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Explanation for:
Matthew
6
:
30
And if the grass of the field, which is today, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, God doth so clothe: how much more you, O ye of little faith?
10
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{"arr":[{"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":"Truly, no silk fabric, royal purple, or artistic creations of weavers can match the vibrant hues found in nature. What can rival the deep red of the rose? Which other flower embodies the pure white of the lily? The rich purple of the violet is unmatched by any shade of purple, as this is evident to the eye rather than reliant on mere words."},{"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 Saviour, after praising the beauty of the lilies, remarks, ‘It is thrown into the furnace.’ If God is mindful of even the most insignificant and seemingly worthless things, how much more will He care for you, the pinnacle of His creation? You might wonder why God designed flowers to be so exquisite. This was to display His wisdom and immense power, enabling us to recognize His glory throughout all creation. The heavens proclaim the glory of God (Psalm 18:1), and the earth joins in as well. David affirmed this, declaring, ‘Praise the Lord, the fruitful tree, and all the cedars’ (Psalm 148:1, 9). One glorifies its Creator through its fruitfulness, another through its majesty, and yet another through its beauty. It demonstrates God's great wisdom and power that He adorned even the least of His creatures with such splendor. (Indeed, what could be more transient than something that exists today and is gone tomorrow?) If God bestows beauty upon grass that has no need of it (does fire require beauty?), how much more will He provide for your needs? Having adorned His final creation lavishly, not out of necessity but for the sake of beauty, He will also richly supply you—His most treasured creation—with all you require. He didn’t simply state that He clothes, but rather: He clothes abundantly. Do you see how the Saviour deepens His message? He does this to leave a stronger impression on His audience. To further emphasize His point, He adds, ‘Are there not many more than ye?’ This statement carries significant weight and clarity. By mentioning ‘you,’ He highlights that humanity has received great honor and special care from God. It is as if Christ is saying: you, for whom God bestowed a soul, shaped a body, created all visible things, sent prophets, gave the law, performed countless acts of goodness, and ultimately sent His only begotten Son (through whom He offers countless blessings). Following this, the Saviour gently corrects His listeners, saying, ‘Have little faith!’ Such is the role of the counselor; he not only persuades but also admonishes to encourage compliance with his words. Thus, Christ advises us not only to refrain from focusing solely on beautiful garments but also not to be astonished when we see them on others. The splendor of flowers, the beauty of plants, and even the simple grass surpass our most elegant clothing in worthiness of admiration. Therefore, why take pride in that wherein you are vastly outshone by the grass? Notice how the Saviour demonstrates from the outset that His commandments are manageable by alleviating (all thoughts of unnecessary burdens, just as He addressed concerns about food). Since the Saviour has already affirmed God’s Providence over humanity, His next step is to gently reprove His listeners. His rebuke, however, is delivered with gentleness. He reproaches them not for lack of belief but for having little faith: if God dresses the grass of the field, how much more, O ye of little faith! While He accomplishes all things, for all things are created through Him, and nothing came into being apart from Him (John 1:3), He has not yet directly referred to Himself. For the moment, His authority is established by pointing out that He speaks in accordance with what was once commanded, saying, ‘Hear ye that it was spoken to the ancients; I say unto you’ (Matt. 5:21, 22, etc.). Therefore, do not be surprised if, in following statements, Christ either does not mention Himself or does so humbly: His primary concern is for His words to be willingly accepted by His audience and to demonstrate that He is completely aligned with the Father. Throughout His discourse, He consistently refers to the Father, marveling at His wisdom, providence, and care for all creation, great and small. When discussing Jerusalem, He names it the city of the great King; when He speaks of heaven, He refers to it as the throne of God. When addressing the formation of the world, He attributes it all to God, asserting, ‘As His sun shines on the evil and on the good, and rains on the just and on the unjust’ (Matthew 5:45). In prayer, He teaches us to say, ‘This is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory’ (Matthew 6:13). Similarly, when speaking of God's Providence, illustrating how God is a master creator even in the smallest details, He mentions that He clothes the grass of the field. Even so, He does not refer to God as His Father but as their Father, to more effectively persuade His listeners of this honor and to ensure they would not be angered by His calling Him His Father. If we should not concern ourselves with small and essential matters, what mercy can be expected for those who prioritize possessions of far greater significance? Especially, what forgiveness might they receive who deprive themselves of rest to unlawfully acquire what belongs to others?"},{"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":"This teaches us that we ought to disregard superficial decorations, which are characteristic of fleeting flowers, and that those who seek to embellish themselves resemble grass. However, you are endowed with understanding, as God has fashioned both your body and spirit. Those who are preoccupied with worldly concerns demonstrate weak faith; if their trust in God were truly complete, they would not be so easily distracted by such matters."},{"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":"Observe how Christ diminishes the significance of the flowers by referring to them as grass and further states that they are here today but gone tomorrow, suggesting their fleeting nature. At the same time, emphasizing their beauty, He does not merely say that God adorns them, but uses the phrase \\"so clothes them,\\" which conveys a heightened sense of their splendor. An oven serves as a place for baking bread, and the pronoun you implies a sense of reverence. He poses a rhetorical question, as if to ask: Is He not far greater than you, His cherished creation, in whom He has uplifted body, soul, and spirit, for whose sake He formed the world, and for whom He also sacrificed His only Son? He addresses them as \\"little believers,\\" a term that carries a tone of reprimand. After conveying His message, He admonishes them by calling them of little faith, for they lacked confidence in God's care for them, and consequently, for themselves. This serves to humble them and encourage greater obedience.\\n\\nThrough this teaching, He cautions against pride in extravagant attire, asserting that even the flowers of the field display greater luxury and beauty. Just as He previously mentioned that birds do not sow, He does not prohibit labor and spinning here; rather, His intention is to show that God provides for them. Why, then, does He adorn the flowers with such magnificence? He desires for you to recognize the depth of His wisdom and power through this example. If He graces the flowers, created for your benefit, with such splendor, will He not care for you, for whom they were made, all the more? Although He is the Creator and Sustainer, He attributes the creation and care of all things to the Father, indicating their shared will and power. Yet, the time had not yet come to make His divine nature fully evident, as He clarified in His teaching, “Ye have heard that it was said to the ancients, Thou shalt not kill” (Matthew 5:21)."},{"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":"What is the hay of the field? It represents the grasses and grains found in nature. When you observe it in the morning, it soon fades and is cast into the fire. For He declares, “O faithless generation, if God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and gone tomorrow, in such splendor that it outshines the garments of the magnificent Solomon, how much more will He care for you and your attire?” You are His eternal creations, singers of His glory, and forever devoted worshippers of His divine nature; for your sake, He delighted in establishing the law, anointed the prophets, sent His Son into the world, and prepared a never-ending kingdom. So, when you witness the hay of the field, which quickly withers, reflecting God's loving provision, how can you possibly doubt His care for you? Can you question that God will supply you with the necessary sustenance and clothing? Truly, this is a sign of disbelief!"},{"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":"They will be cast into the fire. It is emphasized that the purpose of these lovely lilies pales in comparison to the purpose of humanity. Today they blossom, captivating hearts with their splendor; tomorrow they may be uprooted, faded, and cast away, yet humanity is destined for eternity. If the Heavenly Father shows such concern for this grass, how much greater must His care be for mankind? If He adorns it, will He leave humanity in want? Why such worry over trivial matters?"},{"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":"If the Creator adorns even the most trivial of creations, will He withhold essential provisions from His faithful servants, who seek to be clothed in garments of purity, incorruption, immortality, and everlasting glory? The only-begotten Son of God willingly set aside His divine splendor to don our mortal flesh. Hence, our anxious concerns for basic necessities reveal a deficiency in our faith, in accordance with the very Truth. What can be said of our preoccupations with the excesses and alterations in the attire and embellishments of this perishable body, which consume so much of our attention and distract our hearts—hearts that ought to be devoted to pleasing our Lord and Savior? This undue obsession with the embellishment of our temporal existence, while our eternal souls remain in wretched vulnerability, stripped of Christian virtues, does this not condemn us to a faithlessness akin to that of the Gentiles? Let this admonition not come from us, but rather from the mouth of the Savior Himself, who continues to speak."},{"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":"Consider the grass of the field, which flourishes in beauty today and is cut down tomorrow, only to be withered and cast into the fire. If God clothes it so magnificently, how much more will He provide for you, the most cherished of His creations, destined for eternal life? If even the humble hay receives adornment it does not need—for does fire require its splendor?—how much more will the Lord care for your needs? If He decorates His final creation not out of necessity but for magnificence, how much greater must the adornment be for you, crafted with great purpose? Why should you burden yourself with anxieties as if God's providence is less attentive to you than to the fading grass?\\n\\nWhat gentle humility permeates the Savior's admonition! He does not chastise His audience for doubt. Instead, He demonstrates remarkable wisdom by referencing nature: when He talks of sustenance, He speaks of birds; yet, when discussing clothing, He does not mention birds or animals adorned in finery. Instead, He aims to illustrate the triviality of grass compared to the grandeur imparted to it. As Chrysostom notes, even when He describes the beauty of the lilies, He refers to them simply as the grass of the field, emphasizing their insignificance by saying \\"today is\\" and then further humbling them by stating they will be \\"thrown into the furnace.\\" He does not merely say that God clothes but emphasizes \\"God so clothes.\\" Notice how the Savior carefully builds His argument, intensifying His message to leave a stronger impression on His listeners. \\n\\nHe poignantly adds, \\"How much more so than you,\\" addressing those for whom God has bestowed a soul, formed a body, created all that is seen, sent forth prophets, and given the Law, along with countless blessings, including His only begotten Son, through whom He has shared immeasurable gifts. In light of this, how can you still be labeled as unbelievers? \\n\\nSt. Philaret of Moscow then poses the question: must everyone reject all elegance and don rags? No, that is not the expectation. The Divine Teacher criticizes only excessive, vain, and limited concerns. It is known that He Himself wore a beautiful, simple garment, which those who divided His clothes chose not to tear. We should maintain propriety in our attire. However, it is the endless worry, unmeasured luxury, purposeless extravagance, and obsessive commitment to fleeting fashions that the Savior denounces."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"By urging a moderation in anxious worries about earthly necessities, the Lord does not prohibit effort and labor aimed at securing sustenance and apparel, as elucidated by the Holy Father: “By stating: they do not sow, Christ did not disallow sowing, but rather excessive worry about food; and in saying: they do not toil, nor spin, He did not reject the work itself, but excessive anxiety about clothing” (St. John Chrysostom). A sole preoccupation with sustenance, beverages, and garments, all while neglecting other vital obligations pertaining to the spiritual dimensions of human nature, stands in stark contrast to the noble and celestial calling of the Gospel's disciples. This mindset resembles that of the pagans, who “confine all their endeavors to the present life, show no concern for the future, and disregard thoughts of heaven” (St. John Chrysostom). Furthermore, what earthly father would not wish to supply his children with their needs? Christians, however, have a Heavenly Father who is aware of their requirements even before they voice them (Mt 6:8) and fulfills all their needs."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"While in this context Christ does not explicitly contrast His teachings with the lifestyles of the Pharisees as He did previously, it can be inferred that His message regarding generosity and detachment from worldly possessions may be directed toward them. This is fitting, considering their reputation for avarice (Luke 11:14). Additionally, in Luke, the proclamation about the impossibility of serving both God and wealth appears among Christ’s teachings on this very issue aimed at the Pharisees (16:1-31). Understanding the significance of the statement concerning the lamp of the body (22-23) in relation to the surrounding passage requires recognizing that in Scripture, the heart represents the core of one’s spiritual life, the wellspring of all spiritual activities (15:14). Therefore, this verse clarifies the concept expressed in verse 21: “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also; and where your heart is, there will your mind be also.” Just as the eye serves as the lamp for the body, the mind functions as the lamp for the soul — encompassing the entirety of human moral existence. If this spiritual eye remains untainted, meaning its perceptions and judgments are not swayed by earthly pursuits, then one's moral life will radiate light, focused on a singular, righteous objective. Conversely, if the illumination from this spiritual lamp — the mind's assessments — is clouded by sinful desires, darkness reigns, leading to corrupt actions. It is simply not feasible to hold both earthly and heavenly concerns simultaneously; one cannot serve both God and wealth. Thus, release yourself from the worries regarding your bodily existence, such as what to eat or drink. Is not life more than sustenance? If God has granted you life, He will also provide the necessary provisions. Consider the birds of the air."}]}
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