Luke 12:28

Now his disciples might think they were in no danger of this, for they had no plenty or variety to glory in; and therefore he here warns them against another branch of covetousness, which they are most in temptation to that have but a little of this world, which was the case of the disciples at best and much more now that they had left all to follow Christ, and that was, an anxious solicitude about the necessary supports of life: "Take no thought for your life, either for the preservation of it, if it be in danger, or for the provision that is to be made for it, either of food or clothing, what ye shall eat or what ye shall put on." This is the caution he had largely insisted upon, Matt. vi. 25, &c.; and the arguments here used are much the same, designed for our encouragement to cast all our care upon God, which is the right way to ease ourselves of it. Consider then, 1. God, who has done the greater for us, may be depended upon to do the less. He has, without any care or forecast of our own, given us life and a body, and therefore we may cheerfully leave it to him to provide meat for the support of that life, and raiment for the defence of that body. 2. God, who provides for the inferior creatures, may be depended upon to provide for good Christians. "Trust God for meat, for he feeds the ravens (v. 24); they neither sow nor reap, they take neither care nor pains beforehand to provide for themselves, and yet they are fed, and never perish for want.

12:22-40 Christ largely insisted upon this caution not to give way to disquieting, perplexing cares, Mt 6:25-34. The arguments here used are for our encouragement to cast our care upon God, which is the right way to get ease. As in our stature, so in our state, it is our wisdom to take it as it is. An eager, anxious pursuit of the things of this world, even necessary things, ill becomes the disciples of Christ. Fears must not prevail; when we frighten ourselves with thoughts of evil to come, and put ourselves upon needless cares how to avoid it. If we value the beauty of holiness, we shall not crave the luxuries of life. Let us then examine whether we belong to this little flock. Christ is our Master, and we are his servants; not only working servants, but waiting servants. We must be as men that wait for their lord, that sit up while he stays out late, to be ready to receive him. In this Christ alluded to his own ascension to heaven, his coming to call his people to him by death, and his return to judge the world. We are uncertain as to the time of his coming to us, we should therefore be always ready. If men thus take care of their houses, let us be thus wise for our souls. Be ye therefore ready also; as ready as the good man of the house would be, if he knew at what hour the thief would come.

If then God so clothe the grass,.... lilies and tulips; for they are no other than grass, weak, frail, fading, short lived flowers, which have all their gaiety and beauty from the great Creator of them: which is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven: the grass is one day in the field, in all its verdure, glory, and beauty; and being cut down before evening, the next day it is withered and dried, and made fit to put into an oven, or under a furnace to heat them with: how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? The Persic version renders the words, "how much more excellent are ye than that, O ye of little faith?" they are more excellent in their nature, and of a longer duration, and are designed for greater ends and purposes; and therefore if God clothes the one in such a manner as he does, how much more will he not clothe the other? and such who are distrustful and diffident in this matter, may well be called men of little faith; See Gill on Matthew 6:30.

Which is to-day in the field Construe in the field with the grass; and render is absolutely: exists, lives. So Rev., the grass in the field which to-day is. Oven (κλίβανον) Strictly, a covered earthen vessel, wider at bottom than at top, in which bread was baked by putting hot embers round it. The regular oven or furnace is ἰπνός. Herodotus, speaking of the papyrus-plant (byblus), the lower portion of which is used for food, says, "Such as wish to enjoy the by-blue in full perfection, bake it first in a closed vessel (ἐν κλιβάνῳ), heated to a glow" (ii., 92). And seek not what ye, etc Ye is emphatic: "and ye, seek not what," etc.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which, though it stand to day, is to-morrow cast into the furnace; shall he not much more do the same for you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat, or. What shall we drink, or. Where- with shall we be clothed? For after all these tilings do the Gentiles seek: for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek yo first the kingdom of God^ and all these things shall be added unto you. Care not then for to-morrow; for the morrow shall care for itself. Suflftcicnt unto the day is the evil thereof." Thus saith the Lord in the sixth of Matthew's Gospel. Again, in the twelfth chapter of St Luke's gospel he^ saith : " Take heed, and beware of covetousness : for no man's [1 ct justitiam ejus, Lat. ; omitted by the translator: and his righteousness.] [2 idem Dominus nostcr, Lat. ; the same our Lojd.]

Indexes Index of Scripture References Genesis [1]6:3 [2]17:11 [3]17:13 1 Kings [4]8:46 [5]21:20 Psalms [6]1:2 [7]19:133 [8]37:23 Isaiah [9]1:15-20 [10]49:4 [11]53:12 [12]63:10 [13]64:6 [14]64:10 Jeremiah [15]18:7-10 Daniel [16]9 Matthew [17]1:22 [18]2:11 [19]5:3-12 [20]7:21 [21]7:22 [22]9:13 [23]11:21 [24]11:28 [25]11:28 [26]12 [27]12:17 [28]12:31 [29]12:31 [30]12:31 [31]12:32 [32]12:32 [33]12:32 [34]13:19 [35]13:20 [36]13:20 [37]18:7-18 [38]26:26 [39]27:9 [40]27:35 Mark [41]3:28 [42]3:29 [43]9:23 Luke [44]12:9 [45]12:10 [46]12:47 [47]12:47 [48]12:47 [49]12:47 [50]18:9 [51]21:22 [52]23:34 John [53]3:6 [54]4:14 [55]5:35 [56]7:17 [57]8:34 [58]8:36 [59]9:41 [60]13:18 [61]14:23 [62]15:15 Acts [63]1:2 [64]3:17 [65]6 [66]7:51 [67]7:51 [68]11:26 Romans