Matthew 6:28Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He goes even further than this designation, emphasizing their transient nature by stating that they are here today and tomorrow thrown into the fire. When He says, “Consider the lilies of the field,” He notes that they do not toil, thereby indicating His intent to liberate us from burdensome anxiety. It is not considered labor when we do not fret over our clothing; the true labor lies in worrying about it. Just as when Christ said, “They sow not,” He did not prohibit sowing but rather critiqued the excessive concern for food, similarly, with the statement, “They labour not, neither spinning,” He does not denounce work itself but cautions against an undue preoccupation with attire.

If the material chosen by God for our garments was leather, why then do some look down on those who wear plain linen or coarse cloth? Why do we feel discontentment if we are not adorned with the silkworm's work, if gold does not come from the earth for us, or if pearls do not emerge from the sea? Why such trivial pursuits? What could be more precious than the garments prepared for us by God Himself! Each of us receives the attire we need, just as Adam and his wife did. In the land where He destined us to be born, He provides all that is necessary for our physical needs based on that land's qualities, and His wise Providence nearly always supplies the means to obtain what is essential. Why do we still frequently wish for our clothing to go beyond mere necessity and the decorum suited to our circumstances? Why are we sometimes dissatisfied with our adornments simply because they were not taken from the possessions of those in distant lands? Observe how God's wisdom shames both vain excess and the demands of necessity: “Look at the flowers of the field, how they grow; they do not toil or spin” (Matt. 6:28). Yet you, of little faith, torment yourselves with anxious thoughts over your garments, as if Divine Providence cares less for you than for those past, now blossoming, and tomorrow fading; as if it has forgotten to provide what you need! If the beauty of nature does not inspire you with the wisdom of bees to gather spiritual sweetness, elevate your spirit to a higher sight; behold not merely the image and shadow of truth but its very essence, its uncreated beauty, its perfection—turn your gaze, members of Christ’s body, to the Head; inspect closely whether your preferred adornments would be suitable for Him. What a contrast! The Head lies in a manger upon straw, yet the members desire comfort in luxurious seating and cushy beds! The Head is marked by humbleness and deprivation, while the members yearn for wealth and opulence! The Head sweats blood, while the members are surrounded by fragrant incense. The Head sheds tears, and the members are adorned with pearls! The Head is crowned with thorns, yet the members seek roses to wear! The Head, drained of blood and pale with mortality, witnesses the members compensating for the lack of liveliness through deceitful artifice, transforming the living human form into a mere simulation! The Head endures nakedness, or wears garments stained, while the members prefer to recline beneath silks and furs, or instead of embracing the nakedness of the Crucified, they contrive garments that do not merely conceal but expose more! Yet there is no call for all to renounce all fineries and wear rags. Certainly not, O wise ones who commit evil, for those who do good are unaware of it (Jeremiah 4:22)! No one demands this. Our Divine Teacher admonishes us concerning the anxieties over clothing, particularly excess, vanity, and bias. What concern should you have over attire? It is known that He Himself wore a splendid, unstitched garment, which was spared from being torn by those who divided His clothes. There exists a type of kindness and decorum in attire that is determined not by partiality but by what is proper, not by vanity but by circumstance, and not by pride but by duty. However, endless care, excessive extravagance, meaningless waste, and constant changes of dress—merely because some feel compelled to invent new trends and others feel pressured to mimic such frivolities—are sheer folly! This folly is even more absurd since many who partake in it are likely aware of their folly yet persist in their ways! Let it remain a folly: it is disastrous that such iniquity is fostered and perpetuated. For instance, consider how a beggar seeking a small coin for his daily sustenance is often overlooked in the marketplace, while others lavish thousands on trivial adornments. Who could deny that such actions violate the command of love for one’s neighbor? Who fails to recognize, from this and similar instances, how vanity, easily justified by societal norms, can lead one into transgressions against the divine law?

Therefore, each time we joyfully observe the feast of Easter, we are reminded of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, proclaiming to us that the time will come when life will triumph over death, light will dispel darkness, goodness will overcome evil, and joy will erase sorrow. At that moment, all of creation, which 'together groaneth and travaileth in pain until now' (Rom. 8:22), will be completely restored, giving rise to 'a new heaven and a new earth' (Isaiah 65:17), where there will be no tears or mourning, but eternal joy.

If God takes care of the lily, that is, the grass that fades quickly, adorning it with splendor and grace, how much more does He tend to the garments of those created in His image? He cites the lilies among all plants for their uprightness, purity, and elevation above the earth, symbolizing truthfulness, cleanness, and ascension from worldly matters.

Furthermore, just as the Lord did not assert regarding food, "Do not toil, neither sow, nor reap, but 'Do not bake,'" nor did He say about clothing, "Do not labor or spin, but 'What shall you bake?'" His intent is not to eliminate work or craftsmanship but to redirect us away from anxiety over temporal frivolities. God's desire is that humanity focus on heavenly matters rather than earthly concerns, seeking to serve Him rather than wealth. Ultimately, He wishes to remind us that our efforts, apart from God's grace, are fruitless, affirming that it is God who accomplishes all things. Thus, He asks, "And why are you anxious about your garments? Observe the flowers of the field; they neither toil nor spin, yet they grow splendidly adorned."

What, then, drives those who, with great urgency and zeal, seek to showcase the allure and magnificence of their attire? What fuels their pride? Does a sick individual take pride in the elegance of the bandages encasing their wounds, or does a captive boast of their chains? To the ailing soul, it is inconsequential whether their wrappings are adorned with gold or simply plain linen; a captive cares not whether their shackles are crafted from exquisite gold or dull iron.

Observe how often those in want for mere coins to buy their daily bread are ignored on the streets while countless funds are squandered on extravagant personal embellishments. Consider the considerable time invested in the trivial pursuit of caring for clothing and accessories. Is this behavior appropriate for Christ's disciples? Is it not a source of offense to the Lord Himself? He admonishes our excessive worries by saying, "LOOK at the lilies of the field!" Contemplate the splendid white lilies and all the countless flowers that embellish the earth. Notice how they flourish without human intervention; they do not concern themselves with their own allure, nor do they labor or toil. Yet, upon closer inspection of their exquisite attire, crafted by the hand of the Creator, one can see an astonishing array of patterns and colors unmatchable by human skill: the purples of dawn, the blues of the sky, the whites of snow, the blues of the ether, the reds of fire, and the gleam of gold.

As Christians, we are called to cultivate within ourselves the same reverence for nature that Christ exemplified. We are to love creation, recognizing it as a manifestation of our heavenly Father, who has transformed it into a living sanctuary for His glory, a home for us. We should not ignore its wonders; rather, we ought to cherish and delight in them as an invaluable gift from God, surpassing in value all that has been fashioned by human hands. It is our responsibility to care for and nurture the earth, embracing its diverse and marvelous life—this paradise entrusted to our stewardship. We must invest our love in every aspect of it, engage with its growth and flourishing, and understand that our efforts will not be in vain.

When the world is renewed, ushering in a new heaven and a new earth (2 Peter 3:13), all creation will be adorned with everlasting beauty, entering into the liberation that awaits the redeemed (Romans 8:21). In that moment, we will witness our part in this transformation, as our love intertwines with the current of affection we have offered to nature in its current state. We will join in praise of God alongside the beloved lilies and turtledoves nurtured in our care. While the physical world may fade away, the life forms that reflect God's eternal beauty will endure to glorify Him in their rejuvenated splendor, captivating our spiritual senses with even greater harmony.

In our love for nature, we recognize it not as fleeting or transient, but as the eternal inheritance bestowed upon us by God, binding us to Him by the unbreakable threads of His creative love (Genesis 1:26-28, Matthew 5:5). Nature represents that promised land we shall inhabit as co-heirs with the conquering Jesus. Our current task is to cultivate it through love and diligent efforts in its preservation and growth. We must stand against all adversaries and those who exploit God’s beautiful creation for their selfish gains, stripping its resources and tarnishing its beauty, transforming it into a service for the corrupt idols of materialism.

We must identify ourselves as eternal stewards of the earth, cherished by God and promised this paradise. It will be the realm we enter transformed, as angels of God arrayed in grace, where we will experience the everlasting joy of Christ celebrating with the Church as the Church adores her Savior (Revelation 21:1-4). Let us not lose sight of our elevated station on this earth: we are not mere visitors, nor transient exploiters, but eternal caretakers and cultivators of its enduring beauty and paradise, awaiting the revelation of Christ the Redeemer. We must grieve the desecration wrought by modern pagans and, with deep love, work diligently to defend and restore it with our loving and paternal stewardship (Revelation 11:15-18).