Jesus keeps in tension wariness about evil with a robust confidence in the goodness of his Father. He continues, “Beware of men” (10:17); then in the next breath he warms our hearts to our Father’s love, saying, “Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (10:31). Since your Father is intimately involved with the death of even one sparrow, won’t he watch over your life? You don’t have to distance yourself with an ironic, critical stance. You don’t have to shut down your heart in the face of evil. You can engage it.
