Matthew 6:26-27

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 6:25-34

There is scarcely any one sin against which our Lord Jesus more largely and earnestly warns his disciples, or against which he arms them with more variety of arguments, than the sin of disquieting, distracting, distrustful cares about the things of life, which are a bad sign that both the treasure and the heart are on the earth; and therefore he thus largely insists upon it. Here is, I. The prohibition laid down. It is the counsel and command of the Lord Jesus, that we take no thought about... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 6:25-34

6:25-34 I tell you, therefore, do not worry about your life, about what you are to eat, or what you are to drink; and do not worry about your body, about what you are to wear. Is not your life more than food, and your body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air, and see that they do not sow, or reap, or gather things into store-houses, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not better than they? Who of you can add one span to his life by worrying about it? And why do you... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 6:25-34

In these ten verses Jesus sets out seven different arguments and defences against worry. (i) He begins by pointing out ( Matthew 6:25 ) that God gave us life, and, if he gave us life, surely we can trust him for the lesser things. If God gave us life, surely we can trust him to give us food to sustain that life. If God gave us bodies, surely we can trust him for raiment to clothe these bodies. If anyone gives us a gift which is beyond price, surely we can be certain that such a giver will... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 6:25-34

Let us now see if we can gather up Jesus' arguments against worry. (i) Worry is needless, useless and even actively injurious. Worry cannot affect the past, for the past is past. Omar Khayyam was grimly right: "The moving finger writes, and, having writ, Moves on; nor all thy piety nor wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a line, Nor all thy tears wash out a word of it." The past is past. It is not that a man can or ought to dissociate himself from his past; but he ought... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:26

Behold the fowls of the air ,.... Not such as are brought up in houses, but which fly abroad in the air, wild; and are not supported by their own, or any human care, but by the care of God: Luke 12:24 particularly mentions the "ravens", referring probably to Psalm 147:9 , and because they are very voracious creatures: and there it is said, "consider the ravens"; look attentively upon them, and with observation, for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns . This is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:27

Which of you by taking thought ,.... As Christ argued before, from the unnecessariness of anxious thoughts and cares, about the provisions of life; so here, from the unprofitableness of them; it being impossible for a man, with all his care and thought, to add one cubit unto his stature , or "to his age"; so the word is rendered, John 9:21 to the days of his life, he is so solicitous about; for a cubit may as well be applied to a man's age, as an "hand's breadth" is to his days, Psalm... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:26

Behold the fowls of the air - The second reason why we should not be anxiously concerned about the future, is the example of the smaller animals, which the providence of God feeds without their own labor; though he be not their father. We never knew an earthly father take care of his fowls, and neglect his children; and shall we fear this from our heavenly Father? God forbid! That man is utterly unworthy to have God for his father, who depends less upon his goodness, wisdom, and power, than... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:27

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? - The third reason against these carking cares is the unprofitableness of human solicitude, unless God vouchsafe to bless it. What can our uneasiness do but render us still more unworthy of the Divine care? The passage from distrust to apostasy is very short and easy; and a man is not far from murmuring against Providence, who is dissatisfied with its conduct. We should depend as fully upon God for the preservation of his... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:26

Verse 26 26.Look at the fowls of the air This is the remedy I spoke of, for teaching us to rely on the providence of God: for of all cares, which go beyond bounds, unbelief is the mother. The only cure for covetousness is to embrace the promises of God, by which he assures us that he will take care of us. In the same manner, the Apostle, wishing to withdraw believers from covetousness, confirms that doctrine: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, (Hebrews 13:5.) The... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:27

Verse 27 27.Which of you by anxious care, etc ? Here our Lord condemns another fault, which is almost always connected with immoderate anxiety about food: and that is, when a mortal man, claiming more than he has a right to do, does not hesitate, in sacrilegious hardihood, to go beyond his limits. “O Lord, I know (says Jeremiah) that the way of man is not in himself it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps,” (Jeremiah 10:23.) You scarcely meet with one person in a hundred, who does... read more

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