Mt 6:28 “Observe how the lilies …grow;”
Summary Notes
What did Jesus say?
When Jesus came down from the mountain, He told His followers to take time to observe the natural beauty of wild flowers so as not to be overly concerned about clothing.
Why would He say this?
Paint is the “clothing” of a lighthouse. The White Shoal lighthouse has a distinctive color scheme in order to identify it among others nearby during the daytime. There are dangerous shoals in northern Lake Michigan. Therefore a mariner must know exactly where he or she is in order to safely navigate these waters. A fresh coat of paint on the lighthouse would be essential from time to time. It would be like putting on clean clothing!
Click here see why I like lighthouses.
This image and more can be found in the Photo Gallery.
In Jesus’ day clothing was much more difficult to make. It would have been costly in time or money. A poor person might literally worry about what he or she would wear or could wear. Today, clothing is so abundant even the poorest people on earth can generally find something to wear. In our modern Western Society we worry more about whether our wardrobe is in fashion or not. I think our struggle is light in comparison to Jesus’s day but we can still get caught up worrying about clothing.
Click here for a personal application and your comments link …or scroll down for my full notes…
COMMAND 34 ½: “Observe how the lilies …grow;”
Mt 6:28
RECIPIENT: To the disciples in the hearing of the crowds on the mountain
Mt 5:1-2 When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,
CONTEXT: A continuation of the Sermon on the Mount
Mt 6:26-28a “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28And why are you worried about clothing? “
Lk 12:25-26 “And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span? 26If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters?”
COMMAND FULL TEXT AND IMMEDIATE RESULT:
Mt 6:28b ”Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!”
Lk 12:27a”Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 28But 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 men of little faith!”
RESULT:
No stated result except after the next chapter when Jesus came down from the mountain.
Mt 7:28-29; 8:1 When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; 29for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
1When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him.
MY COMMENTS AND NOTES:
Jesus’ command to not worry about what to wear is in the context of the surrounding verses to not worry at all but instead to have faith that God will provide the basic necessities of life and more. I think that He provides these things primarily through personal initiative and industry to people who possess the ability and opportunity to work. To others He provides in other ways.
Clothing and The Effect of Sin
Clothing was invented by Adam and Eve after they sinned and became aware of their nakedness.
Before they disobeyed God’s clear command: Ge 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
After they disobeyed God’s clear command: Ge 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
God Himself made clothing for Adam and Eve out out of skins after this. Bible scholars consider this act to be the first blood sacrifice of an animal to cover the sin of mankind. They also consider the fact that God provided the sacrifice as being significant because it set the pattern for Jesus becoming the ultimate and final sacrifice for sin.
Ge 3:21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.
Practical Considerations of Clothing
Of course clothing has many practical purposes too. The Earth’s climate is vastly different now than in Adam and Eve’s days and clothing is essential to protect our bodies from heat, cold and wind. Also our daily activities demand protective clothing. For instance, shoes protect our feet from injury while we walk. Motorcycle leather and a helmet help protect the rider from injury in the event of a mishap.
In Jesus’s day clothing was much more difficult to make. A poor person might literally worry about what he or she would wear or could wear. Today, clothing is so abundant even the poorest people on earth can generally find something to wear.
In our modern Western Society we worry more about whether our wardrobe is in fashion or not. I think our struggle is light in comparison to Jesus’s day but we can still get caught up worrying about clothing; I only have to look at how much I spend on clothing to judge whether or not I think too much about my wardrobe.
I am not to worry about clothing, but I cannot simply ignore the subject. I’m not sure how to balance the fact that I am going to be judged by my coworkers and social circle by what I wear; so I don’t want to wear dirty or ragged or even mismatched clothing. In my professional setting, I also do not want to draw undue attention to myself because of my clothing. Therefore, it cannot be outlandish with flash or flair or dirty or smelly. My clothing could be more expensive but I simply cannot afford truly fine designer threads, shoes and accessories.
DEFINITIONS: Key Greek Words – Removes ambiguity of the Bible text
word: G2919 κρίνω kree’-nō — Properly to distinguish, that is, decide (mentally or judicially); by implication to try, condemn, punish
word: G2983 λαμβάνω lam-ban’-ō — A primary verb: to take
MY PERSONAL APPLICATION: I encourage you to make your own application and share it in the comments
I cannot ignore the fact that people will judge me with a first impression based partly on how I dress. However, my life’s concerns are much too important to spend my energy worrying about what people think regarding what I wear. Clothing is a practicality for me. I will wear protective clothing as needed for my activities as I can afford them. For my profession I’ll wear appropriate clothing and keep it neat and clean so as not to distract others by it. My personal wardrobe will be modest but I’ll keep it clean and up to date as items wear out. Hopefully, my character and quality of work will overcome any perceived lack of style due to my wardrobe.
© 2018 Christopher Carlson
Scripture quotations taken from the NASB
Please share a comment, question or perhaps another application for this command of Jesus.
This command is listed as number 34.5 because I “discovered” it while publishing this blog last year. It was between commands 34 and 35. i numbered it 34.5 in order to fit it in. At that time, I promised to supply the missing command and so, here it is!
I enjoy your blog. Thank you for your insight. Perhaps the lilies are representing how we are to be the “light and salt” of the earth. We’re not to be consumed or changed by our environment. Instead we are to be recognized as set apart as God’s
Hi Connie,
Thank you for your comment. Your thought about the lilies is intriguing. Indeed, Christians are not to be consumed by our Western culture but we are instead meant to influence and change it for the better. If God gives lilies the ability to beautify the field then He provides Christians the ability to make our world a more beautiful place. I like it!