Matthew 6:27

Commentary on Matthew 6:27 KJV

Matthew 6:27 is a powerful rhetorical question posed by Jesus Christ during His transformative Sermon on the Mount. This verse challenges the very essence of human worry and anxiety, highlighting its ultimate futility in altering one's circumstances.

Context

This verse is nestled within Jesus' broader discourse on anxiety, found in Matthew 6:25-34. Following His instruction not to worry about life, food, or clothing, Jesus uses illustrations from nature (the birds of the air, the lilies of the field – see Matthew 6:26 and Matthew 6:28) to demonstrate God's meticulous care for His creation. The question in verse 27 serves as a logical conclusion: if God cares for the lesser, how much more will He care for His children? It directly confronts the common human tendency to fret over things beyond our control.

Key Themes

• The Futility of Worry: Jesus challenges the logical absurdity of anxiety. Worrying, or "taking thought" in this context, cannot change one's physical stature or extend one's lifespan. It is a wasted effort that yields no positive results.
• Human Limitations: The verse underscores the boundaries of human power. There are certain aspects of life, like our physical growth or the length of our days, that are entirely outside our control and are instead governed by divine providence.
• Divine Sovereignty and Provision: Implicitly, this verse points to God as the ultimate provider and controller of all things. Since we cannot add a single measure to ourselves by worrying, it encourages reliance on a sovereign God who can and does sustain life.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "taking thought" comes from the Greek word merimnao (μεριμνάω), which means "to be anxious," "to be troubled with cares," or "to worry." It's not merely thinking, but rather a consuming, anxious concern that distracts and burdens. The term "stature" is from the Greek helikia (ἡλικία), which can mean physical height or age/span of life. While "a cubit" (approximately 18 inches or 45 cm) clearly refers to a measure of length, making physical height a primary interpretation, some scholars suggest it could metaphorically refer to adding a small measure to one's lifespan. Either way, the message remains the same: anxious thought is ineffective in altering these fundamental aspects of our existence.

Practical Application

Matthew 6:27 serves as a powerful reminder to release our anxieties and place our trust in God. Instead of expending energy on worries that produce no fruit, we are called to focus on what we can control: our faith, our actions, and our pursuit of God's kingdom. Jesus' teaching encourages us to:

• Acknowledge Our Limits: Recognize that many things are beyond our control and are best left in God's hands.
• Trust God's Provision: Believe that God, who cares for all creation, will surely provide for our needs (Matthew 6:33).
• Cast Your Cares: As 1 Peter 5:7 advises, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." Or as Philippians 4:6 instructs, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

Ultimately, this verse calls us to a life of faith over fear, trusting in a God who is both sovereign and loving.