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Explanation for:
Matthew
6
:
28
And for raiment why are you solicitous? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they labour not, neither do they spin.
12
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Roshdestwenski W.G.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":0,"exegesis-text":"We celebrate the Holy Resurrection during a season when nature awakens from its slumber of winter, as birds return from warmer climes, flowers bloom, and the seeds that were buried in the ground come back to life, all bearing witness to the Resurrection of Christ. These signs affirm that we too shall be resurrected and that life will prevail over death within us. Every bird that arrives, every flower that bursts into bloom, speaks of both the Resurrection of Christ and our own resurrection. All of creation responds to the command of the Lord Almighty; it revives and embodies the resurrection of the Creator Christ, who experienced death yet rose again, who descended into hell and ascended into paradise, reigning eternally. Therefore, each time we joyfully observe the feast of Easter, we are reminded of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, proclaiming to us that the time will come when life will triumph over death, light will dispel darkness, goodness will overcome evil, and joy will erase sorrow. At that moment, all of creation, which 'together groaneth and travaileth in pain until now' (Rom. 8:22), will be completely restored, giving rise to 'a new heaven and a new earth' (Isaiah 65:17), where there will be no tears or mourning, but eternal joy."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Since the spirit holds greater significance than sustenance, He illustrates this through a comparison to the birds. Similarly, He clarifies that the body surpasses garments by referencing various elements, declaring, \\"Look at the lilies of the field...\\""},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The Savior, after discussing the essential nature of food and indicating that it does not warrant undue concern, shifts to a comparison even less critical—clothing, which is less vital than food. It raises the question of why He did not apply the same analogy involving birds when referring to garments, and why He refrains from mentioning the peacock, the swan, or the sheep. Surely, numerous examples could have been drawn from these as well. This is because Christ aims to illustrate the significance of His commandment from two perspectives: the triviality of what is adorned with such splendor and the inherent beauty of the lilies themselves. Therefore, upon portraying the splendor of the lilies, He then refers to them not simply as lilies but as grass of the field. He goes even further than this designation, emphasizing their transient nature by stating that they are here today and tomorrow thrown into the fire. When He says, “Consider the lilies of the field,” He notes that they do not toil, thereby indicating His intent to liberate us from burdensome anxiety. It is not considered labor when we do not fret over our clothing; the true labor lies in worrying about it. Just as when Christ said, “They sow not,” He did not prohibit sowing but rather critiqued the excessive concern for food, similarly, with the statement, “They labour not, neither spinning,” He does not denounce work itself but cautions against an undue preoccupation with attire."},{"author-name":"Macarius the Egyptian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c894b8dd64f2df5bcb2030_Macarius%20the%20Egyptian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"To the degree that each individual, through faith and perseverance, partakes in the Holy Spirit, so too will their body be glorified on that day. What the soul has accumulated in its inner treasure will likewise be revealed and made visible beyond the body; just as trees, when warmed by the unseen forces of the sun and winds following winter, produce and display leaves, flowers, and fruit as if adorned by a garment. In the same way, the flowers of the field emerge from the depths of the earth, cloaking the ground with their beauty, akin to the crinums of which the Lord declared: ‘nor Solomon clothed himself in all his glory, as one of these.’ All of these examples serve as a representation, image, and reflection of the Christian on the day of resurrection."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"He does not only humiliate us through foolish birds, but also through fading flowers. If He has clothed them so beautifully, even when it was unnecessary, surely He will meet our needs for clothing even more abundantly."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"In this context, He referred to various types of flowers, as seen in the verse: I am one of these (Matthew 6:29). But why does He mention growth in conjunction with clothing? He employed the term growing to highlight the foliage that covers each bloom. Observe that He speaks of the flowers of the field and how they grow their leaves, which serve to beautify them for as long as they flourish."},{"author-name":"Nicephoros (Theotokis)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8958407451968d9c204fb_Nicephoros%20(Theotokis).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":18,"exegesis-text":"He condemns the preoccupation with human attire as futile. Yet, why does He refer to birds as a model for obtaining food and refrain from mentioning birds like the swan, the peacock, or the dove—creatures adorned by the immeasurable wisdom and might of God? The lifeless and insensate, like the lilies of the field, hold a lower rank than the living and sentient beings such as birds. Consequently, He chooses to illustrate with lilies rather than birds to emphasize that His concern extends not just to living beings but also to the humblest and most mindless of creations, thereby highlighting the greater unbelief of humanity. If God takes care of the lily, that is, the grass that fades quickly, adorning it with splendor and grace, how much more does He tend to the garments of those created in His image? He cites the lilies among all plants for their uprightness, purity, and elevation above the earth, symbolizing truthfulness, cleanness, and ascension from worldly matters. \\n\\nFurthermore, just as the Lord did not assert regarding food, \\"Do not toil, neither sow, nor reap, but 'Do not bake,'\\" nor did He say about clothing, \\"Do not labor or spin, but 'What shall you bake?'\\" His intent is not to eliminate work or craftsmanship but to redirect us away from anxiety over temporal frivolities. God's desire is that humanity focus on heavenly matters rather than earthly concerns, seeking to serve Him rather than wealth. Ultimately, He wishes to remind us that our efforts, apart from God's grace, are fruitless, affirming that it is God who accomplishes all things. Thus, He asks, \\"And why are you anxious about your garments? Observe the flowers of the field; they neither toil nor spin, yet they grow splendidly adorned.\\""},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Lilies of the Field. This serves as a fresh testament to the might and benevolence of our heavenly Father, who attends to every aspect of His creation, reminding humanity not to overly concern themselves with physical provisions. Consider the lilies found in the fields; different types flourish naturally in the East. They are untouched by human cultivation and do not concern themselves with crafting garments. They neither toil nor weave. \\"The phrase neither toil nor weave does not prohibit the work itself, but rather warns against an inordinate preoccupation with attire\\" (Chrysostom)."},{"author-name":"Philaret (Amphiteatrov)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896e9b7a2ebaf99e4620a_Philaret%20(Amphiteatrov).png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Just as our anxieties about sustenance are pointless, so too are our worries about attire. The Redeemer, addressing our lack of faith that gives rise to these concerns, directs our gaze toward the blossoms of the field—small and seemingly trivial like the dry grass, which, being unworthy for any purpose, is cast into the fire; yet God adorns these with a beauty that even Solomon, who excelled all the rulers of the earth in magnificence, could never match."},{"author-name":"Philaret of Moscow (Drosdow)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896ffb7a2ebaf99e46539_Philaret%20of%20Moscow%20(Drosdow).png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"What constitutes clothing? In the realm of nature, it serves to shield the human being from the harmful effects of the elements; in the moral sphere, it acts as a protection for modesty; in civil society, it is an artificial cover for the body's members, tailored to fit various public roles while simultaneously indicating one’s rank and status within those roles. From these perspectives, it is evident that care for clothing must be guided by necessity, modesty, and consistency. God has, in a sense, sanctified the simplicity and essential nature of clothing. As it is written, “And the Lord God made unto Adam and his wife garments of leather: and He clothed them” (Gen. 3:21). This underscores the futility of a misguided obsession with physical adornment. If the material chosen by God for our garments was leather, why then do some look down on those who wear plain linen or coarse cloth? Why do we feel discontentment if we are not adorned with the silkworm's work, if gold does not come from the earth for us, or if pearls do not emerge from the sea? Why such trivial pursuits? What could be more precious than the garments prepared for us by God Himself! Each of us receives the attire we need, just as Adam and his wife did. In the land where He destined us to be born, He provides all that is necessary for our physical needs based on that land's qualities, and His wise Providence nearly always supplies the means to obtain what is essential. Why do we still frequently wish for our clothing to go beyond mere necessity and the decorum suited to our circumstances? Why are we sometimes dissatisfied with our adornments simply because they were not taken from the possessions of those in distant lands? Observe how God's wisdom shames both vain excess and the demands of necessity: “Look at the flowers of the field, how they grow; they do not toil or spin” (Matt. 6:28). Yet you, of little faith, torment yourselves with anxious thoughts over your garments, as if Divine Providence cares less for you than for those past, now blossoming, and tomorrow fading; as if it has forgotten to provide what you need! If the beauty of nature does not inspire you with the wisdom of bees to gather spiritual sweetness, elevate your spirit to a higher sight; behold not merely the image and shadow of truth but its very essence, its uncreated beauty, its perfection—turn your gaze, members of Christ’s body, to the Head; inspect closely whether your preferred adornments would be suitable for Him. What a contrast! The Head lies in a manger upon straw, yet the members desire comfort in luxurious seating and cushy beds! The Head is marked by humbleness and deprivation, while the members yearn for wealth and opulence! The Head sweats blood, while the members are surrounded by fragrant incense. The Head sheds tears, and the members are adorned with pearls! The Head is crowned with thorns, yet the members seek roses to wear! The Head, drained of blood and pale with mortality, witnesses the members compensating for the lack of liveliness through deceitful artifice, transforming the living human form into a mere simulation! The Head endures nakedness, or wears garments stained, while the members prefer to recline beneath silks and furs, or instead of embracing the nakedness of the Crucified, they contrive garments that do not merely conceal but expose more! Yet there is no call for all to renounce all fineries and wear rags. Certainly not, O wise ones who commit evil, for those who do good are unaware of it (Jeremiah 4:22)! No one demands this. Our Divine Teacher admonishes us concerning the anxieties over clothing, particularly excess, vanity, and bias. What concern should you have over attire? It is known that He Himself wore a splendid, unstitched garment, which was spared from being torn by those who divided His clothes. There exists a type of kindness and decorum in attire that is determined not by partiality but by what is proper, not by vanity but by circumstance, and not by pride but by duty. However, endless care, excessive extravagance, meaningless waste, and constant changes of dress—merely because some feel compelled to invent new trends and others feel pressured to mimic such frivolities—are sheer folly! This folly is even more absurd since many who partake in it are likely aware of their folly yet persist in their ways! Let it remain a folly: it is disastrous that such iniquity is fostered and perpetuated. For instance, consider how a beggar seeking a small coin for his daily sustenance is often overlooked in the marketplace, while others lavish thousands on trivial adornments. Who could deny that such actions violate the command of love for one’s neighbor? Who fails to recognize, from this and similar instances, how vanity, easily justified by societal norms, can lead one into transgressions against the divine law?"},{"author-name":"Michail (Gribanowski)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89544b6742cb4acf9d64e_Michail%20(Gribanowski).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"\\"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was arrayed like one of these\\" (Matthew 6:28-29). These words highlight the profound affection our Lord had for nature and demonstrate His exquisite appreciation for its beauty, particularly its serene trust in the wise and providential love of God. This tranquility, the majesty in its simplicity, resonates with the troubled human spirit, reflecting divine elegance in its countless forms—the very essence of Heaven, the boundless love and life of God.\\n\\nAs Christians, we are called to cultivate within ourselves the same reverence for nature that Christ exemplified. We are to love creation, recognizing it as a manifestation of our heavenly Father, who has transformed it into a living sanctuary for His glory, a home for us. We should not ignore its wonders; rather, we ought to cherish and delight in them as an invaluable gift from God, surpassing in value all that has been fashioned by human hands. It is our responsibility to care for and nurture the earth, embracing its diverse and marvelous life—this paradise entrusted to our stewardship. We must invest our love in every aspect of it, engage with its growth and flourishing, and understand that our efforts will not be in vain.\\n\\nWhen the world is renewed, ushering in a new heaven and a new earth (2 Peter 3:13), all creation will be adorned with everlasting beauty, entering into the liberation that awaits the redeemed (Romans 8:21). In that moment, we will witness our part in this transformation, as our love intertwines with the current of affection we have offered to nature in its current state. We will join in praise of God alongside the beloved lilies and turtledoves nurtured in our care. While the physical world may fade away, the life forms that reflect God's eternal beauty will endure to glorify Him in their rejuvenated splendor, captivating our spiritual senses with even greater harmony.\\n\\nIn our love for nature, we recognize it not as fleeting or transient, but as the eternal inheritance bestowed upon us by God, binding us to Him by the unbreakable threads of His creative love (Genesis 1:26-28, Matthew 5:5). Nature represents that promised land we shall inhabit as co-heirs with the conquering Jesus. Our current task is to cultivate it through love and diligent efforts in its preservation and growth. We must stand against all adversaries and those who exploit God’s beautiful creation for their selfish gains, stripping its resources and tarnishing its beauty, transforming it into a service for the corrupt idols of materialism.\\n\\nWe must identify ourselves as eternal stewards of the earth, cherished by God and promised this paradise. It will be the realm we enter transformed, as angels of God arrayed in grace, where we will experience the everlasting joy of Christ celebrating with the Church as the Church adores her Savior (Revelation 21:1-4). Let us not lose sight of our elevated station on this earth: we are not mere visitors, nor transient exploiters, but eternal caretakers and cultivators of its enduring beauty and paradise, awaiting the revelation of Christ the Redeemer. We must grieve the desecration wrought by modern pagans and, with deep love, work diligently to defend and restore it with our loving and paternal stewardship (Revelation 11:15-18)."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Clothing may not hold the same significance as sustenance; hence, it is even less warranted to fret over it than over food. The Divine Master poses a question, asking, \\"And WHAT WILL YOU CARE ABOUT CLOTHING?\\" Reflect on the nature of garments. As Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow explains, they serve as a testament to our inherent sinfulness; they provide a shield against the embarrassment of bodily nakedness, which humanity remained unaware of until the disobedience of God’s command. Garments serve as a reminder of the triumph that the tempter achieved over us; they offer only a temporary means of shielding our mortal forms from the elements, illness, and mortality. \\n\\nWhat, then, drives those who, with great urgency and zeal, seek to showcase the allure and magnificence of their attire? What fuels their pride? Does a sick individual take pride in the elegance of the bandages encasing their wounds, or does a captive boast of their chains? To the ailing soul, it is inconsequential whether their wrappings are adorned with gold or simply plain linen; a captive cares not whether their shackles are crafted from exquisite gold or dull iron. \\n\\nObserve how often those in want for mere coins to buy their daily bread are ignored on the streets while countless funds are squandered on extravagant personal embellishments. Consider the considerable time invested in the trivial pursuit of caring for clothing and accessories. Is this behavior appropriate for Christ's disciples? Is it not a source of offense to the Lord Himself? He admonishes our excessive worries by saying, \\"LOOK at the lilies of the field!\\" Contemplate the splendid white lilies and all the countless flowers that embellish the earth. Notice how they flourish without human intervention; they do not concern themselves with their own allure, nor do they labor or toil. Yet, upon closer inspection of their exquisite attire, crafted by the hand of the Creator, one can see an astonishing array of patterns and colors unmatchable by human skill: the purples of dawn, the blues of the sky, the whites of snow, the blues of the ether, the reds of fire, and the gleam of gold."}]}
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