Luke 12:31Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

As our Lord had before given instruction about food, so now also about raiment, saying, Consider the lilies of the field how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin, that is, to make themselves clothing. Now as above when our Lord said, the birds sow not, He did not reprove sowing, but all superfluous trouble; so when He said, They toil not, neither do they spin, He does not put an end to work, but to all anxiety about it.

Or by being lifted up he means nothing else but an unsteady motion of the mind, meditating first one thing, then another, and jumping from this to that, and imagining lofty things.

it were strange for the disciples, who ought to set before others the rule and pattern of life, to fall into those things, which it was their duty to advise men to renounce; and therefore our Lord adds, And seek not what, ye shall eat, &c. Herein also our Lord strongly recommends the study of holy preaching, bidding His disciples to cast away all human cares.

Now having forbidden all thought about food, he next goes on to warn men not to be puffed up, saying, Neither be ye lifted up, (nolite in sublime tolli μὴ μετεωρίζισθε.) for man first seeks these things to satisfy his wants, but when he is filled, he begins to be puffed up concerning them. This is just as if a wounded man should boast that he had many plasters in his house, whereas it were well for him that he had no wounds, and needed not even one plaster.

And that you may understand an elation of this kind, remember the vanity of your own youth; if at any time while by yourself you have thought about life and promotions, passing rapidly from one dignity to another, have grasped riches, have built palaces, benefitted friends, been revenged upon enemies. Now such abstraction is sin, for to have our delights fixed upon useless things, leads away from the truth. Hence He goes on to add, For all these things do the nations of the world seek after, &c.

Some have obtained dominion and honours and riches by praying for them, how then dost thou forbid us to seek such things in prayer? And indeed that all these things belong to the Divine counsel is plain to every one, yet are they conferred by God upon those that seek them, in order that by learning that God listens to our lower petitions, we may be raised to the desire of higher things; just as we see in children, who as soon as they are born cling to their mother’s breasts, but when the child grows up it despises the milk, and seeks after a necklace or some such thing with which the eye is delighted; and again when the mind has advanced together with the body, giving up all childish desires, he seeks from his parents those things which are adapted to a perfect life.

Nor does it seem of light moment, that a flower is either compared to man, or even almost more than to man is preferred to Solomon, to make us conceive the glory expressed, from the brightness of the colour to be that of the heavenly angels; who are truly the flowers of the other world, since by their brightness the world is adorned, and they breathe forth the pure odour of sanctification, who shackled by no cares, employed in no toilsome task, cherish the grace of the Divine bounty towards them, and the gifts of their heavenly nature. Therefore well also is Solomon hero described to be clothed in his own glory, and in another place to he veiled, because the frailty of his bodily nature be clothed as it were by the powers of his mind to the glory of his works.

and do not be anxious. Additionally, it is advisable to read the full interpretation provided here. By 'anxiety,' one should comprehend the diversion from celestial matters to worldly concerns, or perhaps a sense of pride.

But if a man wishes to be adorned with precious raiment, let him observe closely how even down to the flowers which spring from the earth God extends His manifold wisdom, adorning them with divers colours, so adapting to the delicate membranes of the flowers dyes far superior to gold and purple, that under no luxurious king, not even Solomon himself, who was renowned among the ancients for his riches as for his wisdom and pleasures, has so exquisite a work been devised; and hence it follows, But I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

It must however be observed, that He says not, Do not seek or take thought about meat, or drink, or raiment, but what ye shall eat or drink, in which He seems to me to reprove those who, despising the common food and clothing, seek for themselves either more delicate or coarser food and clothing than theirs with whom they live.

Why is it that anyone who aims for God's glory and strives to fulfill His will in all actions would never aspire to govern others or present themselves as superior to anyone, regardless of status? The more authority they are entrusted with and the broader their responsibilities become, the more they will genuinely see themselves as humble servants to those under their care. In contrast, individuals who lack this attitude and pursue human praise, wealth, and comforts, are regrettably akin to pagans rather than true followers of Christ. As Jesus, our Lord and God, has stated, ‘But ye seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you’ (Luke 12:30-31).

As He conversed with His disciples, a man approached Him, requesting His assistance in dividing his inheritance with his brothers. The Lord had never assumed the role of a civil judge; therefore, He did not comply with this man’s request. Instead, He highlighted how self-interest can fracture relationships, even among siblings, and criticized the folly of those who obsessively seek to amass wealth, sharing the parable of the foolish rich man. He then redirected the discussion back to the earlier conversation with His disciples, emphasizing the inappropriateness of being preoccupied with worldly concerns for those who were devoted to Him.

Speaking to His disciples, Christ teaches them liberation not just from greed and the longing for wealth, but also from the anxieties of life in general, as conveyed in Matthew 6:25-33 and Matthew 19:21.

Christ further elaborated on this idea, urging His listeners to refrain from succumbing to the fleeting distractions of this world and to place greater importance on the soul, which surpasses the physical form. The body represents the most basic aspect of humanity, akin to that of lower creatures, and there is no necessity for excessive concern over its needs, as nature provides ample resources for its sustenance. Consider the ravens: “they neither sow nor reap; they have neither storehouses nor barns, and God feeds them.” Are not humans more valuable than birds? The same principle applies to attire.