Matthew 6:27Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Having confirmed our hope by this arguing from the greater to the less, He next confirms it by an argument from less to greater, Behold the fowls of the air, they sow not, neither do they reap.

The Lord declares, 'Regardless of your concern, you can accomplish nothing outside of God's purpose. Why do you labor in futility?'

Some argue that they ought not to labour, because the fowls of the air neither sow nor reap. Why then do they not attend to that which follows, neither gather into barns? Why do they seek to have their hands idle, and their storehouses full? Why indeed do they grind corn, and dress it? For this do not the birds. Or even if they find men whom they can persuade to supply them day by day with victuals ready prepared, at least they draw water from the spring, and set on table for themselves, which the birds do not. But if neither are they driven to fill themselves vessels with water, then have they gone one new step of righteousness beyond those who were at that time at Jerusalem, (vid.

There be some who, seeking to go beyond the limits of their fathers, and to soar into the air, sink into the deep and are drowned. These will have the birds of the air to mean the Angels, and the other powers in the ministry of God, who without any care of their own are fed by God’s providence. But if this be indeed as they would have it, how follows it, said to men, Are not ye of more worth than they? It must be taken then in the plain sense; If birds that to-day are, and to-morrow are not, be nourished by God’s providence, without thought or toil of their own, how much more men to whom eternity is promised!

No one can accomplish this alone. Just as self-generated effort cannot lead to success, we cannot gather sustenance unless God permits it. Even with relentless diligence, our endeavors will yield nothing without His provision. It is indeed impossible for Him to add to the palm of His hand or to His finger, but it is expressed in terms of the cubit, which primarily served as a measure of height.

It may be said, that under the name of birds, He exhorts us by the example of the unclean spirits, to whom, without any trouble of their own in seeking and collecting it, provision of life is given by the power of the Eternal Wisdom. And to lead us to refer this to the unclean spirits, He suitably adds, Are not ye of much more value than they? Thus shewing the great interval between piety and wickedness.

Can our physical existence be extended through our anxious preoccupations with diet? Can we truly enhance our stature in any way? Do extravagant meals and luxurious feasts, which demand our constant attention and consume our valuable time, genuinely fortify our vitality, boost our health, and prolong our lives? On the contrary, these excessive, time-consuming indulgences diminish not only the vigor of our souls but also that of our bodies, and frequently lead to a premature end to the fleeting life we already possess.

Who can, even if he labors tirelessly day and night, bestow upon the mortality of his flesh even a small measure of unity? No one. As it is said, your concern for the expansion and enhancement of your body yields no true benefit. The Lord is the one who nurtures your flesh; you cannot fully grasp the process of its growth. Yet, despite this, you doubt that God, who so intricately cultivates your being, can provide you sustenance and refreshment. Instead, you invest all your efforts in obtaining these necessities, mistakenly believing that your striving sustains you rather than acknowledging God's role in your nourishment.

Who among you, by being anxious, can add even a single cubit to his stature? Or who can extend his life by even one hour through his own worries, apart from God's assistance? All of this is beyond our control; it is the work of the Lord. As Chrysostom states, with all your efforts, you cannot increase your physical stature; likewise, you cannot acquire nourishment on your own, despite believing it achievable. Therefore, it is not our own striving, but rather God’s Providence that brings about the fulfillment of what we may think we accomplish. For if God abandons us, then no amount of worry, concern, or labor—nothing at all—will be of any avail; everything will be in vain. Why should we inflict unnecessary distress upon ourselves?

Our entire existence is governed by God's will and is not contingent upon our own efforts. For instance, the Lord highlights the development of the body as an essential aspect of life, emphasizing that it holds significant importance. It was previously stated that we cannot change the color of a single hair (Matt. 5:36), reinforcing the notion that regardless of how much we toil for our physical well-being or how diligently we attend to its sustenance, we ultimately do not control these aspects.

To enhance one’s stature. Another evident illustration of this can be found in the futility of humanity's excessive concern for earthly provisions; despite all efforts, one cannot fundamentally change their existence, such as by adding to their height. The Lord has set a specific stature for each individual, and despite all human endeavor, one cannot increase it if it is limited, nor lessen it if it is abundant. Growth or advancing age signifies the continuation of one’s life (John 9:21-23); thus, the phrase “to put on growth” can also refer to extending one’s lifespan. God has established the duration of human life by setting a definitive limit, and no amount of human anxiety can extend it beyond this destined boundary. What then is the need for excessive worry about physical existence? ‘If God departs from us, neither care, nor concern, nor toil - in summary, nothing will assist us, but all will be futile’ (Chrysostom).

In His teachings on simplicity, the Lord cautioned against being overly anxious about fulfilling physical needs while simultaneously emphasizing God's Providence, which looks after all creation, particularly humanity, the pinnacle of His work. He assured us, "Be not careful with your soul what you eat or what you drink, nor with your body what you put on: is not the soul more than food, and the body more than raiment?" For "He who gave the greater things, soul and body, will He not give food and clothing?" (Bl. Theophylact). Observe the birds of the air, for they neither sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them: are you not of more value than they?