What is the meaning of Matthew 6:28? And why do you worry about clothes? “ And why do you worry about clothes? ” (Matthew 6:28) • Jesus follows His command not to be anxious (Matthew 6:25) by targeting a specific area of daily concern: clothing. • Worry here is not simple planning; it is an anxious preoccupation that crowds out trust in the Father. Compare Philippians 4:6—“Be anxious for nothing”—and 1 Peter 5:7, which calls believers to cast every care on the Lord. • The question exposes misplaced priorities. Earlier, Jesus pointed to life and body being “more than food” (Matthew 6:25). Clothing is likewise subordinate to the kingdom (Matthew 6:33). • By asking “why,” Jesus invites self-examination: if God has already provided the greater gift of life, will He neglect necessary covering? (cf. Romans 8:32). Consider how the lilies of the field grow: “ Consider how the lilies of the field grow ” (Matthew 6:28) • “Consider” means stop and deliberately observe. Faith is strengthened when we look at God’s handiwork, just as Psalm 19:1 declares, “The heavens proclaim the glory of God.” • Lilies thrive in an uncultivated field—God’s open classroom illustrating providence. Luke 12:27 repeats the same lesson, underscoring its importance. • Growth is a silent witness: lilies neither plan nor store yet flourish season after season. Psalm 104:24 notes that the earth is “full of Your creatures,” each supplied by the Creator. • Creation’s rhythm reassures us that the Father is active in ordinary processes (Colossians 1:17). If He sustains wildflowers, how much more His redeemed children? They do not labor or spin. “ They do not labor or spin ” (Matthew 6:28) • Labor and spinning describe the human effort required for making garments (Proverbs 31:13). Lilies skip the entire process, yet display beauty surpassing Solomon’s robes (Matthew 6:29). • Jesus is not condemning work (see 2 Thessalonians 3:10); He is correcting anxious toil driven by self-reliance (Psalm 127:2). • The contrast highlights grace: what flowers receive effortlessly pictures the spiritual garments God freely provides—His righteousness (Isaiah 61:10) and daily provision (Matthew 6:31-32). • Resting in God’s care frees believers to focus on kingdom pursuits rather than survival anxieties, echoing Exodus 16 where manna arrived without Israel’s cultivation. summary Matthew 6:28 exposes the futility of fretting over necessities by directing our gaze to God-tended lilies. Their carefree growth and effortless adornment illustrate a Father who reliably clothes even transient flowers. Since we are worth infinitely more, we can exchange worry for confident trust, pursue His kingdom first, and watch Him supply every need. |
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