Matthew 6:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

NIV: Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

NASB: yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.

CSB: Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these.

NLT: yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.

KJV: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

NKJV: and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

This continues a thought begun in the previous verse (Matthew 6:28). Jesus asked His followers why they would worry about clothing. He's not talking about trying to keep up with the latest fashion trends, though that does apply, in a sense. Nor is He suggesting that clothes aren't important. So far as His immediate audience was concerned, many legitimately did not know where they would get their next set of clothes.

Jesus, though, has been showing that worry accomplishes nothing (Matthew 6:27). Those who serve God can trust Him to provide; excessive fear over material things is a form of serving money, not the Lord. Christ points to the lilies of the field as an example (Matthew 6:28). They literally don't do anything to provide for themselves, Jesus says. They don't work. They don't spin cloth to make clothes. Now He finishes the thought by saying they are arrayed in a beauty that is greater even than King Solomon.

Jesus' Jewish listeners would have known well the stories of Solomon's great and extravagant wealth from Israel's glory days (2 Chronicles 9:3–4). Not only was Solomon clothed in the best finery in the world, his kingdom flowed with gold and silver. He lived in great luxury. Still, Jesus insists, the splendor of the lilies' beauty surpasses even Solomon's, though they do nothing to put it on.

Jesus brings the point home in the following verse: God can and will provide what is "needed." That might not always be what we "want" (Matthew 5:3–12), but it is enough for us to accomplish His will.

Matthew 6:25–34 concludes this part of the Sermon on the Mount with Jesus' teaching about anxiety. Even to the very poor, Jesus says not to worry about food or clothes. God feeds the birds and clothes the lilies beautifully, and His children are far more valuable than birds. Anxious emotions can't add even an hour to a person's life. Instead, Jesus tells His followers to trust God to provide what they truly need. The context of what we ''need,'' however, is the will of God—which might look very different from what we would prefer (Matthew 5:3–12).

The Sermon on the Mount continues in chapter 6, which is entirely composed of the words of Christ. Jesus teaches that God rewards deeds motivated by sincere devotion to Him, not by approval from other people. He teaches a simple and authentic model prayer. Christ warns against stockpiling money and possessions on earth. Instead, believers should make choices that store up treasure in heaven. A person's top priority can either be God, or money, but cannot be both. Along with that, Jesus says believers should fight against anxiety about daily needs. The heavenly Father knows what we need. All we need to do is pursue His kingdom and righteousness; He will take care of our needs, one day at a time.

Chapter 5 began Matthew's telling of the Sermon on the Mount. In that passage, Jesus pointed out that thoughts and attitudes are part of righteousness, just as much as actions. In Chapter 6, He explains how good deeds are only righteous when done out of sincere devotion to God, rather than for other people's approval. He also provides a model for prayer. Jesus explains how excessive worry, such as over money, interferes with faith in God. Knowing that God loves us should lead believers to trust Him, not to be anxious. Chapter 6 is one of the few chapters of the New Testament entirely composed of the words of Christ. In chapter 7 Jesus will introduce additional themes such as appropriate judgment, trust in God, and treatment of others.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.