Luke 12:26

If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

If {G1487} ye then {G3767} be {G1410} not {G3777} able to do {G1410} that thing which is least {G1646}, why {G5101} take ye thought {G3309} for {G4012} the rest {G3062}?

If you can’t do a little thing like that, why worry about the rest?

So if you cannot do such a small thing, why do you worry about the rest?

If then ye are not able to do even that which is least, why are ye anxious concerning the rest?

Commentary

Context

Luke 12:26 is a pivotal rhetorical question posed by Jesus within His broader discourse on worry and anxiety. Directly following His teaching about the impossibility of adding a single hour to one's life by worrying (Luke 12:25), this verse serves as a logical conclusion to the argument. Jesus has just used vivid examples of God's meticulous care for ravens and lilies (Luke 12:24, Luke 12:27), highlighting God's attention to even the 'least' of His creation. The audience would understand this as a challenge to their misplaced focus on earthly concerns rather than divine providence, forming part of a larger teaching on trusting God instead of worrying about life's necessities.

Key Themes

  • The Futility of Human Worry: This verse underscores that anxiety is not only unproductive but also illogical. If humans cannot control the most minute and fundamental aspects of their existence, such as their physical stature or lifespan, then worrying about larger concerns is equally pointless.
  • Human Limitations vs. Divine Sovereignty: Jesus highlights the stark contrast between humanity's limited power and God's absolute control. We are incapable of performing even the 'least' of things (like adding a cubit to our height), yet God manages the entire universe and provides for all creation.
  • Call to Trust and Faith: Implicit in this rhetorical question is an invitation to surrender anxiety and cultivate a deep trust in God's unfailing care. If God cares for the seemingly insignificant, He will surely care for His children.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "that thing which is least" directly refers to the concept introduced in the preceding verse: "which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?" (Luke 12:25). The Greek word for "stature" (hēlikia) can mean either physical height or one's age/life span. Both interpretations emphasize an act utterly beyond human control, regardless of how much one "takes thought" (worries). The word "thought" (Greek: merimnaō) carries the connotation of anxious care, distracting worry, or being divided in mind. Jesus uses this common human experience of inability to control even the smallest biological processes to demonstrate the absurdity of trying to control larger, more complex life circumstances through worry.

Practical Application

Luke 12:26 serves as a powerful reminder for believers to assess the effectiveness of their anxiety. If we cannot control the most minor details of our lives, such as our physical growth or the length of our days, how much less can we control the larger, often overwhelming circumstances that cause us distress? This verse encourages a radical shift in perspective: from focusing on what we cannot control to trusting in what God can and does control. It invites us to release the burden of worry and instead cultivate a deep faith in God's meticulous provision for all aspects of life, echoing the broader message of seeking God's kingdom first. True peace and freedom from anxiety come from recognizing God's sovereignty and our complete dependence on Him for every need, as exhorted in Philippians 4:6-7.

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Cross-References

  • 1 Peter 5:7 (7 votes)

    Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

  • Psalms 39:6 (5 votes)

    Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up [riches], and knoweth not who shall gather them.

  • Ecclesiastes 7:13 (3 votes)

    Consider the work of God: for who can make [that] straight, which he hath made crooked?

  • Luke 12:29 (1 votes)

    And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.