Luke 12:28Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Lord has provided the example of the lilies to serve as a profound lesson for us. If God adorns the lilies so that their splendor surpasses even that of Solomon, and beauty is inconsequential for them, how much more will He not provide for us, His most esteemed creation, when we truly require clothing for our bodies? Some may argue, "Why do you instruct us not to tend to the fields?” I do not say, "Refrain from gardening," but rather, do not fret. I am not prohibiting action, but I am cautioning against worry, which is to place one's hope in oneself. Those who act and place their trust in God live free from anxiety. It is evident that He removes our worries, as they take us away from Him.

What merit is there in a life filled with indulgence? Or rather, does it not lead to destruction? For alongside extravagant pleasures come swiftly the shameful elements of sensuality and the assaults of base desires, which are challenging to resist. Indeed, adorning oneself in fine attire is of little profit. 'For consider,' He states, 'the lilies, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin. I tell you that even Solomon in all his splendor was not arrayed like one of these.' This is true also: in lilies and other blossoms that flourish in the fields, the brilliance of their colors possesses a stunning beauty, both in diversity and arrangement, as they gleam with their natural purples or radiate with the brilliance of various hues.

It is intriguing to observe that lilies do not thrive on steep mountain heights or in untamed wilderness, but rather flourish in the grace of gardens. These gardens are abundant with diverse virtues, as it is noted: The enclosed garden is my sister, the bride, the sealed fountain, the hidden spring (Song 4:12). In spaces filled with purity, chastity, devotion, and the quiet fidelity of solitude—where the illumination of angels resides—there grow the violets of confessors, the lilies of virgins, and the roses of martyrs. One may rightly liken lilies to angels, as Christ Himself declares, I am the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys (Song 2:1). Christ embodies the essence of a beautiful lily.

In the preceding chapter and the one that follows, we have addressed the topic at hand.

During a conversation with His disciples, a man approached Jesus, requesting His assistance in resolving a dispute over the division of inheritance with his siblings. The Lord did not assume the role of a civil judge; instead, He declined this request. He emphasized how self-serving desires can create rifts even among brothers. He criticized the folly of those who relentlessly seek to amass wealth and shared the parable of the foolish rich man.

In His teachings to the disciples, Christ emphasizes liberation from greed and the pursuit of wealth, as well as from earthly anxieties. This guidance is found in Matthew 6:25-33 and 19-21.

Christ elaborated on this notion, urging His listeners to refrain from getting caught up in the superficialities of this world and to prioritize the soul, which holds greater significance than the physical body. The body is the most base aspect of humanity, akin to the lower creatures, and there is no need to obsess over providing for its desires; nature itself offers ample resources for its sustenance. For example, consider the crows: "they neither sow nor reap; they have neither storehouses nor barns, and God feeds them." Are not humans of greater worth than birds?