Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or
what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the
life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Matthew 6:25
Barnes' Notes on the
Bible
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought ... - The general design of this
paragraph, which closes the chapter, is to warn his disciples against avarice,
and, at the same time, against anxiety about the supply of their needs. This he
does by four arguments or considerations, expressing by unequalled beauty and
force the duty of depending for the things which we need on the providence of
God. The "first" is stated in Matthew
6:25; "Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?" In the
beginning of the verse he charged his disciples to take "no thought" - that is,
not to be "anxious" about the supply of their wants. In illustration of this he
says that God has given "life," a far greater blessing than "meat;" that he has
created the body, of far more consequence than raiment. Shall not he who has
conferred the "greater" blessing be willing to confer the "less?" Shall not he
who has formed the body so curiously, and made in its formation such a display
of power and goodness, see that it is properly protected and clothed? He who has
displayed "so great" goodness as to form the body, and breathe into it the
breath of life, will surely "follow up" the blessing, and confer the "smaller"
favor of providing that that body shall be clothed, and that life preserved.
No thought - The word "thought," when the Bible was translated, meant
"anxiety," and is so used frequently in Old English authors. Thus, Bacon says,
"Haweis died with 'thought' and anguish before his business came to an end." As
such it is used here by our translators, and it answers exactly to the meaning
of the original. Like many other words, it has since somewhat changed its
signification, and would convey to most readers an improper idea. The word
"anxiety" would now exactly express the sense, and is precisely the thing
against which the Saviour would guard us. See Luke 8:14; Luke 21:34; Philippians 4:6. "Thought" about
the future is right; "anxiety, solicitude, trouble" is wrong. There is a degree
of "thinking" about the things of this life which is proper. See 1 Timothy 5:8; 2 Thessalonians 3:10; Romans 12:11. But it should not be
our supreme concern; it should not lead to anxiety; it should not take time that
ought to be devoted to religion.
For your life - For what will "support" your life.
Meat - This word here means "food" in general, as it does commonly in the
Bible. We confine it now to animal food. When the Bible was translated, it
denoted all kinds of food, and is so used in the old English writers. It is one
of the words which has changed its meaning since the translation of the Bible
was made.
Raiment - Clothing.
Clarke's Commentary on the
Bible
Therefore - Δια τουτο, on this account; viz., that ye may not serve mammon,
but have unshaken confidence in God, I say unto you, -
Take no thought - Be not anxiously careful, μη μεριμνατε; this is the proper
meaning of the word. μεριμνα anxious solicitude, from μεριζειν τον νουν dividing
or distracting the mind. My old MS. Bible renders it, be not bysy to your liif.
Prudent care is never forbidden by our Lord, but only that anxious distracting
solicitude, which, by dividing the mind, and drawing it different ways, renders
it utterly incapable of attending to any solemn or important concern. To be
anxiously careful concerning the means of subsistence is to lose all
satisfaction and comfort in the things which God gives, and to act as a mere
infidel. On the other hand, to rely so much upon providence as not to use the
very powers and faculties with which the Divine Being has endowed us, is to
tempt God. If we labor without placing our confidence in our labor, but expect
all from the blessing of God, we obey his will, co-operate with his providence,
set the springs of it a-going on our behalf, and thus imitate Christ and his
followers by a sedate care and an industrious confidence.
In this and the following verses, our Lord lays down several reasons why men
should not disquiet themselves about the wants of life, or concerning the
future.
The first is, the experience of greater benefits already received. Is not the
life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Can he who gave us our body, and
breathed into it the breath of life, before we could ask them from him, refuse
us that which is necessary to preserve both, and when we ask it in humble
confidence?
The clause what ye must eat, is omitted by two MSS., most of the ancient
versions, and by many of the primitive fathers. Griesbach has left it in the
text with a note of doubtfulness. It occurs again in Matthew 6:31, and there
is no variation in any of the MSS. in that place. Instead of, Is not the life
more than, etc., we should read, Of more value; so the word πλειον is used in Numbers 22:15, and by
the best Greek writers; and in the same sense it is used in Matthew 21:37. See the note there.
Gill's Exposition of the
Entire Bible
Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life,.... Since ye cannot
serve both God and "mammon", obey one, and neglect the other. Christ does not
forbid labour to maintain, support, and preserve, this animal life; nor does he
forbid all thought and care about it, but all anxious, immoderate, perplexing,
and distressing thoughts and cares; such as arise from diffidence and unbelief,
and tend to despair; which are dishonourable to God, as the God of nature and
providence, and uncomfortable to men:
what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, nor yet for your body, what ye
shall put on. The several and the only things, which are necessary for the
support and comfort of human life, are mentioned; as meat, drink, and clothing;
Eating and drinking are necessary to preserve life; and raiment, to cover and
defend the body, from the injuries of the heavens: and having these, men have
everything necessary, and ought herewith to be content; nor should they be
anxiously thoughtful about these: for
is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? And yet, God has
given these without man's thought: and since these are better, and much more
excellent, than food and raiment, as all must and will acknowledge; and God has
given these the greater gifts, it may be depended upon, that he will give the
lesser; that he will give meat and drink; to uphold that valuable life, which he
is the author of; and raiment to clothe that body, which he, with so much wisdom
and power, has accurately and wonderfully made.
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