In the United Kingdom politicians are fond of cutting income tax by one penny, in every pound.
I read in Matthew 10. 29. 'aren't two sparrows sold for one farthing,' ( a farthing is the value of 1/960 pound sterling). Does this mean that today the pound in my pocket is worth a flock of sparrows? I mean that's great, I think, but what would I do with an entire flock of sparrows? Come to think of it, I haven't come across anyone who owns a flock of sparrows, it seems pretty pointless. A little bit like cutting income tax by one penny, if any person(s) has any advice then please do feel free to contribute.
The whole question seems rhetorical.
Depending on the translation, it seems that the Matthew quote is either that no matter how insignificant or worthless some (living) thing may be, God still notices them, or that no matter how insignificant or worthless some (living) thing may be, all that it does is ordained by God. You may want to time out to learn ancient Greek, to decide which translation you prefer. There may be other translations ...
You may prefer 'cheap as chips' to the price of starlings, and you are then more likely to find people who have either potatoes or (frozen) chips in some quantity. After all, few us today would plant our own mustard, or set out to build our own house.
As for cutting tax, the headline is that income tax is cut while avoiding focus on the usually concomitant increase in indirect tax to make up for what would otherwise be a shortfall in government income. Are you suggesting that the starling comment is misdirection, that God's 'care for all' / 'pre-ordination' is offset by something that God does that cancels out this care / returns free will to you?
Jeremy Dudley
The quote from Matthew came from The British and Foreign Bible Society, Two Shillings and Sixpence Bible 1863 ed. My first inclination on coming across the references to farthings and pennies, which are numerous in the scriptures is that the Victorians had such a belt and braces approach to religious instruction.
I guess it is my position that the nature of Government and Taxation has little changed since the times of the Romans or indeed the Victorians, perhaps the humble penny should indeed be appreciated.
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