Matthew 6:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,

NIV: And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.

NASB: And why are you worried about clothing? Notice how the lilies of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin thread for cloth,

CSB: And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don't labor or spin thread.

NLT: And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing,

KJV: And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

NKJV: “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;

The Sermon on the Mount has included Jesus' teaching about money (Matthew 6:19–24). That has led Him to the subject of worry. Money and worry often go together. Despite what most of us imagine, even the very rich often feel anxiety over money. It's not hard to understand why those who struggle to pay for food or clothing are prone to worry about money.

Clothing is a basic human need, just as food is. In most places in the modern world, even those that culture thinks of as "poor" rarely have serious concerns about where to obtain clothes or food. However, that was an ongoing challenge for those living in poverty in Jesus' day. It remains so for people living in many parts of the world today. It's natural to expect someone in that position to experience anxiety. It's something we tend to sympathize with, and even to approve of.

Jesus, though, does not sound overly sympathetic here. He continues to suggest that worrying about money—to dwell on fear and anxiety over material things—is a form of serving money instead of God. It's possible to prioritize money over God, even if we don't have any money! Jesus asks, rhetorically, why we would be anxious about clothing. He points once more to nature to illustrate what He means.

Lilies don't do anything, in comparison to how human beings obtain food and shelter. Lilies of the field stand rooted in place and grow without doing any work or spinning any clothes for themselves. Still, as Jesus will say in the following verse, they are dressed in great beauty. They are clothed exactly as God the Father wants them to be.

Careful observers will note that lilies can also be damaged or destroyed in an instant (Matthew 6:30). It may sound as if Jesus is belittling the needs of desperately impoverished people. Rather, He is urging them towards deeper trust in God. As Jesus stated in the prior verse, worry and fear are of no use (Matthew 6:27). His purpose is to encourage believers to trust in God—to actively work at shedding anxiety—so their hearts and minds can be at rest.

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.