Luke 12:30

And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. AND HE SAID UNTO HIS DISCIPLES, THEREFORE I SAY UNTO YOU, TAKE NO THOUGHT ... This and the twelve following verses are but a repetition, with slight verbal difference, of part of the Sermon on the Mount. See the note at Matthew 6:25. But a word or two of explanation on one or two of the verses may be added here. Verse 25. AND WHICH OF YOU WITH TAKING THOUGHT CAN ADD TO HIS STATURE ONE CUBIT? Verse 26. IF YE THEN BE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT THING WHICH IS LEAST, WHY TAKE YE THOUGHT FOR THE REST? 'Corroding solicitude will not bring you the least of the things ye fret about, though it may double the evil of wanting them. And if not the leas...

22-40 Christ largely insisted upon this caution not to give way to disquieting, perplexing cares, Matthew 6:25. The arguments here used are for our encouragement to cast our care upon God, which is the right way to get ease. As in our stature, so in our state, it is our wisdom to take it as it is. An eager, anxious pursuit of the things of this world, even necessary things, ill becomes the disciples of Christ. Fears must not prevail; when we frighten ourselves with thoughts of evil to come, and put ourselves upon needless cares how to avoid it. If we value the beauty of holiness, we shall not crave the luxuries of life. Let us then examine whether we belong to this little flock. Christ is our Master, and we are his servants; not only working servants, but waiting servants. We must be as men that wait for their lord, that sit up while he stays out late, to be ready to receive him. In thi...

Verse 30. _THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD SEEK AFTER_] Or, _earnestly_ _seek_, επιζητει from επι _above, over_, and ζητεω, _I_ _seek_; to seek one thing after another, to be continually and eagerly coveting. This is the employment of the nations of this world, utterly regardless of God and eternity! It is the essence of _heathenism_ to live only for _this life_; and it is the property of _Christianity_ to lead men to live here in reference to another and better world. Reader! how art thou living? Dr. Lightfoot observes on this place, that κοσμος, the world, and αιων, world or age, have a meaning in the sacred writings which they have not in profane authors. αιων has relation to the _Jewish ages_, and κοσμος to the _ages_ that are _not Jewish_: hence, by συντελεια του αιωνος, Matthew 24:3, is meant the end of the Jewish ag

See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 6:25....

EXPOSITION LUKE 12:1 _The Lord_,_ after leaving the Pharisee_'_s house_,_ speaks at great length to a numerous crowd waiting for him_,_ addressing his words principally to his own disciples. _The foregoing scene (Luke 11:1.), when the Master addressed his bitter reproaches to the learned and cultivated of the great Pharisee party, took place in a private house belonging to an apparently wealthy member of this, the dominant class. The name of the large village or provincial town where all this happened is unknown. The crowd who had been listening to the great Teacher before he accepted the Pharisee's invitation still lingered around the house. Many from the adjoining villages, hearing that Jesus was in this place and was publicly teaching, had

FOR ALL THESE THINGS DO THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD SEEK AFTER,.... That is, the Gentiles, as in Matthew 6:32 who are frequently, in the Jewish writings, called, in distinction from the Jews, אומות העולם, "the nations of the world" s. This is an argument used to dissuade from an immediate and anxious concern for food and raiment, because it is Heathenish, and therefore very unbecoming the disciples and followers of Christ: it need not be wondered at in those that know not God, and do not acknowledge his providence, and are strangers to his covenant and promises; but must be very unsuitable to the characters of such who know that godliness has the promise of this life, and of that which is to come: AND YOUR FATHER KNOWETH THAT YE HAVE NEED OF THESE THINGS; and therefore it is needless to be so anxious about them: the Persic version reads, "all these things", and so some copies

The teaching of our Lord, in this chapter, has very much to do with Christianity in connection with this present life, and its cares and troubles. God has nowhere promised us exemption from affliction and trial. Indeed, it has been said, with much truth, that the Old Testament promise was one of prosperity, but that the New Testament promise is one of tribulation. You may rest assured that, if it had been best for us to be taken away to heaven directly we were converted, the Lord would have done it, and that, as he has not done so, there are wise reasons why he keeps his people here for a while. The gold must go through the fire ere it has its place in the king's crown, and the wheat must be exposed to the winnowing fan ere it can be taken into the heavenly garner. Luke 12:1. In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode...

CHAPTER 12 _ 1. Warning Against Hypocrisy. (Luke 12:1)_ 2. Encouragements. (Luke 12:4) 3. Warning Against Covetousness. (Luke 12:15) 4. Warning Against Anxiety. (Luke 12:22) 5. The Disciples Comfort and Hope. (Luke 12:32) 6. The Parable of the Steward. (Luke 12:41) 7. The Purpose of God and the Resulting Division. (Luke 12:49) 8. Concerning signs.

WARNING AGAINST WORRY (Matthew 6:25 *, Matthew 6:19 *). In Mt. the section follows the saying about God and Mammon, with which the parable just given by Lk. has an analogy. Lk. and Mt. agree closely, though Lk. has ravens _for_ birds of the heavens (Luke 12:24), and the rest (Luke 12:26) (_i.e._ all necessaries other than food) for raiment. Luke 12:32 takes the place of Matthew 6:34, and leads up to...

THE CREED OF COURAGE AND OF TRUST (Luke 12:1-12)...