The Cure for Anxiety

22 Then he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you,(A) don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear.(B) 23 For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens:(C) They don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them.(D) Aren’t you worth much more than the birds? 25 Can any of you add one moment to his life span[a] by worrying?(E) 26 If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest?

27 “Consider how the wildflowers grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon(F) in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. 28 If that’s how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will he do for you—you of little faith?(G) 29 Don’t strive for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. 30 For the Gentile world eagerly seeks(H) all these things, and your Father(I) knows that you need them.

31 “But seek his kingdom,(J) and these things will be provided for you.(K) 32 Don’t be afraid,(L) little flock,(M) because your Father delights(N) to give you the kingdom.(O)

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Footnotes

  1. 12:25 Or add a cubit to his height

Anxiety

22 And he said to his disciples, “For this reason I tell you, do not be anxious for your[a] life, what you will eat, or for your[b] body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens, that they neither sow nor reap; to them there is neither storeroom nor barn, and God feeds them. How much more are you worth than the birds? 25 And which of you by[c] being anxious is able to add an hour[d] to his life span? 26 If then you are not even able to do a very little thing, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they do not toil or spin, but I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these. 28 But if God clothes the grass in the field in this way, although it[e] is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he do so for[f] you, you of little faith? 29 And you, do not consider what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not be anxious. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But seek his kingdom and these things will be added to you.

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

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 12:22 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  2. Luke 12:22 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  3. Luke 12:25 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“being anxious”) which is understood as means
  4. Luke 12:25 Or “a cubit” (the literal meaning); most scholars understand this to refer figuratively to an “hour” of life here, though some take it as a literal measurement of height
  5. Luke 12:28 Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“is”) which is understood as concessive
  6. Luke 12:28 The phrase “will he do so for” is not in the Greek text but is implied