Luke 12:22-26
“Then Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?'”
Luke 12:22-26 Meaning
In Luke 12:22-26, Jesus is addressing his disciples and urging them not to worry about their basic needs. He reminds them of the birds of the air and the flowers of the field, pointing out that if God provides for these lesser things, He will surely provide for His children who are of much greater value. The meaning of these verses is to encourage us to trust in God’s provision and not to allow worry to consume us.
Luke 12:22-26 Commentary and Explanation
In Luke 12:22-26, Jesus provides us with a profound lesson about trust in God and the futility of worrying. Let’s read into this passage and explore its meaning together.
Verse 22: Jesus begins by addressing our concerns about life’s necessities – food and clothing. He tells us not to worry about these things. This echoes a sentiment found in Matthew 6:25-34, where Jesus also teaches us not to be anxious about our physical needs. In both instances, Jesus emphasizes the Father’s care for us, reminding us that we are more valuable than the birds of the air and the lilies of the field.
Verse 23: Jesus reinforces the idea that life is about more than just meeting our physical needs. He speaks of life as something of greater value than food and the body more than clothing. This aligns with his teachings about seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Our lives should be centered on God’s purposes and His will.
Verse 24: Jesus uses the example of ravens to illustrate God’s provision. He points out that these birds neither sow nor reap nor store up in barns, yet God feeds them. This reminds us of the way God provided manna for the Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 16:4), emphasizing His faithful and abundant provision.
Verse 25: Jesus, in His gentle and loving manner, asks, “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” This question is a sobering reminder of the futility of worry. Worrying doesn’t change our circumstances or lengthen our lives. Instead, it often leads to stress and anxiety.
Verse 26: Jesus concludes by asking us to consider the lilies, how they grow without toiling or spinning. Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. This reference to King Solomon points to the fact that no amount of human effort or wealth can compare to God’s provision and creation. This echoes Psalm 104:27-30, where it is emphasized that God provides for His creation.
Ultimately, Luke 12:22-26 reminds us of our heavenly Father’s care and provision for us. It encourages us to place our trust in God, seek His Kingdom first, and not be consumed by anxiety over the material aspects of life. We are reminded that God’s provision is abundant, and worrying cannot change the course of our lives. Let us learn to cast our cares upon Him, for He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).
Also Read: Exodus 37 Meaning and Commentary
Context of Luke 12:22-26
Luke 12:22-26 is part of Jesus’ teachings about anxiety and worldly possessions. It comes after Jesus warns against greed and materialism, and emphasizes the importance of focusing on eternal treasures rather than earthly ones. He uses various illustrations to drive home the point that worrying about our basic needs is unnecessary when we have a loving and providing Heavenly Father.
Jesus’ teaching in this passage is in response to a request from someone in the crowd who asks Jesus to tell his brother to divide their inheritance with him (Luke 12:13). Jesus seizes this opportunity to teach about the dangers of covetousness and the importance of placing our trust in God rather than earthly possessions.
Lessons From Luke 12:22-26
In this Bible study, let’s explore three key lessons we can learn from Luke 12:22-26:
Trust in God’s Provision: Jesus reminds us that God cares for His creation, including the birds and flowers. If God provides for them, how much more will He provide for us, His children? This encourages us to have faith and trust in God’s provision for our needs. It does not mean that we should be lazy or irresponsible, but that we should rely on God rather than being consumed by worry.
Value Kingdom Priorities: Jesus instructs us to seek God’s kingdom first and all our needs will be met. This reminds us of the importance of prioritizing our relationship with God above everything else. When we focus on seeking His will and righteousness, He takes care of our physical needs. Our perspective should shift from focus on worldly possessions to heavenly treasures.
Futility of Worry: Jesus challenges the futility of worry by asking what it achieves. Worrying does not bring about positive change or create solutions. It only creates anxiety and hinders our faith. Instead, we are called to cast our anxieties on God (1 Peter 5:7) and seek His peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7).
Biblical Translations of Luke 12:22-26
Luke 12:22-26 King James Version (KJV)
“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. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. 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? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?”
Luke 12:22-26 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“And He said to His disciples, ‘For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens, that they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span? If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters?'”
Luke 12:22-26 English Standard Version (ESV)
“And he said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?'”
Luke 12:22-26 New Living Translation (NLT)
“Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, ‘That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?'”
Luke 12:22-26 The Message (MSG)
“He continued this subject with his disciples. ‘Don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the ravens, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, carefree in the care of God. And you count far more.'”
Luke 12:22-26 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
“Then he said to his disciples: ‘Therefore, I tell you, don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: They don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than the birds? Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying? If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest?'”
Final Thoughts
Luke 12:22-26 contains a powerful teaching from Jesus about worry and trust in God’s provision. As Christians, we are reminded to place our faith in God and not be overwhelmed by worry. Let us seek His kingdom, prioritize our relationship with Him, and trust that He will provide for all our needs. Worrying adds nothing of value to our lives, but faith in God brings peace and assurance. May we cultivate an attitude of trust, knowing that our Heavenly Father cares for us.