Jesus was a bird watcher

JESUS WAS A BIRD WATCHER
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
Matthew 6:26 26Lookat the birds of the air; they do
not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your
heavenlyFather feeds them. Are you not much more
valuablethan they?
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
The God Of The Fowls And The Flowers
Matthew 6:26, 28
R. Tuck
The point which seems to be prominently suggestedhere is this: Fowls and
flowers representthe creatures and the adornments of the Father's house.
Disciples representthe children of the Father's house. It is fair and forcible
argument; it comes close home to us, by its appeal to our common everyday
observations and experiences, that if the Father cares, in a very marked way,
for the creatures and the adornments (show a mother's daily care to feed her
birds and tend her flowers), he will much more anxiously care for every
welfare of his children (see the way of that same mother with her babe). The
following line of thought will be readily illustrated.

I. Man is a part of God's creation, just as truly as fowls and flowers are, and
must be just as fully included in the Creator's daily care. "The eyes of all wait
on thee."
II. But, if included, man must he included as man, and as God knows man,
and all his wants, bodily and spiritual, seeing that God createdhim, and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.
III. For God's care - if we are to conceive of it as worthy of God - must be in
precise adaptationto eachcreature for whom he cares.
IV. Then we may be sure that God cares forman so far as man is kin with the
fowls and the flowers.
V. Then we may be sure that God cares for man so far as man is superior to
the fowls and the flowers. RememberMungo Park's reflectionwhen, in a time
of utter despair, he found a small moss, and, admiring its root, leaves, and
capsule, thought thus: "Canthat Being who planted, watered, and brought to
perfection, in this obscure part of the world, a thing which appears of so small
importance, look with unconcern upon the situation and sufferings of
creatures formed after his ownimage? Surely not." That reflection inspired
new effort, which resulted in Park's rescue. - R.T.
Biblical Illustrator
Take no thought.
Matthew 6:25
Take no thought for the morrow
J. Vaughan, M. A.
1. The question arises, Is not the Christian charactera provident one?
2. All this is done to drive us to live by the day: to let the day's affairs fill the
day's thoughts. See the benefit of this.(1) As respects ourpleasures. How can a

man enjoy pleasure when he has his mind disturbed about the future? We
must dwell on it undistractedly.(2) As respects your pains. That which makes
pain painful is the thought that it will continue.(3) As respects duties. The
secretof doing anything well is concentration.
3. We should have only to do with the sins of the current day. As with our sins
so with our cares.
4. The trouble which comes is very often not the trouble which we expected.
(J. Vaughan, M. A.)
No thought for the morrow
J. W. Reeve.
1. The Christian should live in quiet confidence in God.
2. This quiet dependence upon God is our happiness, usefulness, strength,
security.
3. If this were wrought in our hearts as a principle, how energetic we should
be in the exercise offaith in God.
4. The secretof getting through work is to take the work of the day and leave
all that does not belong to it.
5. Although a man leaves all to God, and is happy in Christ, he is not therefore
exempt from evil.
(J. W. Reeve.)
Undue anxiety reproved
R. Robinson.
I. THE PROHIBITION. If the text prohibits anxiety about gaining sustenance
itself, it must much more condemn such a dispositionof mind in reference to

the luxuries or show of life, what a world of uneasiness is createdby
inordinate desire about trifles.
II. THE REASONS OR MOTIVES FOR DOING SO.
1. The first is derived from a view of the conduct of the Gentiles.
2. Another lessonfor avoiding anxiety is this, "that our heavenly Father
knowethwe have need of these things."
3. There is no advantage in excessive carefulness.Learn:
1. Christianity is calculatedto make men happy.
2. Let Christians guard againsta distrustful spirit.
(R. Robinson.)The word " thought " is here used in the antiquated sense of
anxiety. In this sense it occurs in Baconand Shakespeare, "QueenCatherine
Parr died of thought." "The pale castof thought."
Evils of anxious forethought
Beecher.
1. From the intrinsic superiority of the spirit or the soul to its material
surroundings.
2. It is needless, as allmen stand in an order of nature that they are sure to be
supplied by a moderate exertion of their powers. A man ought to be ashamed
if a bird can geta living and he cannot.
3. Anxiety does no good. The mind works more wisely when it works
pleasantly. Anxiety distorts the future.
4. It brings men under the power of the imagination and phantoms, which
they fight without pause, and upon which they spend their strength for
nothing.
5. If a man is constantly looking to the future in despondency, where is faith in
his God?

(Beecher.)
Anxious thought incapacitates fora wise ordering of life
Beecher.
The whole successoflife depends upon the wholesomenessofa man's mind.
The ship-master that navigates the sea beyond the sight of land is dependent
upon the correctnessofhis chronometer and his compass. If the instruments
of navigation fail him, everything fails him. And what these are to navigation
on the sea and in a ship, the human mind is to our navigationof life. And
anything that disturbs the balance of the mind so far invalidates the whole
voyage of life.
(Beecher.)
Anxiety for the Future often arises from some unholy passion
Beecher.
Fearstill sits in the window. "Whatseestthou? " says Vanity. "Whisperings
are abroad," says Fear. "Menare pointing at you — or they will, as soonas
you come to a point of observation." "O my goodname!" says a man. "All
that I have done; all that I have laid up — what will become of that? Where is
my reputation going? What will become of me when I lose it, and when folks
turn awayfrom me? O trouble I trouble fit is coming!" What is it? Fearis
sitting in the window of the soul, and looking into the future, and interpreting
the signs thereofto the love of approbation in its coarsestand lowest
condition. Fearstill sits looking into the future, and pride, coming up, says,
"What is it that you see? I see," says Fear, "yourcastle robbed. I see you
toppled down from your eminence. I see you under base men's feet. I see you
weakened. I see you disesteemed. I see your powerscatteredand gone." "O
Lord; what a world is this!" says Pride. Now, that man has not had a particle
of trouble. Fearsatin the window and lied. And Pride cried, and Vanity cried,
and Avarice cried — and ought to cry. Fearsatand told lies to them all. For

there was not one of those things, probably, done there. Did Fearsee them?
Yes. But Fearhas a kaleidoscopein his eye, and every time it turns it takes a
new form. It is filled with broken glass, andit gives false pictures continually.
Feardoes not see right. It is for ever seeing wrong. And it is stimulated by
other feelings. Pride stimulates it; and Vanity stimulates it; and Lust
stimulates it; and Love itself finds, sometimes, no better business than to send
Fearon its bad errands. For love cries at the cradle, "Oh, the child will die!"
It will not die. It will getwell. And then you will not be ashamedthat you
prophesied that it would die. You put on mourning in advance.
(Beecher.)
A dissuasive from anxiety
J. E. Good., Gordon Calthrop, M. A.
I. The EVIL which we are directed to avoid.
II. The powerful CONSIDERATIONSBYWHICH THE SAVIOUR
ENFORCES THE PRECEPT.
1. The power of God as displayed in our creationand preservation.
2. The care of Divine providence.
3. The futility of excessive anxiety.
4. The beauty of nature.
III. THERE REFLECTIONS.
1. The connectionof Divine agencywith the existence of all things.
2. This subjectreminds us of Him through whom we have access to the
Father.
3. Let us learn lessons ofspiritual wisdom from everything around us.
(J. E. Good.)Appears to use a variety of arguments againstover-anxiety.

I. He that gave the lessergift will surely give the greater.
II. God cares forthe lowercreation.
III. Over-anxiety is useless.
IV. To be over-anxious is to arraignthe Divine foresight.
V. To be over-anxious is to sink from the level of the Christian disciple to that
of the heathen.
(Gordon Calthrop, M. A.)
Fretfulness
Beecher.
Arguments againstan unquiet spirit.
1. The general course of nature is in favour of men.
2. That there is a Divine providence which employs the course of nature and
gives it direction.
3. Fretting does no good, but uses up the nerve force needlessly.
4. It begets a habit of looking at the dark side of things.
5. The things we fear seldom happen.(1) A tranquil soul is indispensably
necessaryto anything like a true Christian atmosphere.(2)The chief ends of
life are sacrificedto the unnecessarydust which our feetraise in the way of
life.(3) What disagreeable companywe make of ourselves for God.(4)This
way of life, devoid of cheer, is bearing false witness againstyour Master.
(Beecher.)
The folly of looking only at the ills of life
Beecher.

Now, what if a man should go round searching for a more familiar
acquaintance with thistles and nettles and thorns, and everything sharp, up
and down the highways, over the hills, and through the fields, and insist on
putting his hand on everything that could give him a scratch? What if a man
should insist upon finding out whatever was sourand bitter, and should go
about tasting, and tasting, and tasting for that purpose. What if a man should
insist upon smelling every disagreeable odour, and should see no gaspipe open
that he did not go and look at it? When doves fly in the heavens, and go
swinging round in their flight, we know what they see the grassyfield, the
luxuriant grain, or the inviting perch where they may rest; but when buzzards
fly through the air they see no green fields, no pleasantgardens, but carrion, if
there be any in sight; and if there is none to be seen, there is discontent in the
buzzard heart.
(Beecher.)
One fretful person a pleasure spoiler
Beecher.
It does not take more than one smoky chimney in a room to make it
intolerable.
(Beecher.)
Over-anxiety forbidden
S. Martin., Adam Littleton, D. D.
I. Anxiety is useless aboutthings not under our own control. Duration of life,
etc.
II. Anxiety is useless in matters under our own management. Anxiety will not
furnish the opportunity of earning bread, or arm us with power — but the
reverse.

III. Anxiety does not attractus to the notice of God. He cares for us
irrespective of our carefulness. No promise is made to anxiety, etc.
IV. Anxiety is useless becauseJesusbids you getrid of it. Trust Him and let
the spirit rest, and be strong and glad.
(S. Martin.)
I. There is no wise man who will lay out his time and thoughts about things he
cannot bring to pass;no one debates but of things possible and probable, lying
within the sphere of his activity.
II. That our food and maintenance nourishes us, and augments and enlarges
the proportion of every limb, is not the product of our own care, but of God's
blessing.
III. So it is with all outward concerns. Fromthe Divine benediction which
accompanies them, they prove goodand useful to us. Not from our own care.
(Adam Littleton, D. D.)
COMMENTARIES
EXPOSITORY(ENGLISHBIBLE)
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(26) Beholdthe fowls of the air.—Better, birds. As the words were spokenwe
may venture to think of them as accompaniedby the gesture which directed
attention to the turtle-doves, the wood-pigeons, andthe finches, which are
conspicuous features in a Galilean landscape. Our modern use of the word has
restricted“fowls” to one class ofbirds; but in Chaucer, and indeed in the
English of the sixteenth century, it was in common use in a wider sense, and
we read of the “small fowles that maken melodie,” as including the lark, the
linnet, and the thrush.

Are ye not much better than they?—Here againthe reasoning is à fortiori.
Assuming a personalwill, the will of a Father, as that which governs the order
of the universe, we may trust to its wisdomand love to order all things well for
the highestas for the meanestof its creatures. Forthose who receive whatever
comes in the spirit of contentedthankfulness, i.e., for those who “love God,”
all things work togetherfor good.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
6:25-34 There is scarcelyany sin againstwhich our Lord Jesus more warns
his disciples, than disquieting, distracting, distrustful cares aboutthe things of
this life. This often insnares the poor as much as the love of wealth does the
rich. But there is a carefulness about temporal things which is a duty, though
we must not carry these lawful cares too far. Take no thought for your life.
Not about the length of it; but refer it to God to lengthen or shorten it as he
pleases;our times are in his hand, and they are in a good hand. Not about the
comforts of this life; but leave it to God to make it bitter or sweetas he
pleases. Foodand raiment God has promised, therefore we may expect them.
Take no thought for the morrow, for the time to come. Be not anxious for the
future, how you shall live next year, or when you are old, or what you shall
leave behind you. As we must not boastof tomorrow, so we must not care for
to-morrow, or the events of it. God has given us life, and has given us the
body. And what canhe not do for us, who did that? If we take care about our
souls and for eternity, which are more than the body and its life, we may leave
it to God to provide for us food and raiment, which are less. Improve this as
an encouragementto trust in God. We must reconcile ourselves to our worldly
estate, as we do to our stature. We cannot alter the disposals of Providence,
therefore we must submit and resign ourselves to them. Thoughtfulness for
our souls is the best cure of thoughtfulness for the world. Seek firstthe
kingdom of God, and make religion your business:say not that this is the way
to starve; no, it is the way to be well provided for, even in this world. The
conclusionof the whole matter is, that it is the will and command of the Lord
Jesus, that by daily prayers we may get strength to bear us up under our daily
troubles, and to arm us againstthe temptations that attend them, and then let

none of these things move us. Happy are those who take the Lord for their
God, and make full proof of it by trusting themselves wholly to his wise
disposal. Let thy Spirit convince us of sin in the want of this disposition, and
take awaythe worldliness of our hearts.
Barnes'Notes on the Bible
Behold the fowls of the air - The secondargument for confidence in the
providence of God is derived from a beautiful reference to the fowls or
featheredtribes. See, said the Saviour, see the fowls of the air: they have no
anxiety about the supply of their wants;they do not sow or reap; they fill the
grove with music, and meet the coming light of the morning with their songs,
and pour their notes on the zephyrs of the evening, unanxious about the
supply of their needs;yet how few die with hunger! How regularly are they
fed from the hand of God! How he ministers to their unnumbered wants! How
cheerfully and regularly are their necessitiessupplied! You, said the Saviour
to his disciples, you are of more consequence thanthey are; and shall God
feed them in such numbers, and suffer you to want? It cannotbe. Put
confidence, then, in that Universal Parentthat feeds all the fowls of the air,
and do not fear but that he will also supply your needs.
Betterthan they - Of more consequence. Your lives are of more importance
than theirs, and God will therefore provide for them.
Jamieson-Fausset-BrownBible Commentary
26. Behold the fowls of the air—in Mt 6:28, "observe well," and in Lu 12:24,
"consider"—soas to learn wisdom from them.
for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gatherinto barns; yet your
heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?—noblerin
yourselves and dearer to God. The argument here is from the greaterto the
less;but how rich in detail! The brute creation—voidof reason—are
incapable of sowing, reaping, and storing: yet your heavenly Father suffers
them not helplesslyto perish, but sustains them without any of those
processes.Will He see, then, His own children using all the means which

reasondictates for procuring the things needful for the body—looking up to
Himself at every step—and yet leave them to starve?
Matthew Poole's Commentary
God takes care ofall his creatures. Forexample, consider
the fowls, and those not the tame fowls about your houses, but the fowls of the
air, for whom the housewife’s hand doth not provide, neither hath God fitted
them for any labour by which they canprocure their livelihood, nor doth he
require any such thing of them, nor do they labour; yet their Creator(who is
your heavenly Father) feedeth them. You have much more reasonto trust in
God, if you could not labour, being hindered by his providence, for you are
more excellentbeings than sensitive creatures, and you have a further relation
to God than that of creatures to the Creator, for God is your heavenly Father;
you are in the order of nature, and especiallyconsidering that God is your
Father, much better than they.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
Behold the fowls of the air,.... Not such as are brought up in houses, but which
fly abroad in the air, wild; and are not supported by their own, or any human
care, but by the care of God: Luke 12:24 particularly mentions the "ravens",
referring probably to Psalm147:9, and because they are very voracious
creatures:and there it is said, "considerthe ravens";look attentively upon
them, and with observation,
for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gatherinto barns. This is not said,
that men should not sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns: but to reprove their
diffidence and unbelief: who, though they have the opportunity of sowing,
reaping, and gathering in, year by year, yet distrust the providence of God;
when the fowls of the air do none of these,

yet your heavenly Fatherfeedeth them; see Psalm145:15. The Jews
acknowledge this, that the leastand meanestof creatures are fed by God.
"Marsays (c), the holy blessedGodsits "and feeds", i.e. all creatures, and
takes care ofthem.''
Are ye not much better than they? Do not you differ from them? are ye not
much more excellent than they? And if God feeds and provides for inferior
creatures, suchas are very mean and contemptible, how much more will he
not provide for you? There is a passagein the Talmud, which has great
affinity to this of Christ's, and appears to have in it pretty much of the like
kind of reasoning. In the Misna (d) it is said, that R. Simeonben Eleazer
should say,
"Did you ever see a beast, or a fowl, that had a trade? but they are fed without
trouble.''
In the Gemara (e) is added,
"Did you ever see a lion bearing burdens, an hart gathering summer fruits, a
fox a money changer, or a wolf selling pots? And yet , "they are nourished
without labour", and wherefore are they created? To serve me, and I am
createdto serve my Maker:and lo! these things have in them an argument,
"from the less to the greater";for if these, which are createdto serve me after
this manner, are supported without trouble; I, who am createdto serve my
Maker, is it not fit that I should be supplied without trouble? And what is the
reasonthat I am sustainedwith trouble? My sins.''
(c) T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 107. 2. Avoda Zara, fol. 3. 2. (d) Kiddushin, c. 4. sect.
14. (e) T. Hieros. Kiddushin, fol. 66. 2. Vid. T. Bab. Kiddushin, fol. 82. 1, 2.
Geneva Study Bible
Behold the fowls of the {k} air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor
gather into barns; yet your heavenly Fatherfeedeth them. Are ye not much
better than they?
(k) Of the air, or that line in the air: in almost all languages the word heaven
is takenfor the air.

EXEGETICAL(ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)
Meyer's NT Commentary
Matthew 6:26. Τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ] ‫ֹוע‬‫ף‬ ‫הֹו‬ ַ‫ש‬ ‫מֹו‬ ‫,םַי‬ the birds that fly in the air,
in this wide, free height, are entirely resigned!Genitive of locality, as in
Matthew 6:28. This is manifest (in answerto Fritzsche: towards the heavens)
from the juxtaposition of the words in Genesis 1:25;Genesis 2:19;Psalm8:9;
Psalm104:12;comp. Hom. Il. 17. p. 675:ὑπουρανίων πετεηνῶν. On the saying
itself, comp. Kiddushin, s. fin.: “Vidistine unquam bruta aut volatilia, quibus
essetaliqua officina? et tamen illa nutriuntur absque anxietate.”
ὅτι] equivalent to εἰς ἐκεῖνο ὅτι, John 2:18; John 9:17; John 11:51;John 16:9;
2 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 11:10. To this belongs all that follows as far
as αὐτά.
μᾶλλ. διαφέρετε αὐτῶν]This μᾶλλον (magis) only strengthens the
comparative force of διαφέρειντινος (to be superior to any one). Comp. on
Php 1:23, and the μᾶλλονthat frequently accompanies προαιρεῖσθαι.
Expositor's Greek Testament
Matthew 6:26. ἐμβλέψατε εἰς, fix your eyes on, so as to take a goodlook at
(Mark 10:21;Mark 14:67).—τὰ πετεινὰ τ. ου., the birds whose elementis the
air; look, not to admire their free, careless movements on the wing, but to note
a very relevant fact—ὅτι, that without toil they gettheir foodand live.—
σπείρουσιν, θερίζουσιν, συνάγουσι ε. ἀ.: the usual operations of the
husbandman in producing the staff of life. In these the birds have no part, yet
your Father feedeththem. The carewornmight reply to this: yes; they feed
themselves at the farmer’s expense, an additional source of anxiety to him.
And the cynic unbeliever in Providence:yes, in summer; but how many perish
in winter through want and cold! Jesus, greatestofall optimists, though no
shallow or ignorant one, quietly adds: οὐχ ὑμεῖς μᾶλλονδιαφέρετε αὐτῶν: do

not ye differ considerably from them? They fare, on the whole, well, God’s
humble creatures. Why should you fear, men, God’s children?
Cambridge Bible for Schools andColleges
26. fowls]Old English for birds; cp.
“Smale fowles makenmelodie
That slepen all the night with open yhe.” Chaucer.
There is no argument here againstforethought or labour. In one sense
“trusting to providence” is idleness and a sin. God has appointed labour as the
means whereby man provides for his wants. Even birds shew forethought, and
searchfor the food which God has provided for them.
Bengel's Gnomen
Matthew 6:26. Οὐδὲ συνάγουσιν, neither do they collect)as for example by
purchase, for the future.[286]—ὙΜῶΝ, your) He says your, not their.—
μᾶλλον, more) i.e. you more excelas sons of God, than other men do, or than
you who indulge in such care (anxiety) consider. The word μᾶλλον, therefore,
is not redundant. In this verse, the argument is from the less to the greater;in
Matthew 6:25, from the greaterto the less.
[286]“Into barns:” or even into other repositories of food, as we may see
instancedin other animals—V. g.
Pulpit Commentary
Verse 26. - Parallelpassage:Luke 12:24. The less generalterm, "ravens"
(even though these are "ofall the birds of Jerusalemdecidedly the most
characteristic andconspicuous," Tristram, 'Land of Israel,'p. 187), and the

change of constructionapparent in "which have no store-chambernor barn,"
point to St. Luke having preserved the more original form of the saying. So
also does the presence in Matthew of the Mattheanphrase "heavenly." On the
other hand, Matthew's "consider" (ver. 28, vide next note) is perhaps more
original. Behold(ἐμβλέψατε). Look on, use your natural eyes. In ver. 28
"consider" (καταμάθετε), learnthoroughly. Our Lord, in the present verse,
bids us use the powers we possess;in ver. 28 he bids us learn the lessons that
we can find round us. Luke has in both places the vaguerterm κατανοήσατε,
"fix your mind on." The fowls of the air; RevisedVersion, the birds of the
heaven (so Matthew 8:20; Matthew 13:32);a Hebraism. Forthe thought, cf.
Job 38:41;Psalm 147:9;cf. also Mishna, 'Kidd.,' 4:14, "Rabbi Simeonben
Eliezer used to say, Hast thou ever seenbeastor bird that had a trade? Yet
are they fed without anxiety." For; that (RevisedVersion); what you will see if
you will look. They sow not, etc. They carry out as regards their foodnolle of
those operations which imply forethought in the pastor for the future. Yet;
and (RevisedVersion). Also what you will see. Your heavenly Father
(Matthew 5:16, note). Are ye not much better than they? of much more value
(RevisedVersion). The thought is of value in God's eyes (cf. Matthew 10:31;
Matthew 12:12), as men and as his children, not of any superiority in moral
attainment.
CALVIN
26. Look at the fowls of the air This is the remedy I spoke of, for teaching us
to rely on the providence of God: for of all cares, which go beyond bounds,
unbelief is the mother. The only cure for covetousnessis to embrace the
promises of God, by which he assures us that he will take care of us. In the
same manner, the Apostle, wishing to withdraw believers from covetousness,
confirms that doctrine: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake
thee, (Hebrews 13:5.) The substance ofthe exhortation is, that we ought to
trust in God, by whom none of his ownpeople, howevermean their condition
may be, are disregarded.

Your heavenly Father feedeth them This deserves carefulattention: for,
though we are unable to explain the manner in which their life is supported,
which of us is in the habit of considering that their life depends on the
providence of God, which he is pleasedto extend even to them? But if it is
thoroughly fixed in our minds, that the fowls are supplied with food by the
hand of God, there will be no difficulty in expecting it for ourselves, who are
formed after his image, and reckonedamong his children. They neither sow
nor reap By these words it is far from being our Lord's intention to encourage
us to indolence and sluggishness. All that he means is, that, though other
means fail, the providence of God is alone sufficient for us, for it supplies the
animals abundantly with every thing that they need.
Instead of fowls, (ta peteina,) Luke uses the word ravens, (tous korakas,)
alluding perhaps to that passagein the Psalms, who giveth foodto the young
ravens that call upon him, (Psalm67:9.) Some think that David expressly
mentioned the ravens, because theyare immediately desertedby their
parents, [459]and therefore must have their food brought to them by God.
Hence it is evident, that Christ intended nothing more than to teachhis people
to throw all their cares on God.
PULPIT COMMENTARY
Matthew 6:26
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather
into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeththem. Are ye not much better
than they?
Verse 26. - Parallelpassage:Luke 12:24. The less generalterm, "ravens"
(even though these are "ofall the birds of Jerusalemdecidedly the most
characteristic andconspicuous," Tristram, 'Land of Israel,'p. 187), and the
change of constructionapparent in "which have no store-chambernor barn,"

point to St. Luke having preserved the more original form of the saying. So
also does the presence in Matthew of the Mattheanphrase "heavenly." On the
other hand, Matthew's "consider" (ver. 28, vide next note) is perhaps more
original. Behold(ἐμβλέψατε). Look on, use your natural eyes. In ver. 28
"consider" (καταμάθετε), learnthoroughly. Our Lord, in the present verse,
bids us use the powers we possess;in ver. 28 he bids us learn the lessons that
we can find round us. Luke has in both places the vaguerterm κατανοήσατε,
"fix your mind on." The fowls of the air; RevisedVersion, the birds of the
heaven (so Matthew 8:20; Matthew 13:32);a Hebraism. Forthe thought, cf.
Job 38:41;Psalm 147:9;cf. also Mishna, 'Kidd.,' 4:14, "Rabbi Simeonben
Eliezer used to say, Hast thou ever seenbeastor bird that had a trade? Yet
are they fed without anxiety." For; that (RevisedVersion); what you will see if
you will look. They sow not, etc. They carry out as regards their foodnolle of
those operations which imply forethought in the pastor for the future. Yet;
and (RevisedVersion). Also what you will see. Your heavenly Father
(Matthew 5:16, note). Are ye not much better than they? of much more value
(RevisedVersion). The thought is of value in God's eyes (cf. Matthew 10:31;
Matthew 12:12), as men and as his children, not of any superiority in moral
attainment.
BARNES
Matthew 6:26
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather
into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeththem. Are ye not much better
than they?
Behold the fowls of the air - The secondargument for confidence in the
providence of God is derived from a beautiful reference to the fowls or
featheredtribes. See, said the Saviour, see the fowls of the air: they have no
anxiety about the supply of their wants;they do not sow or reap; they fill the

grove with music, and meet the coming light of the morning with their songs,
and pour their notes on the zephyrs of the evening, unanxious about the
supply of their needs;yet how few die with hunger! How regularly are they
fed from the hand of God! How he ministers to their unnumbered wants! How
cheerfully and regularly are their necessitiessupplied! You, said the Saviour
to his disciples, you are of more consequence thanthey are; and shall God
feed them in such numbers, and suffer you to want? It cannotbe. Put
confidence, then, in that Universal Parentthat feeds all the fowls of the air,
and do not fear but that he will also supply your needs.
Betterthan they - Of more consequence. Your lives are of more importance
than theirs, and God will therefore provide for them.
END OF BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
WILLIAM A. QUAYLE
JESUS AND THE BIRDS
AND to offer a sacrifice according to
that which is said in the law of
the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or
two young pigeons."
"Behold, I send you forth as sheepin the

midst of wolves : be ye therefore wise as ser
pents, and harmless as doves."
"And it came to pass that, as they went
in the way, a certain man said unto him,
Lord, I will follow thee whithersoeverthou
goest. And Jesus saidunto him, Foxes have
holes, and birds of the air have nests;but
the Sonof man. hath not where to lay his
head."
"If a sonshall ask bread of any of you
that is a father, will he give him a stone?
or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him
a serpent? or if he shall ask an egg, will he
offer him a scorpion?"
19
"Are not five sparrows sold for two far
things, and not one of them is forgottenbe
fore God?"
"And he saidunto them, Wheresoeverthe
body is, thither will the eagles be gathered
together."
"Considerthe ravens : for they neither
sow nor reap: which neither have store

house nor barn; and God feedeth them: how
much more are ye better than the fowls?"
"And Petersaid, Man, I know not what
19
20 OUT-OF-DOOES WITHJESUS
thou sayest. And immediately, while he
yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord
20
turned, and lookedupon Peter. And Peter
remembered the word of the Lord, how he
had said unto him, Before the cock crow,
thou shalt deny me thrice."
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that kill
estthe prophets, and stonestthem which are
sent unto thee, how often would I have gath
ered thy children togethereven as a hen
gatherethher chickens under her wings, and
ye would not."
"The Spirit of God descending like a dove
and lighting upon him."
ACROSS the sky of Jesus birds continually
make their fascinating flight. He had watched
the eaglesonmajestic wing in effortless motion.

He had seenthe pigeons in companies gyrating
in happy love of wings and sky. He had seenthe
homeward flight of ravens, who watchedin the
skies and knew when day was nearing night.
One can see far from Nazareth. From Naz
21
areth to the GreatSea was unimpeded vision.
On days of crystalline atmosphere the blue of
the sea was visible as it and the blue sky met and
kissed. In that wide Esdraelonplain and sky
birds were visible very far away. Jesus watched
them as boys have since boys were, only watched
them more intently, for he watchedthem as no
body ever did. The Makerof birds might well
be delighted in their happy, hurrying flight and
in their bickering or singing ways.
JESUS AND THE BIRDS 21
Birds are a singular loveliness and laughter.
Their flight is laughter. Their song is their
laughter. Their nest-building is laughter.
When birds build nests they sing. When they
do not they are usually songless.If ever a
daintier thing was thought of by the thoughtful

God than the bird's head, tuckedunder his wing
for sleep, I know not what it is, except a babe
cuddling to its mother's breast. These are two
22
inexpressible lovelinesses.Were winter ten
months long, it were wellworth waiting through
just to see the migratory birds return, to hear
their prodigal delight of song, when they fairly
sing themselves silent in their immense hilarity
of heart. What can exceedthe rhythm and
poetry of the swallows'ecstatic motion, living
in the skyand seemingly never tired though in
such endless ebb and flow of wing. I could
watchthem for a thousand years. I do watch
them with no intermission of delight, as they
sail on through the blue seas ofthe sky. How
much more He? They are bread-winners in their
flight, but are at the same time artists of dream,
and haunt man in their ever-varying, never-wav
ering wingings.
Those who are wise enough to observe birds
and bird ways, bird comings and goings, never
tire in their observation. When and how they

build their nests, when they lift their gladness
in song, when they thrust their brood into the
sky to try their wings, when they grow mute in
23
22 OUT-OF-DOORS WITHJESUS
the fall time, and when they gatherin clouds to
bear themselves south, how they flock and fly
in aerial battalions in the sky (as black birds
do) and practice flight, and maneuver in such
wise as to astonishall but themselves ! So they
leave their nests, erstwhile homes of life and
hunger and growthand feathering and dim long
ing for the skyand the strife of wings, and
leave them desolatedof the shadow of a mother
ing wing, with stray leaves nesting there, and
finally a flock of vagrant snowflakesnestling
there. And when the lastvoice is silenced, and
the lastnest desolate, and the last sweetnote
has died, how lonesome is the sky and how pa
thetic the wind with scarcelyevera bird song in
it ! And how mournful is the sky where the mar
tins spilled their love note in the spring, and
wandered all the summer hours in tireless jour

neyings! And when the meadow larks grown
silent long ago do not shine now with the stars
24
of their yellow breasts, so that our lowersky may
mistake them for sunlight, their melody fades
away, and hushes to the end that we might have
an expectationof their return to make our spirits
glad.
The same Christ who bade us considerthe
wild flowers, bade us considerthe ravens. There
is theme for endless considerationin any flower
or in any bird. We can observe what birds do,
but we never get any nearertheir secret. They
humble me to the dust. Man gets no nearer the
bird than to picture it, hear its song, study its
nest, and make notes on its coming and going.
He counts the eggs, but has no scintilla of knowl
edge of how an egg to which no chemist analysis
can give any clue, will hatch, feather for feather,
hue for hue, note for note in song. Every bird
is a mystery so clouded as to remain impenetra
25

ble as the depths of the sea. Everybird is a re
morseless humiliation to man's pride of penetra
tion into the secrets ofanything; and the bird's
nests are flowers in song and are part of the
prodigal delight of the world.
In the story of Jesus turtledoves and pigeons
find their place. These constitutedthe offering of
such as were positively poor, and are conse
quently a faint but serene light to hold in the
hand when our eyes turn to the nativity of Jesus.
Mary was undeniably poor that poor, so as to
remind us of the sacredsaying, "Thoughhe was
rich, yet for our sakes he became poor." He de
scendedfrom the highestheaven to the foot of
the ladder to be born among cattle and to have
the offering of the poorestmade to celebrate his
advent. That saying does give a hint very tender
and very glad and very beautiful. Jesus came
down where we live. The doves made mention
of his condescensionin sacrificialterms no
stormy ages canevermuffle to silence. I can
scarcelysee a pigeonin the steeples orcircling in
the skyor on the ground without grateful recol

26
lection and reverence of my Lord. They have
24 OUT-OF-DOORS WITHJESUS
their part in the most beautiful story ever told
in the world.
"Birds of the air," your Masternoticedyou
as he gave you wings for flight and voice for
song, and spread your table for you.
"Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings?"
He noticed the humblest plebeian bird, and said
over it the weightiestwords concerning provi
dence ever uttered. The lowliestbecame the
annunciator of the lordliest. All creationis
under the canopy of divine love and care.
"... I cannot drift
Beyond his love and care."
Quaint Whittier saw that. And he saw it as
27
Jesus saidit, touching the sparrows. "The
ravens." The birds have a Father. He giveth
them their daily bread. At earliestdaydawn and
at latestgloaming the birds sing their praise
to God. There is no other explanation of the

freshet of song that the birds pour on the day
break of the sky and on the gloaming shadow.
They praise their Fatherwhich is in heaven.
And to hear them is a call to prayer.
"The rooks are blown about the sky," as Ten
nyson saw them, and when, after a day spent in
foreign fields, the ravens make their homeward
flight to their rookerywith hushed voices some
times, or when they brawl in summer greenery
or in winter's nakedloneliness, we do well to
considerthem. He pointed these out to us
and we will. This raven has passedHis lips and
so cannot be ignored or forgotten. They remind
28
us perpetually of Him, as he reminds ns per
petually of them. His providence is a sole shel
ter and provision for us all.
And even the chickens, their daily household
voices and belongings, are knitted into the story
of redemption. Write it down on the heart. It
rains with tenderness like a summer evening
cloud "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, . . . how

often would I have gatheredthy children to
getheras a hen doth gather her brood under her
wings, and ye would not." Hush. Let our hearts
weep. Ye feathered creatures ofthe skyand
ground doubtless are setgreatstore by of God,
for Jesus paid heed to you.
And the dove which has dethroned the eagle
has become the bird of God. And "he saw the
heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove de
scending upon him." Sing to the dawn, ye birds ;
and sing all the day, for Jesus has paid heed to
your chiming with smiling eyes unforgettably.
The crowing cock whose clarionis a part of
29
the kindly music of the fields, is set into the pas
sion of God. The old-time churches summitted
them with a cock to remind us of our sin Peter's
sin and ours, and Peter's forgiveness.It is a re
minder of our frailty and God's tenderness,
which is as unfathomed as the morning light.

PRECEPTAUSTIN RESOURCES
BRUCEHURT MD
Matthew 6:26 "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor
gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Fatherfeeds them. Are you not
worth much more than they? (NASB: Lockman)
Greek:emblepsate (2PAAM) eis ta peteina tou ouranou hoti ou speirousin
(3PPAI) oude therizousin (3PPAI) oude sunagousin(3PPAI) eis apothekas,
kai o pater humon o ouranios trephei (3PPAI) auta; ouch umeis mallon
diapherete (3PPAI) auton?
Amplified: Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they
reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you
not worth much more than they? (Amplified Bible - Lockman)
KJV: Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor
gather into barns; yet your heavenly Fatherfeedeth them. Are ye not much
better than they? (NLT - Tyndale House)
Philips: Look at the birds in the sky. They never sow nor reap nor store away
in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you much more
valuable to him than they are? (New Testamentin Modern English)
Wuest: Considerthe birds of the heaven. They are not sowing seed, nor
reaping, nor even are they collecting into granaries. And yet your heavenly
Father is feeding them. As for you, do you not surpass them?
Young's Literal: look to the fowls of the heaven, for they do not sow, nor reap,
nor gatherinto storehouses, andyour heavenly Fatherdoth nourish them; are
not ye much better than they?

Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gatherinto
barns: emblepsate (2PAAM) eis ta peteina tou ouranou hoti ou speirousin
(3PPAI) oude therizousin (3PPAI) oude sunagousin(3PPAI) eis apothekas
Mt 10:29-31;Genesis 1:29, 30, 31;Job 35:11;38:41; Psalms 104:11,12,27,28;
Psalms 145:15,16;147:9;Luke 12:6,7,24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
Matthew 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries
Matthew 6:25-34 Overcoming Materialism- Study Guide- John MacArthur
Matthew 6:25-34 Overcoming Materialism- John MacArthur
Matthew 6:25-30a:Overcoming FinancialWorry 1 - Study Guide- John
MacArthur
Matthew 6:25-30a:Overcoming FinancialWorry 1- John MacArthur
Matthew 6:25-30a:Overcoming FinancialStress-John MacArthur
Matthew 6:25-34:Overcoming Financial Worry 2 - Study Guide- John
MacArthur
Matthew 6:25-34:Overcoming Financial Worry 2- John MacArthur
Spurgeoncomments that with these words "Our Saviorintended faith to be
our quietus concerning daily cares, or He would not have (spokenMatthew
6:25-26)."
C H Spurgeon - The birds are fed by God; will he not feed us? They are free
from the fret which comes ofhoarding and trading; why should not we be? If
God feeds the fowls of the air without sowing, or reaping, or storing, surely he
will supply us when we trustfully use these means. Forus to rely upon these
means and forget our God would be folly indeed. Our King would have his
subjects give their hearts to his love and service, and not worry themselves
with groveling anxieties. It is well for us that we have these daily wants,
because they lead us to our heavenly Father; but if we grow anxious, they are
turned from their designand made into barriers to shut us out from the Lord.
Oh, that we would be as goodas the birds in trustfulness, since in dignity of
nature we are so “much better than they ”! (Commentary)

Look (1689)(emblepo from en = in or on + blépo = to look)means to look in
the face, fix the eyes upon and so to stare at. It includes the idea of to
contemplate or consider. The aoristimperative is a command calling for one
to "look now", "look effectively", andcan even conveya sense of urgency.
One of the most dramatic NT uses is when "The Lord turned and lookedat
Peter" (Lk 22:61) after he had denied Him three times!
Friberg - literally, as an attentive looking on someone orsomething fix one's
gaze (earnestly) on, look at attentively (Lk 22.61);absolutely see clearly( Mk
8.25);be able to see (Acts 22.11);figuratively, as giving careful attention
consider, think about (Mt 6.26)
Gilbrant - It usually signifies a look of love, concern, or interest, as in the
accountof the rich young ruler (Mark 10:21). It can mean “to fix one’s gaze
upon” or “look atintently” as when the servantgirl lookedat Peter(Luke
22:56), or when Jesus lookeddirectly at the crowd after telling a parable
(Luke 20:17). Jesus turned and lookeddirectly (emblepō) at Peter after
Peter’s third denial (Luke 22:61). Emblepō also has a figurative meaning of
“to look at” in a spiritual sense, or “to consider” (Matthew 6:26; John 1:36).
There is also the possibility that emblepō can mean “able to see.” Acts 22:11
says Paul was unable to see afterhe was exposedto the light on the road to
Damascus. Emblepō is used to describe the sight of the formerly blind man
after Jesus healedhim (Mark 8:25).
Gilbrant - In classicalGreekemblepō is not used extensively but means “to
look in the face” or“to look at someone,”in the eyes, for example (Plato
Republic 10.608D). Emblepō can mean “to look into” in the sense of “to
investigate.” The Septuagintuses emblepō to translate three Hebrew words:
nāvaṯ, “to look, to behold, to consider” (Genesis 15:5);pānâh, “to turn
toward, consider” (Psalm40:4 [LXX 39:4]); and rā’âh, “to look at, consider”
(1 Samuel 16:7).
Emblepo - 10x in 10v - look(1), looked(5), looking(3), see(1).
Matthew 6:26 "Look atthe birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap
nor gatherinto barns, and yet your heavenly Fatherfeeds them. Are you not
worth much more than they?

Matthew 19:26 And looking at them Jesus saidto them, "With people this is
impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Mark 10:21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, "One
thing you lack:go and sell all you possessandgive to the poor, and you will
have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
Mark 10:27 Looking at them, Jesus said, "With people it is impossible, but
not with God; for all things are possible with God."
Mark 14:67 and seeing Peterwarming himself, she lookedat him and said,
"You also were with Jesus the Nazarene."
Luke 20:17 But Jesus lookedatthem and said, "What then is this that is
written: 'THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS
BECAME THE CHIEF CORNERstone'?
Luke 22:61 The Lord turned and lookedat Peter. And Peterremembered the
word of the Lord, how He had told him, "Before a roostercrows today, you
will deny Me three times."
John 1:36 and he lookedat Jesus as He walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb
of God!"
John 1:42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus lookedathim and said, "You are
Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas " (which is translated
Peter).
Acts 22:11 "But since I could not see because ofthe brightness of that light, I
was led by the hand by those who were with me and came into Damascus.
Emblepo - 15x in 15v -
1 Sam. 16:7; 1 Ki. 8:8; Ps. 39:5; Job2:10; Isa. 5:12; Isa. 5:30; Isa. 8:22; Isa.
17:7; Isa. 22:8; Isa. 22:11;Isa. 51:1; Isa. 51:2; Isa. 51:6
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at (Lxx = epiblepo) his
appearance orat the height of his stature, because Ihave rejectedhim; for
God sees notas man sees,for man looks (Lxx = emblepo) at the outward
appearance, but the LORD looks atthe heart.”

Birds (4071)(peteinon) is a flying animal or fowl.
Not (3761)(oude from ou = not + dé = but) describes absolute negation.
Sow (4687)(speiro)means to scatterseed. Sowing, usuallyaccomplishedby
broadcasting seed, whichcould precede or follow plowing. Fields or individual
plants were fertilized with dung and the rain and sun brought different crops
to maturity at different times. Following the winter rains and the ‘latter’ rains
of March-April, barley was ready to be harvested in April and May, and
wheatmatured three or four weeks later.
Very few birds make a living from farming. You hardly ever see a red robin
planting some corn. God feeds the birds. And aren't you worth more than the
birds to God?
Said the robin to the sparrow:
“I should really like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so.”
Said the sparrow to the robin:
“Friend, I think that it must be
That they have no heavenly Father,
Such as cares for you and me.”
Reap(2325)(therizo from théros = summer, harvest time) means to cut ripe
grain and to gather bundles of such grain togetherand thus to harvest.
Gather (4863)(sunago from sún = with, together+ ágo = lead) means to lead
togetherand then to gather or collect.
Barns (596) (apotheke from apotíthemi = to put away)describes a place where
anything is laid up, such as a repositoryof arms or arsenal, a treasury or in
the presentcase a granary or storehouse.

Men can sow, reapand gather, but are still to be like a little bird, trusting in
God to take care of them.
J C Ryle says Jesus "sends us to the birds of the air for instruction. They
make no provision for the future: “they do not sow or reap or store away in
barns”; they do not store food for the future. They literally live from day to
day on what they can pick up by using the instinct God has put in them. They
ought to teachus that no one doing their duty in the position to which God has
calledhim, will everbe allowedto come to poverty. (Matthew 6:25-34
Expository Thoughts)
His Eye is on the Sparrow
by Civilla Martin
Why should I feeldiscouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constantfriend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Refrain
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;

Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
Refrain
Whenever I am tempted, wheneverclouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closerto Him, from care He sets me free;
Refrain
and yet your heavenly Fatherfeeds them. Are you not worth much more than
they: kai o pater humon o ouranios trephei (3PPAI) auta; ouch humeis mallon
diapherete (3PPAI) auton?
Mt 6:32; 7:9; Luke 12:32
Matthew 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries
Matthew 6:25-34 Overcoming Materialism- Study Guide- John MacArthur
Matthew 6:25-34 Overcoming Materialism- John MacArthur
Matthew 6:25-30a:Overcoming FinancialWorry 1 - Study Guide- John
MacArthur
Matthew 6:25-30a:Overcoming FinancialWorry 1- John MacArthur
Matthew 6:25-30a:Overcoming FinancialStress-John MacArthur
Matthew 6:25-34:Overcoming Financial Worry 2 - Study Guide- John
MacArthur

Matthew 6:25-34:Overcoming Financial Worry 2- John MacArthur
Much more - Jesus gives two a fortiori (“how much more”) examples—“look
at the birds” (Mt 6:26), “considerthe lilies” (Mt 6:28)—to show that, since
God cares evenfor the birds and the lilies, how much more will he care for his
own. To be anxious, then, demonstrates a lack of trust in God, who promises
that he will graciouslycare for “all these things” (Mt 6:33; cf. Ro 8:32). (ESV
Study Bible Crossway)
G Campbell Morgan...
Let us ponder His teaching, first about the birds.
He says in effect:These birds of the air neither sow nor reap nor gatherinto
barns, but your Fatherfeedeth them; you can sow and reap and gather,
therefore much more does your Fathercare for you. The Lord's argument
here is not that we are to ceaseour sowing and reaping and gathering, but
that if He takes care of those who cannotdo such things, much more will He
take care of those who can. These birds of the air are without rational
forethought. By comparisonwith men there can be no toiling, no sowing, no
reaping, no gathering. But JESUS says, GOD has given you the power of
rational forethought, and much more will He take care of you. It is not that we
are to neglectthe use of reason, orforethought, or preparation. It is not that
we are to worry - but that we are to take thought for the morrow without
anxiety, knowing that, as GOD cares forthe birds, He will more perfectly take
care of us. (Matthew 6:25-34 Commentary)
Believers know Godas their "heavenlyFather" and since He is our Father He
will take specialcare ofus. Why? We are the bearers of His Name, and if He
did not take care of His family, what would the unsaved pagans think about
Him as a Father? Would they ever be interestedin knowing about Him?
Spurgeonwrites that...
You know what Luther said the little bird said to him. He sat on the spray of
the tree and sang,
Mortal, cease from toil and sorrow

God provideth for tomorrow.
And it chirped and pickedup its little grain, and sang again. Yet it had no
granary. It had not a handful of wheat storedup any-where, but it kept on
with its chirping
Mortal, cease from toil and sorrow;
God provideth for tomorrow
---
A little London girl who had gone into the country once said, "Look, mamma,
at that poor little bird. It has no cage!"
That would not have struck me as being any loss to the bird. And if you and I
were without our cage, the box of seed, and the glass ofwater, it would not be
much of a loss if we were castadrift into the glorious liberty of a life of
humble dependence on God. It is that cage ofcarnal trust and that box of seed
we are always laboring to fill that make the worry of this mortal life. But he
who has grace to spread his wings and soarawayand get into the open field of
divine trustfulness may sing all the day, and ever have this for his tune:
Mortal, cease from toil and sorrow;
God provideth for tomorrow.
Matthew Henry offers some excellentadvice on how to deal with worry and
anxiety writing that...
One would think the command of Christ was enough to restrain us from this
foolish sin of disquieting, distrustful care, independently of the comfort of our
own souls, which is so nearly concerned;but to show how much the heart of
Christ is upon it, and what pleasures he takes in those that hope in his mercy,
the command is backedwith the most powerful arguments. If reasonmay but
rule us, surely we shall ease ourselvesofthese thorns. To free us from anxious
thoughts, and to expel them, Christ here suggests to us comforting thoughts,
that we may be filled with them. It will be worth while to take pains with our
own hearts, to argue them out of their disquieting cares, and to make

ourselves ashamedof them. They may be weakenedby right reason, but it is
by an active faith only that they canbe overcome. (Matthew 6) (Bolding
added)
Spurgeonhas the following devotional on "Your heavenly Father"...
God’s people are doubly his children, they are his offspring by creation, and
they are his sons by adoption in Christ. Hence they are privileged to callhim,
“Our Father which art in heaven.” Father!Oh, what precious word is that.
Here is authority: “If I be a Father, where is mine honour?” If ye be sons,
where is your obedience? Here is affectionmingled with authority; an
authority which does not provoke rebellion; an obedience demanded which is
most cheerfully rendered—whichwould not be withheld even if it might. The
obedience which God’s children yield to him must be loving obedience. Do not
go about the service of God as slaves to their taskmaster’s toil, but run in the
way of his commands because it is your Father’s way. Yield your bodies as
instruments of righteousness, becauserighteousnessis your Father’s will, and
his will should be the will of his child. Father!—Here is a kingly attribute so
sweetlyveiled in love, that the King’s crownis forgotten in the King’s face,
and his sceptre becomes, nota rod of iron, but a silver sceptre of mercy—the
sceptre indeed seems to be forgotten in the tender hand of him who wields it.
Father!—Here is honour and love. How greatis a Father’s love to his
children! That which friendship cannot do, and mere benevolence will not
attempt, a father’s heart and hand must do for his sons. They are his
offspring, he must bless them; they are his children, he must show himself
strong in their defence. If an earthly father watches overhis children with
unceasing love and care, how much more does our heavenly Father? Abba,
Father! He who can saythis, hath uttered better music than cherubim or
seraphim can reach. There is heaven in the depth of that word—Father!
There is all I can ask;all my necessitiescandemand; all my wishes candesire.
I have all in all to all eternity when I cansay, “Father.” (Spurgeon, C. H.
Morning and evening : Daily readings. January 26 AM)
This Is My Father’s World
This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears

All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.
Feeds (5142)(trepho) means to nourish, feed or nurture.
If we worry constantly about having these essentials, we show that we have
not yet learned the basic lessonnature teaches thatGod provides for His
creatures’needs. Have you ever seena bird try to build more nests than its
neighbor. No fox ever worried because he had only one hole in which to live
and hide. No squirrel has ever been overcome by anxiety that he did not have
enough nuts storedfor two winters instead of only for one.
Birds work, hunting for the worms, etc God provides and then bring it back
to their baby birds, but they don’t worry.
ForgetWorry - Perhaps you've participated in an experiment where you were
given a phrase like "red car" and then were askedto put it out of your mind.
But the harder you tried, the more the "red car" dominated your thoughts.
This kind of exercise shows thatwe cannever forgetsomething by
concentrating on it.
Anxious thoughts, our natural response to the cares of life, are like that. Many
of us spend sleeplessnights trying to solve complex problems, and all we
accomplishis fixing them more firmly in our minds.
The Bible says that insteadof being weigheddown by our concerns, we should
give them to God. The apostle Peterput it this way: "[Cast]all your care upon
Him, for He cares foryou" (1 Peter5:7). And in Philippians 4:6, the apostle
Paul gave similar instruction.
Jesus told His disciples not to worry about the necessitiesoflife, because
"your heavenly Fatherknows that you need all these things" (Matthew 6:32).

The way to forgetour worries is to concentrate onthe goodness andloving
care of God, not on the problems that plague us. Then we cansay with the
psalmist, "In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight
my soul" (Psalm94:19). —David C. McCasland
When we give all our cares to God,
Our worries will depart;
He gives to us a peace of mind
That calms our anxious heart. —Sper
The more you think about God's goodness,
the less you'll think about your worries.
WORRY:
WHAT IS IT?
Worry...
...gives a small thing a big shadow
...is the interest we pay on tomorrow's troubles.
...overtomorrow pulls shadows overtoday's sunshine.
...is like a rocking chair; it will give you something to do, but it won't get you
anywhere.
...is an indication that we think God cannotlook after us. (O. Chambers)
...is putting question marks where God has put periods. (J R Rice)
...is the interest we pay on tomorrow’s troubles. (E S Jones)
is an intrusion into God's providence. (J Haggai)
...is a guestadmitted which quickly turns to be master.

... never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its strength (A J
Cronin)
... is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble (G W Lyon)
...is practicalatheism and an affront to God (R. H. Mounce)
Worry is wrong and is in essencesin. Worry is unnecessary(cp "the birds").
Worry is useless (it cannotadd an hour to your life or an inch to your height).
Worry is blind (to the lessons taughtby God's providential care of the birds
and flowers). Worry is at its very core being, a failure to trust God.
When worry is present, trust cannot crowd its way in. (Billy Graham)
Only one type of worry is correct:to worry because you worry too much.
(JewishProverb)
Worms eatyou when you’re dead; worries eatyou when you’re alive. (Jewish
Proverb)
Happy is the man who is too busy to worry by day, and too sleepyto worry at
night.
To carry care to bed is to sleepwith a pack on your back. (T C Halliburton)
Don’t tell me that worry doesn’tdo any good. I know better. The things I
worry about don’t happen. (Anon)
Worry is a species ofmyopia—nearsightedness. (E. StanleyJones)
If we bring into one day’s thoughts the evil of many, certain and uncertain,
what will be and what will never be, our load will be as intolerable as it is
unreasonable. (JeremyTaylor)
So shakenas we are, so wan with care. (William Shakespeare)
MichaelGreenrecords the following story from the life of the fourteenth-
century German Johann Tauler, which aptly demonstrates something of the
attitude Jesus is calling His disciples to maintain...
One day Taulermet a beggar. ‘Godgive you a goodday, my friend,’ he said.

The beggaranswered, ‘I thank God I never had a bad one.’
Then Tauler said, ‘God give you a happy life, my friend.’
‘I thank God’, said the beggar, ‘that I am never unhappy.’
In amazement Tauler asked, ‘Whatdo you mean?’
‘Well,’ said the beggar, ‘whenit is fine I thank God. When it rains I thank
God. When I have plenty I thank God. When I am hungry I thank God. And,
since God’s will is my will, and whateverpleases him pleases me, why should I
say I am unhappy when I am not?’
Tauler lookedatthe man in astonishment. ‘Who are you?’ he asked.
‘I am a king,’ saidthe beggar.
‘Where, then, is your kingdom?’ askedTauler.
The beggarreplied quietly, ‘In my heart.’ (Ed: Case closedonthe need to
worry!)
E. E. Wordsworthwrote that...
There is a little motto that hangs on the wall in my home that againand again
has rebuked me: "Why worry when you can pray?" We have often been
reminded of the words of the Psalmist, "Fretnot thyself because ofevildoers,
neither be thou envious against the workers ofiniquity" (Ps. 37:1 - see
Spurgeon's note). Mr. Wesleyused to say that he would just as soonswearas
to worry. Worrying is evidence of a serious lack of trust in God and His
unfailing promises. Worry saddens, blights, destroys, kills. It depletes one's
energies, devitalizes the physical man, and enervates the whole spiritual
nature. It greatly reduces the spiritual stature and impoverishes the whole
spirit.
Warren Wiersbe -All of nature depends on God, and God never fails. Only
mortal man depends on money, and money always fails. (Bible Exposition
Commentary. 1989. Victor)

Worth more (1308)(diaphero from dia = transition or separation+ phéro =
carry, bear) means literally to carry or bear through, then to be different
from someone or something and finally to be of considerable value in view of
having certaindistinctive characteristics.
There’s not a bird with lonely nest,
In pathless wood or mountain crest,
Nor meaner thing, which does not share,
O God, in Thy paternal care.
Do you believe that you are worth much more than the birds to God? If so it
would not be surprising that you might have difficulty trusting God.
Remember God still loves us when we fail. We could never earn His love. We
could never make Him stop loving us. Regardlessof your past or your present,
if you are a child of God, you are worth much more than the birds, which are
creatures of Godbut not children.
Max Lucado has the following devotional on Mt 6:26...
Considerthe earth! Our globe’s weighthas been estimated at six sextillion
tons (a six with twenty-one zeroes). Yet it is preciselytilted at twenty-three
degrees;any more or any less and our seasonswouldbe lostin a melted polar
flood. Though our globe revolves at the rate of one-thousand miles per hour
or twenty-five thousand miles per day or nine million miles per year, none of
us tumbles into orbit.…As you stand … observing God’s workshop, letme
pose a few questions. If he is able to place the stars in their sockets and
suspend the skylike a curtain, do you think it is remotely possible that God is
able to guide your life? If your God is mighty enough to ignite the sun, could it
be that he is mighty enough to light your path? If he cares enoughabout the
planet Saturn to give it rings or Venus to make it sparkle, is there an outside
chance that he cares enoughabout you to meet your needs? (Lucado, M., &
Gibbs, T. A. Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for EachDay of
the Year Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman)
George Mueller

A Man Who Trusted God
For All His Needs
George Mueller(1805-1898)is an example of the life of a man of faith, the
likes of which this world has seldom seen. He took Jesus'words to heart and
lived by His Lord's assurance thatHis heavenly Father would provide all of
his basic necessities.The following sectionhas a few of the vignettes from the
life of this humble saint of God and perhaps would whet your appetite to read
his free online biography (George Muellerof Bristol: and His Witness to a
Prayer-Hearing God).
Three weeks aftertheir marriage, they decided to depend upon God alone to
provide their needs as already indicated. They carried it to the extent that
they would not give definite answers to inquiries as to whether or not they
were in need of money at any particular moment. At the time of need, there
would always seemto be funds available from some source, both in regards to
their private income, and to the funds for his vast projects soonto be
discussed. No matter how pressing was the need, George simply renewed his
prayers, and either money or foodalways came in time to save the situation...
A well known story about Mueller indicates the kind of life that he lived.
One morning the plates and cups and bowls on the table were empty. There
was no food in the larder, and no money to buy food. The children were
standing waiting for their morning meal, when Mueller said, "Children, you
know we must be in time for school." Lifting his hand he said, "DearFather,
we thank Thee for what Thou art going to give us to eat." There was a knock
on the door. The baker stoodthere, and said, "Mr. Mueller, I couldn't sleep
last night. Somehow I felt you didn't have bread for breakfast and the Lord
wanted me to send you some. So I got up at 2 a.m. and baked some fresh
bread, and have brought it." Mueller thanked the man. No soonerhad this
transpired when there was a secondknock atthe door. It was the milkman.
He announced that his milk carthad broken down right in front of the
Orphanage, and he would like to give the children his cans of fresh milk so he
could empty his wagonand repair it. No wonder, years later, when Mueller

was to travel the world as an evangelist, he would be heralded as "the man
who gets things from God!"
By March, 1843, he felt the need for a secondhome for girls. On July, 1844,
the fourth house on Wilson Streetwas opened--the total of his homeless waifs
now being 130. A letter receivedon October30, 1845, changedhis entire
ministry...he was now age 40. Basically, it was a letter from a localresident
complaining that the noise of the children was a nuisance. They were vastly
over-crowdedand there was not enough space forland cultivation, washing
clothes, etc. He gave the letter much thought, listing the pros and cons. If he
were to leave, he would have to build a structure to hold at least300 orphans
at a costof $60,000. Onhis 36th day of prayer over the dilemma, the first
$6,000came in for a building program. By June, 1848, he receivedall of the
$60,000 whichhe needed. He had begun to build the previous year on July 5,
1847, ata placedcalled Ashley Downs as the bulk of the money had been sent
in. Building Number 1 was opened in June, 1849, andhoused 300 children
with staff sufficient to teach and care for them. It was a seven-acre site and
finally costabout $90,000as legalexpenses,furnishings, and land purchase
brought the price up higher than anticipated. The old houses on WilsonStreet
emptied and everyone was now under one roof.
Mueller was becoming a well known Christian leader. He answeredsome
3,000 letters a year without a secretary. Besideshis orphanages, the four other
objectives of his Scriptural Knowledge Institution claimed his attention and
he continued his pastoralwork at Bethesda Chapelalso.
In 1850, he felt the need for a secondorphanage. Donations beganto come in
miraculously again and finally, on November 12, 1857, a secondbuilding
housing 400 children at a costof $126,000 was built. Number 3 opened on
March 12, 1862, housing 450 children, and costing over $138,000. It was
housed on 11 1/2 acres. Number 4 was openedNovember 5, 1868, andNumber
5 on January 6, 1870. These lasttwo costover$300,000and housed 450 each.
From 1848 to 1874, moneycame in to improve and expand the work which
went from 130 orphans to 2,050 during this time and up to 13 acres. Mueller
describes these days, writing in 1874:

But God, our infinite rich Treasurer, remains with us. It is this which gives me
peace. Moreoverif it pleases Him, with a work requiring about $264,000 a
year...wouldI gladly pass through all these trials of faith with regard to
means, if He only might be glorified, and His Church and the world
benefited...I have placedmyself in the positionof having no means at all left;
and 2,100 persons,not only daily at the table, but with everything else to be
provided for, and all the funds gone; 189 missionaries to be assisted, and
nothing whateverleft; about one hundred schools with 9,000 scholars in them,
to be entirely supported, and no means for them in hand; about four million
tracts and tens of thousands of copies of the Holy Scriptures yearly now to be
sent out, and all the money expended...I commit the whole work to Him, and
He will provide me with what I need, in future also, though I know not whence
the means are to come.
His own personalincome varied around $12,000a year, of which he kept for
himself $1,800giving the rest away. (Adapted from the bookletby Ed Reese.
The Christian Hall of Fame series. ReesePublications, P.O. Box5625,
Lansing, IL 60438 )
Here is a youtube video biography I highly recommend - George Muller (1
hour)
Dandelions And Dollars - Severalyears ago I was a missionary home on
furlough, feeling anxious about my mounting financial needs. One morning at
the farmhouse where I was staying, I talkedwith the Lord and finally handed
over these needs to Him.
Later I was strolling through a field full of dandelions. Glancing down, I saw
at my feeta crisp one-dollarbill! As I picked it up, I sensedthat Godwanted
me to know that He would take care of me and my needs. If He wanted to, He
could turn dandelions into dollars! I've carried that dollar bill with me ever
since as a reminder of God's power to provide.
In Matthew 6, Jesus referredto His Father's care of the "birds of the air" and
the "lilies of the field" to illustrate His eagernessto meet our material needs

(Mt 6:26,28, 29). He also taught that we will have what we need if we focus on
spiritual priorities. Instead of being preoccupied with worry about personal
needs, we should be occupied with God's kingdom and His righteousness.And
when we are, we can be assuredthat not some, not most, but all things that we
need will be supplied.
Let's ask ourselves often:Am I preoccupiedwith material concerns or
occupiedwith God's kingdom and His righteousness?We can't do both. —
Joanie Yoder (Ibid)
The One who feeds the birds
And clothes the lilies fair
Will surely meet our needs
If we His purpose share. --DJD
If all we want is to please the Lord,
we'll have everything we need.
Of Pigs And Sheep - When author and preacher David Field arrived at the
country church where he was to be the guestspeaker, he was introduced to a
choir member. He askedher what she did. "I keeppigs," she replied. "How
many do you have?" he inquired. Without hesitation she answered, "A
hundred and ninety-two at the moment." Laughingly he responded, "Really?
Are you certain of that?" With indignation she retorted, "Of course I'm sure.
I've gotnames for all of them, haven't I?"
Imagine knowing the names of 192 pigs!But why not--if you regard them with
the fondness that womanhad for her herd?
What about the Creator, who has a name for eachof the countless stars in the
sky? (Isa. 40:26). That Creatoris also our GoodShepherd, whose love for us

rises far above the level of our human affection. And that GoodShepherd
calls His sheepby name (Jn 10:3).
We may be tempted to think that Almighty God, who upholds galaxies upon
galaxies, can'tpossibly be concernedabout us and our problems. But Jesus
said that the heavenly Father notices and cares for the needs of even the
smallestanimals, and that we are of much greatervalue (Mt. 6:26). He knows
our names and meets our needs. — Vernon C. Grounds
The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodnessfailethnever;
I nothing lack if I am His,
And He is mine forever. --Baker
God is big enoughto care for our smallestneed.
JACK ARNOLD
EIGHT REASONS FOR NOT WORRYING
Matthew 6:25-34
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Last week we saidthat worldliness is an attitude about life. It is any
attitude that excludes the person of Christ. Worldliness in relation to material
things can take two forms. First, the most obvious form is selfishly laying up
treasures on earth, hoarding them for one’s carnalends. The Biblical
exhortation to those who are rich in this world’s goods is to give their money

to the Lord’s work and to share with others in need. The second, and more
subtle form of worldliness is to worry about material things when you do not
have them.
B. A thinking person would say at this point that if the Lord’s people are not
to lay up treasures on earth, and if they cannotserve God and riches at the
same time, how are finances to be takencare of? How can they live if they do
not take the “dog-eat-dog”view of money that the unbelieving world has? In
Matthew 6:25-34, the Lord Jesus gives eight logicalreasons whyGod will
supply for His own people and why it is wrong for God’s people to worry or
be anxiously concernedabout materialistic matters.
II. THE INJUNCTION NOT TO WORRY -- 6:25a:
“Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor
yet for your body, what ye shall put on.” -- The words “take no thought:
should be translated “Be not anxious” or “Have no anxiety: or in our modern
thinking, “Do not worry.” Worry about material things is sin, for God
has promised to meet the needs of His people (Phil. 4:19). Furthermore
worry is futile and useless for it never solvedany problem at all. Christians
are to take their concerns aboutmaterial things to God and leave them there
for Godto handle (Phil. 4:6, 7).
NOTE: “Take notthought” does not mean that we must never think about
material things or contemplate the future. Nor does this mean the Lord is
advocating a shiftless, reckless,and thoughtless outlook on life. God’s people
are to be prudent and have foresight. It is not foresight that is spokenagainst
but foreboding about the future. The Lord is not condemning foresight; He is
condemning a worrying foresightas though it were our responsibility to
provide and not His. We are to prepare for that which may come, but we are

not to have constantoccupationof the mind and distractionof heart over
what may never come. What the Lord is forbidding is fretting concern, or a
worried fear about the future.
III. THE LOGIC OF CREATION -- 6:25b:
“Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? -- The first line
of reasoning is the logic of creation. This is an argument from the greaterto
the less. Since Godgave us life, certainly He can provide us with food. Since
He has done the greateractof creating our bodies, surely he can to a lesseract
of clothing them! The Giver of the gift of life will see that the sustenance and
support of that life will be provided If our Heavenly Fatherhas given us the
precious gift of life, then He will not be niggardly and stingy in providing
smaller gifts for us.
IV. THE LOGIC OF THE ANIMAL WORLD -- 6:26:
“Beholdthe fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor
gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not
much better than they?” -- The secondreasonfor not worrying is the
example of the animal world, and, in particular the bird world. This is an
argument from the less to the greaterin which the Lord is stressing the
superiority of man to birds. Birds have no way of storing food but God
provides providentially for them, even in the winter months. God takes care
of the little birds and looks afterthem. He sees to it that their life is
sustained. Since God does this for the birds, will He not do much more for
men who are made in the image of God? Doesn’tGod love His own more
than animals?

NOTE: This verse does not teachthat Christians can be lazy and sit around
and expectbread to arrive miraculously. Birds do not perch themselves on a
tree and gettheir food mechanicallyfrom God. No, they searchfor it
diligently. Even so, man must work, trusting God to provide for his needs.
NOTE: If God canprovide for birds in the hard winter months, then He can
provide for you in sickness andin old age.
ILLUSTRATION: A Rabbi said it this way, “In my life I have never
seena stag as a dryer of figs or a lion as a porter, or a fox as a merchant, yet
they are all nourished without worry. If they, who are createdto serve me,
are nourished without worry, how much more ought I, who am createdto
serve my Makerbe nourished without worry?”
V. THE LOGIC OF THE INABILITY OF MAN TO EXTEND LIFE --
6:27:
“Which of you by taking thought canadd one cubit unto his stature (age)?” --
The word “stature” should be translated age and a cubit was about 18”
long. The Lord is saying, “Who by worrying canadd a little time to his
life?” It is futile to worry about the length of one’s life, for no one canadd one
minute to it. Every man’s life is planned and God has an appointed hour for
his death. God will provide for His own until that moment of death.
VI. THE LOGIC OF VEGETATION -- 6:28-30
A. “And why take ye thought for raiment? Considerthe lilies of the field,
how they grow;they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you,

That even Solomonin all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” -- These
are flowers of the field; wild lilies, probably a scarletcoloredpoppy, that grew
at random on the hillsides. These flowers sprung up quickly and lived only a
short while. God took care of these flowers and they were clothedin more
beauty than all the glory of King Solomon. One flower’s glory is greaterthan
all the glory of wealthy Solomon. If God is interestedin a lone floweron the
hillside, how much more will He care for His own children? Infinitely more!
B. “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass ofthe field, which today is, and
tomorrow is castinto the oven, shall he not much more clothe you,” -- The
grass and the flowers ofthe field dried up and these were used for fuel in the
bread ovens of Jewishhomes. These forms of vegetationare transient and
passing. Theycome and go and that is the end of them. Yet, this cannot be
said of man. Man is a creature both of time and eternity, for man is made to
have eternal existence beyond the grave. Every man will live foreverbut
where he spends eternity will depend on his personalrelationship with Christ
in time. The point that since man is immortal, Godwill take care of him in
time, for God cares for His own.
C. “O ye of little faith?” -- The Lord does not admonish his disciples for no
faith but for little faith. It is not the absence offaith that concerns our Lord
but it is their inadequacy of faith; they do not have sufficient faith.
NOTE: Our Lord is warning againstChristians who have saving faith and
stop at that, having no greatdesire to push deeper into a faith-relationship
with their Lord. Without daily sanctifying faith, Christians will be defeated
and more prone to worry. Godis waiting to bless any Christian who chooses
to step out in faith and do God’s will. Faith trust the God who controls
circumstances. The personwho walks by faith masters the circumstances and
does not let the circumstances masterhim. He believes God can overrule
circumstances.

VII. THE LOGIC OF PAGAN PRACTICES -- 6:31-32:
“Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? Or, What shall we
drink? Or, Wherewithalshall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the
Gentiles seek”: -- The word “Gentiles” was a Jewishwayof describing people
who were without God. The closest synonym we have today is heathen.
Godless ones, those who do not know God, are ones who constantly worry.
Becausethey are not is possible to be a Christian, because one has trusted in
Christ, but have an apparent heathen philosophy, because one is living like
there is no God. Every time we worry, we are saying that God does not
exist.
NOTE: The Christian’s whole approachto life must be different than that of
the unbeliever. A Christian is trusting in his sovereignand loving heavenly
Father to meet his needs.
VIII. THE LOGIC OF FAMILY TIES -- 6:32:
“Foryour heavenly Father knoweththat ye have need of all these things.” --
Since God is our Father, surely He will provide for His own.
IX. THE LOGIC OF PRIORITY -- 6:33:
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;and all these
things shall be added unto you.”

A. It is perfectly logicalthat if the Christian puts God first, then God will be
pleasedand He will meet the believer’s material needs. (II Chron. 16:9:
“Them that honor me I will honor”).
B. This involves spreading the news of the kingdom of God to all men that
they might believe in Jesus Christ and be savedfrom eternal punishment. It
also involves constantlyseeking more of God’s righteousness in our lives; it
involves positively seeking practicalholiness and righteousness in our daily
experience.
NOTE: Reaching men for Christ and living godly lives must be first in our
lives and then God will bless us with physical needs.
X. THE LOGIC OF DAILY SUFFICIENCY -- 6:34:
“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take
thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” --
The final argument is that of the burden of a day. In itself a day’s burden is
heavy enough. Why compound and double the burden by worrying about
tomorrow? If I add the worry of tomorrow to today’s burden, I am
doubling my load for today. The evil itself is sufficient for that day in which it
occurs.
NOTE: Worldly wisdomsays, “Don’t cross bridges until you get to
them.” Christ says, “You can make preparation to cross the bridge, but do
not worry about it or be too disappointed it does not work out.”

POINT: There may be greatersins than worry, but few are more disabling.
Worry occupies the mind so that one cannotbe useful in areas he should
be occupied. Worry prevents joy and happiness. It above all is useless
and accomplishes nothing.
ILLUSTRATION: This thing of taking no thought for the morrow has
become a reality to me in recent weeks. As you know, ministers, rabbis and
priests may be exempted from taking socialsecurityif their conscienceor
religious beliefs are againstit. SocialSecurity has become a way of life for
most people, and men more and more depend upon government to take care
of them. SocialSecurityhas a way of keeping men from trusting in God.
After much struggle, I electednot to take it on the grounds that I do not think
the government should force socialsecurity if men do not want it, and that
it is goodto trust in God in one’s old age. The most insecure thoughts ran
through my mind, “How will I be supported when I am too old to work:
What if something happens to me? At leastmy wife and children will receive
something.” Worry, Worry, Worry! Finally I took out Matthew 6:34 and
claimed this promise and the peace filled my heart. If I am around in 30
years, I know that my God will supply for my needs, even in my old age. How
do I know? He promised to do it.
XI. CONCLUSION
A. SAVED: If a Christian will seek God, He will meet their needs (Psa. 37:25
- those who are living godly lives shall not beg bread). This is a promise.
B. UNSAVED: Forthose here without Christ, you are probably saying,
“How can that teaching of God’s care be true. With all the need and poverty
that exists in the world, with all the suffering of homeless and displaced

men, womenand children, how canyou make such a bold statement about
God’s care?” The answeris that these promises are only to Christians and
not to rejecters ofChrist. If you are here this morning without Christ, you
will never be able to claim the wonderful promises of God’s provision for
material things until you have receivedChrist into your life as personal
Lord and Saviour. A Christian need not worry about provision in time or
eternity, but every person without Christ should be in much anxiety, for a
Christless eternity waits him, where there is outer/darkness andgnashing of
teeth. Remember, if Christ is not your Saviour than He will be your Judge.
WILLIAM BARCLAY
Jesus goeson to speak aboutthe birds (Matthew 6:26). There is no worry in
their lives, no attempt to pile up goods for an unforeseenand unforeseeable
future; and yet their lives go on. More than one JewishRabbi was fascinated
by the way in which the animals live. "In my life," said Rabbi Simeon, "I have
never seena stag as a dryer of figs, or a lion as a porter, or a fox as a
merchant, yet they are all nourished without worry. If they, who are created
to serve me, are nourished without worry, how much more ought 1, who am
createdto serve my Maker, to be nourished without worry; but I have
corrupted my ways, and so I have impaired my substance." The point that
Jesus is making is not that the birds do not work;it has been said that no one
works harder than the average sparrow to make a living; the point that he is
making is that they do not worry. There is not to be found in them man's
straining to see a future which he cannot see, and man's seeking to find
security in things storedup and accumulated againstthe future.
CHRIS BENFIELD

A. The Fowls ofthe Air (26-27)– Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not,
neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth
them. Are ye not much better than they? [27] Which of you by taking thought
can add one cubit unto his stature? Take just a moment to considerthe
countless millions of birds that inhabit earth. They do not sow a crop or reap
one. They do not gather a greatharvest into a barn. They are fed by the
Master’s hand. Eachday they wake their needs are the same and eachday
their needs are met. They are expectedto
searchfor their food, often spending the bulk of their waking hours feeding,
but God is faithful to them nonetheless. He cares for them because they are
His creation.
 Are ye not much better than they? Surely if God will care for the birds of
the air, He will care for those whom He has purchased in redemption. Just as
with the birds, we have to put forth the necessaryeffortmany times to receive
the provision of God, but He is faithful to us. Eachday we wake our needs are
much the same and eachday He provides for us. How many of us went
without a meal today? How many missed a meal this week because there was
nothing to eat? We will have to agree that God is goodand merciful to us.
 Which of you by taking thought canadd one cubit unto his stature? Jesus
goes onto speak aboutsenseless worry. The word stature has the idea of
height, but it can also referto age or time. I can’t add one inch to my height
through worry, and I can’t add one secondto my life through much anxiety.
We have to live our lives before the Lord, seeking to please Him, and trust
Him to continue His care for us!
Matthew 6:25-34: “Jesus TeachesHis Disciples NotTo Worry Or Be
Anxious”

by
Jim Bomkamp
Back Bible Studies Home Page
1. INTRO
1.1. In this next sectionwe will look at what Jesus says here in the
Sermon On the Mount about ‘worry’ and being ‘anxious’
1.1.1. He begins this teaching by saying, ‘for this reason’, and I personally
believe that what He is saying by that to His disciples is that since they cannot
serve God and Mammon, and because they have chosento follow Him, that
they can take greatcomfort now in the fact that they do not need to have any
worry or anxiety in their lives
1.1.1.1.Arecentstudy statedthat stress-relatedworrywas the greatestcause
of heart attacks in the United States
1.1.1.2.Worryis really the underlying cause of most of the problems and
difficulties that we have in our lives as the following quote from Parsons
Technologies illustrates, “Ata British clinic an examination of 500 patients
confirmed that more than one-third of their visual problems were causedby
emotional tension. Dr. Leonard S. Fosdick ofNorthwesternUniversity has
proven conclusivelythat worry restricts the flow of saliva. Then, because
natural mouth acids are not properly neutralized, tooth decayoccurs. A
survey of about 5,000 students in 21 different collegesconfirms that worriers
get the lowestgrades”
1.1.1.3.The following is a poem I found by an unknown author called,
“When Birds Worry
When the birds begin to worry
And the lilies toil and spin,
And God’s creatures all are anxious,

Then I also may begin.
For my Father sets their table,
Decks them out in garments fine,
And if He supplies their living,
Will He not provide for mine?
Just as noisy, common sparrows
Can be found most anywhere—
Unto some just worthless creatures,
If they perish who would care?
Yet our Heavenly Fathernumbers
Every creature great and small,
Caring even for the sparrows.
Marking when to earth they fall.
If His children’s hairs are numbered,
Why should we be filled with fear?
He has promised all that’s needful,
And in trouble to be near”

1.1.2. In this sectionJesus uses some interesting subjects for the illustration of
His points about worry
1.1.2.1.birds ofthe air (sparrows)
1.1.2.2.liliesofthe field
1.1.2.3.grass ofthe field
1.1.3. Using Spurgeon’s outline headings, in this sectionof scripture Jesus
teaches the following about ‘worry’:
1.1.3.1.Itis needless
1.1.3.2.Itis useless
1.1.3.3.Itis heathenism
1.1.4. In the final part of this study we will look at verse 33 of this chapter
which perhaps more than any other verse has become the ‘life verse’ for many
Christians
2. VS 6:25 - “25 “Forthis reasonI say to you, do not be anxious for
your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body,
as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than
clothing?”” - Jesus tells His disciples that because He shall be their one and
only master, that they do not need to worry about the necessitiesoflife
2.1. person who occupies himselfwith the things of this world (mammon)
will then spend his time worrying and fretting about everything in his life,
howeverthe personwho lives for Christ and His kingdom shall not have to
worry about anything for the Lord shall provide for him
2.2. This verse and the ones preceding it here are not a contradiction of
the many exhortations in the scripture about diligent planning and working
hard and conscientiously, ratherwhat Jesus is exhorting againstis simply
worrying about the future

2.2.1. We Christians are called to work hard, and if we will just live in the
now and work hard then the Lord will take care of our future
2.3. It is revealing that most of the scenarios thatpeople worry about the
most never even occur
2.4. Worrying about things does not change the outcome of the thing that
we are worrying about one bit, therefore worrying is a worthless activity as it
zaps us of our strength and health and yields nothing in return
2.5. Worrying shows a lack of faith in our life, as it tells the Lord that we
do not really believe His promises for us
2.5.1. We oughtto pray about our needs and the events of the future and then
just trust and restin the fact that the Lord will answerus according to His
perfect will
2.5.2. To worryafter we have prayed about things is a contradiction to our
faith, and thus it doubts the promises of God’s Word as well as His good
intentions for us, and for this reasonit is very sinful for us to worry
2.6. It is interesting that we Christians can trust God for the eternalcare
of our souls, yet we have a hard time trusting Him to take care of the small
details of our lives
2.7. The things that Jesus commands us here not to worry about concern
the ‘necessities ofour life’:
2.7.1. ourlife
2.7.2. whatwe shall eat
2.7.3. whatwe shall drink
2.7.4. ourbody
2.7.4.1.whatwe shall put on ( clothes )
2.8. God has not promised to meet all of the ‘wants’ that we may have,
rather He has only promised to supply all of the ‘needs’, yet that is more than
sufficient for us

2.9. When Jesus says, ‘Is not life more than food, and the body than
clothing?’, I believe that He is challenging us about getting too concerned
about things that don’t really involve the necessitiesoflife
2.9.1. He would then be saying that there is more to our life than the food we
eat, and if God sustains our physical and spiritual life, it is irrational for us to
think that He will not also sustainus with food, especiallysince He has
promised to do so for us
2.9.2. He would then also be saying that there is more to the well-being of our
bodies than just the nice clothes that we may desire to place on ourselves, and
if God sustains our body in regard to its other needs, it is irrational for us to
think that He will not also provide us with clothing, especiallysince He has
promised to do so for us
3. VS 6:26 - “26 “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow,
neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father
feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?”” - WORRY IS
NEEDLES: Jesus tells His disciples to observe the ‘birds of the air’ for the
Lord provides food for them, and if He does so for them, He will also do it for
us
3.1. Jesus tells His disciples to observe that birds do not have to buy a
field and plant seeds in it in order to reap the food that they will need to eat,
for they have not the inclination nor ability to work for their food, yet they are
fed eachday, and the One who feeds them is the Lord
3.2. We people have an advantage overbirds who have limited
intelligence when it comes to having food to eat, for we CAN work and toil
and plan ways to provide food for ourselves to eat(birds aren’t smart enough
to be able to think about what might happen tomarrow), therefore we have
less reasonto worry

3.3. Jesus tells His disciples that their faith in God’s providence should be
bolsteredbecause the Fatherprovides the food to feed all of the birds of the
air, and none of the birds will He ever considerto be a sonor a daughter of
His as is the case withus His very children whom He is calling to salvation
3.3.1. It is encouraging to ponder the fact that here Jesus points us to consider
that we have greatvalue to the Lord
3.3.1.1.Have youever wonderedjust what your worth really is to God?
3.3.1.1.1.Iwas thinking about this question this week, andthe Lord spoke to
me about what I was worth to Him, I am worth this much, the price He paid
for me was the life of His only and unique Son, and there is nothing more
valuable in all of existence than Him, He truly is priceless…
JOHN BROADUS
Matthew 6:26. The secondconsiderationis an argument from the less to the
greater, and this applied first to food, (Matthew 6:26) and afterwards to
clothing. (Matthew 6:28-30)Behold the fowls of the airâ€”or, as in Rev. Ver.,
the birds of the heaven, birds that fly free in the sky, and over which men
exercise no care. (Compare Matthew 8:20, Matthew 13:32, Genesis 1:26)
'Fowls'formerly signified birds in general, but is now restrictedto a certain
variety of domesticatedbirds. Instead of the generalterm 'birds,' the similar
discourse in Luke 12:24, has the specific term 'ravens.'As sowing, reaping,
and gathering into barns are the three leading processesofagriculture, we
thus have it very strongly affirmed that the birds perform no part whateverof
the work which men have to perform in order to obtain their food. Of course
we know that the birds exert themselves;God does not feed them in idleness.
But they find their foodwithout any of our elaborate processes. The inserted
'yet' in the Com. Version enfeebles the simple and beautiful expression. Are ye

not, better, not ye; the 'ye' being expressedin the original, and thus shownto
be emphatic. Much better, Of much more value, as Com. Ver. translates the
same Greek phrase in Matthew 10:31. The conclusionthat much more will
God feed those who are greatly more important than the birds, is here left to
be understood, but in the similar argument of Matthew 6:30 is stated. The
Mishna says, "Have you ever seenbrutes or birds that had any trade? and yet
they are nourished without trouble."
CALVIN
26. Look at the fowls of the air This is the remedy I spoke of, for teaching us
to rely on the providence of God: for of all cares, which go beyond bounds,
unbelief is the mother. The only cure for covetousnessis to embrace the
promises of God, by which he assures us that he will take care of us. In the
same manner, the Apostle, wishing to withdraw believers from covetousness,
confirms that doctrine: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake
thee, (Hebrews 13:5.) The substance ofthe exhortation is, that we ought to
trust in God, by whom none of his ownpeople, howevermean their condition
may be, are disregarded.
Your heavenly Father feedeth them This deserves carefulattention: for,
though we are unable to explain the manner in which their life is supported,
which of us is in the habit of considering that their life depends on the
providence of God, which he is pleasedto extend even to them? But if it is
thoroughly fixed in our minds, that the fowls are supplied with food by the
hand of God, there will be no difficulty in expecting it for ourselves, who are
formed after his image, and reckonedamong his children. They neither sow
nor reap By these words it is far from being our Lord’s intention to encourage
us to indolence and sluggishness. All that he means is, that, though other
means fail, the providence of God is alone sufficient for us, for it supplies the
animals abundantly with every thing that they need.

Jesus was a bird watcher

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