Luke 12:27 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

NIV: "Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

NASB: Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither labor nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.

CSB: "Consider how the wildflowers grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these.

NLT: Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.

KJV: Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

NKJV: Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Jesus is explaining that God has more important uses for our energy than worrying. We have no good reason to panic about starvation, nakedness, or even death. In Luke 12:24, He reminds a crowd that ravens neither work nor store food in barns, but God feeds them regardless. Here, Jesus points out that God adorns the grasses with beautiful wildflowers even if they are destined to be burned the next day (Luke 12:28). The grasses don't work or worry about what they will wear. God provides.

If God loves us more than ravens, and the grasses' dress is more beautiful than Solomon's clothing, the wealthiest of all Israel's kings, there is no point in worrying about food to eat or clothes to wear. This verse isn't saying that God will give His followers clothing as beautiful as Solomon's. Nor is it saying we do not have to work to eat or be clothed. It means it is useless to invest energy into fear or angst about such things.

Solomon was the son of David and the third king of Israel. He was known for his God-given wisdom and great wealth. "Lily" isn't a specific plant; rather, as "raven" means any crow (Luke 12:24), lily refers to any flower. "Toil," of course, means to work hard. "Spin" refers to spinning wool into yarn to knit or weave clothing. The flowers do not work hard to decorate the grass; God does all the work.

Luke 12:22–34 records Jesus telling His disciples to lay down anxiety and trust God for physical needs. He has already told them to reject fame, fear of death, and reliance on riches (Luke 12:1–21). Later, He will tell them they may have to leave family, as well (Luke 12:49–53). Instead, they need to focus on the task that Jesus will give them (Luke 12:35–48), to build the church after His ascension. Matthew 6:25–34 covers the same teaching, although perhaps at a different time and place.

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.