And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin.
Parallel translations
- WEB Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin,
- KJV And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
- ESV And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,
- NKJV “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor 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,
- 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,
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Why worry about clothing? Consider how the wildflowers grow without laboring. God adorns even them without their effort.
Overview
Turning from food to clothing, Jesus directs attention to the lilies of the field, which flourish in beauty without toil or spinning. The natural world testifies to a God who lavishes care on even fleeting plants. The illustration prepares for the argument that God will far more readily clothe his children, undercutting anxiety with trust.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Matt 6:25Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?
- Phil 4:6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
- Luke 12:27Consider how the lilies grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these.
- Matt 6:31Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
- Luke 22:35–36Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out without purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered.
- Luke 3:11John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.”
- Matt 10:10Take no bag for the road, or second tunic, or sandals, or staff; for the worker is worthy of his provisions.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 6:28 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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