἂν] ἔλθῃ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου.

 

God is fair to all. When you evangelize someone and that person is negative, move on.  Don’t waste your time trying to evangelize a negative person. This includes your loved ones. If they should become interested in the gospel at some later time, the Lord can use another agent. In any case, the Lord is perfectly fair toward every unbeliever which means that the Lord never fails to bring the gospel information to anyone who desires it. So, in every generation, the gospel message reaches all who desire to hear it. God never fails in His responsibility.  

 

10:24. A disciple is not above his teacher [Jesus Christ], nor the servant above his master.

 

Οὐκ ἔστιν µαθητὴς ὑπὲρ τὸν διδάσκαλον οὐδὲ δοῦλος ὑπὲρ τὸν κύριον αὐτοῦ.

 

Jesus Christ was both their teacher and master. So, if Jesus Christ is going to receive opposition, so will they.

 

There is a principle here as well. If a group of very advanced believers choose as their pastor someone who is spiritually less advanced, they will drop down to his level. The Christian can not advance beyond the teaching of their pastor.

 

10:25. It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house, Beelzebub [prince of dung, a title of derision for Satan], how much more those of his household?

 

ἀρκετὸν τῷ µαθητῇ ἵνα γένηται ὡς ὁ διδάσκαλος αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὁ δοῦλος ὡς ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ. εἰ τὸν οἰκοδεσπότην Βεελζεβοὺλ ἐπεκάλεσαν, πόσῳ µᾶλλον τοὺς οἰκιακοὺς αὐτοῦ.

 

Christ communicates doctrine; they are to communicate doctrine. Beelzebub is a derisive title for Satan.  So, if they call Jesus Christ who is the perfect God-Man, the ‘prince of dung’ how much more his disciples who are not perfect.  

 

10:26. Therefore, do not fear them, for there is nothing covered [the opposition will always try to obscure or veil the gospel] that shall not be revealed [The Lord will always reveal the truth where truth is sought.], and nothing hidden [by rejection of truth] which shall not be known [The truth will be communicated when it is sought after.].

 

Μὴ οὖν φοβηθῆτε αὐτούς· οὐδὲν γάρ ἐστιν κεκαλυµµένον ὃ οὐκ ἀποκαλυφθήσεται, καὶ κρυπτὸν ὃ οὐ γνωσθήσεται.

 

Those who hate the truth attack the gospel in several ways. They can obscure the gospel by maligning or mocking the communicator of the message or by distorting the gospel message or by preventing the presentation of the gospel message. The greatest opposition always comes from religion. 2 Corinthians 4:3, 4 “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. (4) The god of this age [Satan] has blinded the minds of unbelievers [mainly through religion, also through emotion and the dark side of morality etc.], so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

 

10:27. What I tell you in darkness [the teaching ministry of Jesus privately to his disciples], speak [commanded to communicate the gospel] in the light [proclaim the gospel clearly and honestly]; and what you hear with the ear, proclaim [some believer with a communicative gift] on the housetops.

 

ὃ λέγω ὑµῖν ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ, εἴπατε ἐν τῷ φωτί· καὶ ὃ εἰς τὸ οὖς ἀκούετε, κηρύξατε ἐπὶ τῶν δωµάτων.

 

You must learn certain things before one can communicate the gospel. So, the Lord had to teach them not only about the gospel, but also how to communicate to religious unbelievers and how to face opposition just to mention a few requirements.  

 

10:28. And stop being afraid of [middle voice: you receive benefit when you obey this command] those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul. But rather fear [addressed to believers] Him [God and his plan] who can ruin [make void; bring to nothing] both soul and body in Gehenna [Lake of Fire: the believer though he will not go to the Lake of Fire, he should have great respect for the power of God. We should be afraid of missing out on the power of God].

 

καὶ µὴ φοβεῖσθε ἀπὸ τῶν ἀποκτεννόντων τὸ σῶµα, τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν µὴ δυναµένων ἀποκτεῖναι· φοβεῖσθε δὲ µᾶλλον τὸν δυνάµενον καὶ ψυχὴν καὶ σῶµα ἀπολέσαι ἐν γεέννῃ.

 

The real person is his soul which will live for all eternity. Since no human being can injure or kill the soul, then why should we fear any person. The most that any human being can do is to kill one’s body and that if only God permits. However, the Lord on the other hand can not only execute any person at any time in time but can also cast the unbeliever into the Lake of Fire forever which impacts not only his everlasting body but his soul as well.

 

10:29. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing [1.5 cents before the Fed started unlimited printing]?  And one of them shall not fall upon the ground [shall not be killed] apart from your Father’s will.

 

οὐχὶ δύο στρουθία ἀσσαρίου πωλεῖται; καὶ ἓν ἐξ αὐτῶν οὐ πεσεῖται ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ἄνευ τοῦ πατρὸς ὑµῶν.

 

The sparrow was the cheapest bird to purchase for food. In those days they ate sparrows just as they do in China today. I was told by a Chinese lady that they are quite delicious, but it takes many sparrows to fill a big stomach. Even though the sparrow is the least of birds, God the Father has a plan for them which includes providing food, a mate, little ones and a right time for their departure.  

 

Even though this is not a formal a fortiore argument, it is a type of a fortiore.  If the Lord is willing to protect the least of birds, a fortiore He will protect the believer from any danger or harm.