Luke 12:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!

NIV: If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you--you of little faith!

NASB: Now if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You of little faith!

CSB: If that's how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will he do for you--you of little faith?

NLT: And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

KJV: If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

NKJV: If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?

Jesus continues to show the futility of worrying about basic life necessities. He has explained that if God provides food for the lowly, unclean ravens, He can provide for His followers (Luke 12:24). And if He can make the wildflowers beautiful, He can provide clothing (Luke 12:27). Ravens, meaning crows, are unclean scavengers. The grasses bloom one day and are burned to heat ovens the next. In His extravagant love, God shows His followers are more important than either.

This verse represents the confusion in interpreting the entire passage. Is Jesus saying that His followers will never die of starvation and will never be without clothing? Is this a promise just for the disciples? Or is it saying that God will only provide for those with enough faith? None of these are reasonable. After all, crows can and do sometimes die for lack of food, and flowers may be trampled. Jesus' teaching is given in the context that death will come whenever God sees fit. Fearing it accomplishes nothing (Luke 12:4–5).

The point of the passage isn't to reveal a promise to provide for our every comfort, but to remind us that God can provide and our worry cannot. Jesus is also explaining our God-given purpose is greater than extending our lifespan. We are called to seek God's heavenly kingdom, not to cling to earthly treasure (Luke 12:23, 31–34).

However, there is a sense in which God does promise fullness and comfort. When believers in Christ receive our new, glorified, eternal bodies (1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 John 3:2), we will have everything to eat we desire. We will be clothed more beautifully than the flowers. As we seek God's kingdom now, these things will be added to us in time (Luke 12:31).

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.