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Exhortation Not to Worry

22 Then[a] Jesus[b] said to his[c] disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry[d] about your[e] life, what you will eat, or about your[f] body, what you will wear. 23 For there is more to life than food, and more to the body than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens:[g] They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds[h] them. How much more valuable are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by worrying[i] can add an hour to his life?[j] 26 So if[k] you cannot do such a very little thing as this, why do you worry about[l] the rest? 27 Consider how the flowers[m] grow; they do not work[n] or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! 28 And if[o] this is how God clothes the wild grass,[p] which is here[q] today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven,[r] how much more[s] will he clothe you, you people of little faith! 29 So[t] do not be overly concerned about[u] what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not worry about such things.[v] 30 For all the nations of the world pursue[w] these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, pursue[x] his[y] kingdom,[z] and these things will be given to you as well.

32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is well pleased[aa] to give you the kingdom.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 12:22 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative. Jesus’ remarks to the disciples are an application of the point made in the previous parable.
  2. Luke 12:22 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  3. Luke 12:22 tc αὐτοῦ (autou, “his”) is lacking in P45vid,75 B 1241 c e. Although the addition of clarifying pronouns is a known scribal alteration, in this case it is probably better to view the dropping of the pronoun as the alteration in light of its minimal attestation.
  4. Luke 12:22 tn Or “do not be anxious.”
  5. Luke 12:22 tc Most mss (P45 Ψ 070 ƒ13 33 M) supply the pronoun ὑμῶν (humōn, “your”) here, although several significant and early witnesses omit it (P75 א A B D L Q W Θ ƒ1 700 2542 al lat). Externally, the shorter reading is superior. Internally, the pronoun looks to be a scribal clarification. In context the article can be translated as a possessive pronoun anyway (ExSyn 215), as it has been done for this translation.
  6. Luke 12:22 tc Some mss (B 070 ƒ13 33 1424 al) supply the pronoun ὑμῶν (humōn, “your”) here, although the witnesses for the omission are early, significant, and varied (P45vid,75 א A D L Q W Θ Ψ ƒ1 M lat). See previous tc note for more discussion.
  7. Luke 12:24 tn Or “crows.” Crows and ravens belong to the same family of birds. English uses “crow” as a general word for the family. Palestine has several indigenous members of the crow family.
  8. Luke 12:24 tn Or “God gives them food to eat.” L&N 23.6 has both “to provide food for” and “to give food to someone to eat.”
  9. Luke 12:25 tn Or “by being anxious.”
  10. Luke 12:25 tn Or “a cubit to his height.” A cubit (πῆχυς, pēchus) can measure length (normally about 45 cm or 18 inches) or time (a small unit, “hour” is usually used [BDAG 812 s.v.] although “day” has been suggested [L&N 67.151]). The term ἡλικία (hēlikia) is ambiguous in the same way as πῆχυς. Most scholars take the term ἡλικία (hēlikia) to describe age or length of life here, although a few refer it to bodily stature (see BDAG 435-36 s.v. 1.a for discussion). Worry about length of life seems a more natural figure than worry about height. However, the point either way is clear: Worrying adds nothing to life span or height.
  11. Luke 12:26 tn This is a first class condition in the Greek text.
  12. Luke 12:26 tn Or “why are you anxious for.”
  13. Luke 12:27 tn Traditionally, “lilies.” According to L&N 3.32, “Though traditionally κρίνον has been regarded as a type of lily, scholars have suggested several other possible types of flowers, including an anemone, a poppy, a gladiolus, and a rather inconspicuous type of daisy.” In view of the uncertainty, the more generic “flowers” has been used in the translation.
  14. Luke 12:27 tn Traditionally, “toil.” Although it might be argued that “work hard” would be a more precise translation of κοπιάω (kopiaō) here, the line in English scans better in terms of cadence with a single syllable.
  15. Luke 12:28 tn This is a first class condition in the Greek text.
  16. Luke 12:28 tn Grk “grass in the field.”
  17. Luke 12:28 tn Grk “which is in the field today.”
  18. Luke 12:28 tn Grk “into the oven.” The expanded translation “into the fire to heat the oven” has been used to avoid misunderstanding; most items put into modern ovens are put there to be baked, not burned.sn The oven was most likely a rounded clay oven used for baking bread, which was heated by burning wood and dried grass.
  19. Luke 12:28 sn The phrase how much more is a typical form of rabbinic argumentation, from the lesser to the greater. If God cares for the little things, surely he will care for the more important things.
  20. Luke 12:29 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate a conclusion drawn from the previous illustrations.
  21. Luke 12:29 tn Grk “do not seek,” but this could be misunderstood to mean that people should make no attempt to obtain their food. The translation “do not be overly concerned” attempts to reflect the force of the original.
  22. Luke 12:29 tn The words “about such things” have been supplied to qualify the meaning; the phrase relates to obtaining food and drink mentioned in the previous clause.
  23. Luke 12:30 tn Grk “seek.”
  24. Luke 12:31 tn Grk “seek,” but in the sense of the previous verses.
  25. Luke 12:31 tc Most mss (P45 A D1 Q W Θ 070 ƒ1,13 33 M lat sy) read τοῦ θεοῦ (tou theou, “of God”) instead of αὐτοῦ (autou, “his”; found in א B D* L Ψ 579 892 co). But such a clarifying reading is suspect. αὐτοῦ is superior on both internal and external grounds. P75 includes neither and as such would support the translation above since the article alone can often be translated as a possessive pronoun.
  26. Luke 12:31 sn His (that is, God’s) kingdom is a major theme of Jesus’ teaching. The nature of the kingdom of God in the NT and in Jesus’ teaching has long been debated by interpreters and scholars, with discussion primarily centering around the nature of the kingdom (earthly, heavenly, or both) and the kingdom’s arrival (present, future, or both). An additional major issue concerns the relationship between the kingdom of God and the person and work of Jesus himself. See Luke 6:20; 11:20; 17:20-21.
  27. Luke 12:32 tn Or perhaps, “your Father chooses.”

22 And He said to His disciples, (A)For this reason I tell you, [a]do not worry about your [b]life, as to what you are to eat; nor for your body, as to what you are to wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Consider the (B)ravens, that they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor (C)barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! 25 And which of you by worrying can add a [c](D)day to his [d]life’s span? 26 Therefore if you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about the other things? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither labor nor [e]spin; but I tell you, not even (E)Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 28 Now if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? (F)You of little faith! 29 And do not [f]seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not (G)keep worrying. 30 For [g]all these things are what the nations of the world [h]eagerly seek; and your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But [i]seek His kingdom, and (H)these things will be [j]provided to you. 32 [k](I)Do not be afraid, (J)little flock, because (K)your Father has chosen to give you the kingdom.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 12:22 Or stop being worried
  2. Luke 12:22 Lit soul
  3. Luke 12:25 Lit cubit (about 18 in. or 45 cm)
  4. Luke 12:25 Or height
  5. Luke 12:27 I.e., spin thread for cloth
  6. Luke 12:29 Or keep seeking
  7. Luke 12:30 Or these things all the nations of the world
  8. Luke 12:30 Or wish for
  9. Luke 12:31 Or continually seek
  10. Luke 12:31 Or added to
  11. Luke 12:32 Or Stop being afraid

22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

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