Matthew 6:29Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Let us delve deeper into this, for the comparison of man to a flower, even elevating it above humankind, is deliberate; it even surpasses Solomon, who was greatly esteemed for constructing a visible temple for God and mystically representing the Church of Christ (3 Kings 6-8; 1 Chron. 22:6-16; 2 Chron. 2-4; Ps. 44). It is fitting to suppose that the image of white signifies the glory of heavenly angels, who are truly the flowers of this earth, embellishing the world with their radiant and fragrant holiness. With their assistance, we can assert that we are the fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved (2 Cor. 2:15). Free from cares and the burdens of toil, they embody the grace of God's generosity and the gifts of a heavenly nature. It is beautifully stated that Solomon adorned himself with glory, and in another Gospel, that he was enveloped in magnificence (Matthew 6:29). Solomon cloaked the frailty of his mortal nature with the magnificence of deeds, as if draping it with the virtues of his spirit. However, angels, who are untouched by the flaws of our corporeal existence and are closer to the divine, rightfully hold a position above even the greatest of humans because of our physical limitations. At the resurrection, humanity will be like angels in heaven (Mark 12:25); thus, the Lord, who granted angels divine splendor, uses them as an example, urging us to trust in the growth of divine glory within us, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up in eternal life (2 Cor. 5:4), for this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal must put on immortality (1 Cor. 15:53).

Many find the comparison to the lily particularly relevant due to its characteristics and growth patterns. Lilies do not require constant and yearly care; the diligent efforts of cultivators for this flower do not need to be repetitively undertaken as they do for other plants. Regardless of how arid the land may be, lilies flourish and bloom because of the nurturing power inherent to their sap. Even when the flower stems appear desiccated, the blooms themselves remain vibrant—while their vitality may be concealed, it is never lost. Awakened by the arrival of spring, the lilies re-emerge in full bloom, donning fresh attire. I recall providing a more extensive explanation of this elsewhere, so I will briefly mention it here without reiterating.

It is significant that lilies do not thrive on steep mountains or within untamed forests but in gardens that are pleasing to behold—these are fruitful gardens of diverse virtues, as Scripture states: A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse; a garden enclosed, a fountain sealed (Song 4:12). There one finds chastity, purity, reverence for God, and the faithful guardianship of secrets; there are the violets of confessors, the lilies of virgins, and the roses of martyrs. It is not surprising to compare angels to lilies, as Christ Himself referred to Himself as a lily: I am the flower of the field and the lily of the valleys (Song 2:1). Christ is indeed a lily, for where the blood of martyrs is present, there is Christ, the transcendent and pure one; in Him, there are no piercing thorns, only resplendent beauty. Roses may have thorns due to the afflictions faced by martyrs, but the invulnerable divine nature remains thorn-less, as it is impervious to suffering.

If the lilies are akin to angels, then they surpass humans in glory through their adornment. Therefore, we must not lose hope in God's mercy toward us: at the resurrection, the Lord promises us a beauty akin to that of the angels. The Lord also addresses the query the Apostle did not overlook, for the peoples of this world ask how the dead are raised and what kind of body they possess.

If God Himself chose leather as the material for clothing, why do some regard those who wear simple linen or rough fabric as miserable or contemptuous? Why do we feel discontented if we are not adorned with the silken thread or do not possess gold from the earth and pearls from the sea? Why entertain such trivial desires? What could be more splendid than the garments that God prepares for us! For it may be said that He creates for each of us the attire we need, just as He did for Adam and Eve. In whatever land He intends for us to enter the world, He provides all that is necessary according to the qualities of that place; and His wise Providence often places ample means for acquiring what we need within our reach. Why then do we often find ourselves wishing for our clothing to exceed mere necessity or the propriety of our position? Why do we sometimes find ourselves dissatisfied with our ornaments, merely because they did not come from distant lands? Behold, the wisdom of God exposes not only vanity but also the demands of excess; observe the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet, you of little faith, burden yourselves with unnecessary anxieties over your garments, as if divine Providence were less attentive to you than to the flowers that flourish today and fade tomorrow, and as if it had forgotten to provide for your needs! If, while gazing at the flowers of the field, you do not possess the wisdom of the bees to extract from them the sweet, spiritual nectar; if the beauty of nature does not impart lessons that strengthen and enliven you, seek a higher vision; lift your spirit, and instead of contemplating the image and shadow of truth, focus on its essence, its uncreated beauty, and the hue of perfection - look, fellow members of Christ’s body, to your Head, and examine closely if your favored adornments are suitable for Him. What a contradiction! The Head lies in a manger upon straw, while the members desire to recline in comfort and luxuriate in their beds! The Head exists in humility and poverty, while the members obsess over wealth and extravagance! The Head is drenched in bloody sweat, while the members indulge in sumptuous fragrances. Tears flow from the Head, while the members are draped in jewels! The Head is crowned with thorns, while the members are adorned with roses! The Head exhibits the pallor of death and the shed blood, yet the members compensate for the absence of vitality with deceptive artifice, transforming the living human form into mere representation! The Head is in a state of nakedness—or clothed in garments of shame—while the members seek to rest beneath luxurious fabrics, or instead of embracing the nakedness of the Crucified, shamelessly contrive garments that reveal rather than conceal! But should everyone shun all finery and clothe themselves in rags? No, wise men who persist in wrongdoing do not recognize this, but those who do good are often unaware (Jeremiah 4:22)! No one demands such extremes. Our Divine Teacher reproaches only the anxieties surrounding clothing, particularly those of excess, vanity, and bias. What concern do you have for garments? It is well known, however, that He Himself, to provide comfort to those who cared for His physical needs, wore a precious, seamless tunic, which the soldiers cast lots to divide. There exists a kind and degree of generosity and even elegance in attire that is governed not by bias but by propriety, not by vanity but by circumstance, and not by self-importance but by duty and obligation. However, ceaseless worries, boundless extravagance, senseless waste, and frequent changes of attire driven solely by the whims of others—a sheer folly! A folly even more ludicrous because, undoubtedly, many who partake in it recognize its absurdity and yet do not cease to give in to it! And may it remain a folly; it is a tragedy that iniquity is birthed and nurtured through it. For instance, can we not see how often a beggar in need of a small coin for sustenance is overlooked in the marketplace, while wealth is readily bestowed on trifles? Who dares contend that love for one’s neighbor is not transgressed here? Who fails to notice through this and numerous other illustrations how vanity, readily excused by society, can render a person culpable before God’s commandments?

The beauty of the crinum outshone all of Solomon's magnificence. Even the wisest of men yielded to the simplest creations of nature. Rightly so, for the wonders of the natural world are the handiwork of God, while human creations stem from human effort. Yet, the Lord highlighted Solomon's glory by comparing it to the lesser beauty of the lilies, and He offers a stern reminder: “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”

“Did not King Solomon possess garments woven with gold, embellished with precious pearls and semi-precious stones?” reflects St. Demetrius of Rostov. It seems impossible to equate a humble wildflower with the opulence of King Solomon. Solomon shines in royal purple, while the flower flourishes in its own leaves; Solomon resides in majestic chambers, and the flower dances in the wind of the open field; Solomon sits on the throne, and the flower humbly grows close to the ground; no one dares approach Solomon, yet the flower is trampled underfoot by all; Solomon reigns in glory for many years, while the flower blooms for only a day, two, or sometimes a week.

Why does our Lord elevate the flower of the field above all of Solomon’s splendor? It is because, despite Solomon's vast wealth, golden garments, and exquisite royal adornments, he acquired these external treasures and was born as naked as any other person. In contrast, the flower does not derive its beauty from anyone else, nor does it seek anything external; everything it possesses is inherent, a gift from God, making it richer, more beautiful, and more glorious than King Solomon himself.

It is our duty to cherish it, recognizing in it our heavenly Father, who has transformed it into a vibrant temple of His glory and a home for us. We should remain attuned to its beauty, celebrating and nurturing it as a precious gift from God, far more valuable than anything crafted by human hands. We are called to honor and protect the earth in all its remarkable diversity—a paradise entrusted to our care. We must infuse our love into it, nurturing and working diligently for its flourishing... The affection we dedicate to it will not be in vain. In a future renewal, when the heavens and earth are made new (2 Pet. 3:13), and all creation is adorned with invincible beauty, entering into the freedom of restored humanity (Rom. 8:21)—we will witness our contributions in this transformation. Through our love, we will entwine with the stream of affection we've infused into nature, joining in praise to God alongside the lilies and doves that have thrived under our care. Though the material earth shall pass away, the forms of life reflecting God’s eternal beauty will endure, glorifying the Lord in their renewed splendor, captivating our spiritual eyes and hearts in an even more profound harmony.

In our love for nature, we embrace not the fleeting and the ephemeral, but the everlasting gift granted to us by God, an inheritance intertwined with the unbreakable bonds created by His loving hand (Gen. 1:26-28, Matt. 5:5). Nature is our promised land, where we will reign alongside our victorious Christ. Our current mission is to triumph over it with our love and effort in its stewardship and enhancement. We must stand against those who exploit God's beautiful creation for selfish gain, ravaging its bounty, tarnishing its splendor, and turning it into a realm serving the base idols of greed and pleasure. We must view ourselves as eternal stewards of this beloved earth, promised to us as a paradise we will enter fully resurrected and transformed like the angels of God, clothed in the joy of Christ rejoicing over the Church, as the Church praises Christ and presents herself to Him (Rev. 21:1-4). Let us remember our exalted position on earth; we are not mere transient traders, nor exploiters, but eternal guardians, cultivators of its everlasting beauty—a paradise that will be revealed to us upon the return of our Savior, Christ. We should grieve the defilement of this paradise by modern secularists, and with immense love, seek to protect and restore it with our commitment and care... (Rev. 11:15-18).

A singular focus on food, drink, and clothing, while neglecting other vital responsibilities related to the spiritual aspect of human existence, does not reflect the noble and celestial calling of the Gospel disciples; this mindset aligns more with those outside the faith, who ‘limit all their labour to the present life, do not reason in the least about the future and do not think about heaven’ (St. John Chrysostom). Additionally, any father would desire to supply the needs of his children. Christians have a Father in Heaven who is aware of their needs even before they ask (Mt 6:8) and provides them with all they require.