Assarion

Occurrences in Scripture

The assarion appears in only two verses of the New Testament. Both occur in passages in which Jesus teaches his disciples not to be afraid. (The KJV renders the coin as "farthing.")

• Matthew 10:29: "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father." Jesus says this as he sends out the twelve disciples to preach. He assures the disciples, who are facing persecution, that God cares for them. He goes on to say, "Ye are of more value than many sparrows" (Matthew 10:31).
• Luke 12:6: "Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?" This saying occurs within teaching that warns against hypocrisy and urges the disciples not to fear people.

Background

The assarion is the Greek name for the Roman copper coin known as the as. In the Roman monetary system from the time of Augustus onward, one denarius is generally understood to have been worth sixteen asses. The denarius served as a laborer's daily wage (Matthew 20:2). The assarion was therefore small change, worth only a fraction of a day's pay. Because coins were minted locally in the eastern provinces, however, its actual value may have varied by time and place.

Sparrows were among the cheapest foods sold in the marketplace. In his saying, Jesus chose as his example something to which society assigned almost no value.

Broader Biblical Significance

The point of both verses lies not in the coin itself but in the truth that God knows and cares for even the life regarded as most insignificant. The same idea appears in the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount, "Behold the fowls of the air" (Matthew 6:24–34). These verses are frequently cited as proof texts for the understanding of providence as God's preservation and governance of his creatures.

Interpretation and Issues

• The difference in numbers between Matthew and Luke: Matthew speaks of two sparrows for one assarion, while Luke speaks of five sparrows for two assaria. Many sermons explain this by supposing that a buyer of two assaria's worth received an extra sparrow free, and conclude that "God does not forget even the sparrow thrown in for nothing." This, however, is an inference the text does not state, and no reliable evidence of such a market practice at the time has been identified.
• The rendering of "without your Father": The Greek of Matthew 10:29 reads literally "without your Father." Many translations supply words such as "consent," "will," or "knowledge" to complete the sense.
• The Reformed tradition often reads the verse in connection with the doctrine of providence, holding that all things occur within God's will.
• The Arminian and Wesleyan traditions tend to read it with emphasis on God's knowledge, presence, and care.