Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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 feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
26. fowls ] Old English for birds; cp.
“Smale fowles maken melodie
That slepen all the night with open yhe.” Chaucer.
There is no argument here against forethought 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 search for the food which God has provided for them.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Behold the fowls of the air – The second argument for confidence in the providence of God is derived from a beautiful reference to the fowls or feathered tribes. 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 necessities supplied! You, said the Saviour to his disciples, you are of more consequence than they are; and shall God feed them in such numbers, and suffer you to want? It cannot be. Put confidence, then, in that Universal Parent that feeds all the fowls of the air, and do not fear but that he will also supply your needs.
Better than they – Of more consequence. Your lives are of more importance than theirs, and God will therefore provide for them.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 26. Behold the fowls of the air] The second reason why we should not be anxiously concerned about the future, is the example of the smaller animals, which the providence of God feeds without their own labour; though he be not their father. We never knew an earthly father take care of his fowls, and neglect his children; and shall we fear this from our heavenly Father? God forbid! That man is utterly unworthy to have God for his father, who depends less upon his goodness, wisdom, and power, than upon a crop of corn, which may be spoiled either in the field or in the barn. If our great Creator have made us capable of knowing, loving, and enjoying himself eternally, what may we not expect from him, after so great a gift?
They sow not, neither do they reap] There is a saying among the rabbins almost similar to this – “Hast thou ever seen a beast or a fowl that had a workshop? yet they are fed without labour and without anxiety. They were created for the service of man, and man was created that he might serve his Creator. Man also would have been supported without labour and anxiety, had he not corrupted his ways. Hast thou ever seen a lion carrying burthens, a stag gathering summer fruits, a fox selling merchandise, or a wolf selling oil, that they might thus gain their support? And yet they are fed without care or labour. Arguing therefore from the less to the greater, if they which were created that they might serve me, are nourished without labour and anxiety, how much more I, who have been created that I might serve my Maker! What therefore is the cause, why I should be obliged to labour in order to get my daily bread? Answer, SIN.” This is a curious and important extract, and is highly worthy of the reader’s attention. See Schoettgen.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
God takes care of all his creatures. For example, consider
the fowls, and those not the tame fowls about your houses, but the fowls of the air, for whom the housewifes hand doth not provide, neither hath God fitted them for any labour by which they can procure 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 reason to trust in God, if you could not labour, being hindered by his providence, for you are more excellent beings 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 especially considering that God is your Father, much better than they.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
26. Behold the fowls of the airinMt 6:28, “observe well,”and in Lu 12:24, “consider”soas to learn wisdom from them.
for they sow not, neither dothey reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeththem. Are ye not much better than they?nobler in yourselvesand dearer to God. The argument here is from the greater to the less;but how rich in detail! The brute creationvoid of reasonareincapable of sowing, reaping, and storing: yet your heavenly Fathersuffers them not helplessly to perish, but sustains them without anyof those processes. Will He see, then, His own children using all themeans which reason dictates for procuring the things needful for thebodylooking up to Himself at every stepand yet leave them tostarve?
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole 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:
Lu 12:24 particularly mentions the “ravens”, referring probably to
Ps 147:9, and because they are very voracious creatures: and there it is said, “consider the ravens”; look attentively upon them, and with observation,
for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into 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 Father feedeth them; see Ps 145:15. The Jews acknowledge this, that the least and meanest of creatures are fed by God.
“Mar says c, the holy blessed God sits , “and feeds”, i.e. all creatures, and takes care of them.”
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, such as are very mean and contemptible, how much more will he not provide for you? There is a passage in 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. Simeon ben 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 created to serve my Maker: and lo! these things have in them an argument, “from the less to the greater”; for if these, which are created to serve me after this manner, are supported without trouble; I, who am created to serve my Maker, is it not fit that I should be supplied without trouble? And what is the reason that I am sustained with 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.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
1) “Behold the fowls of the air” (eublepsate eis ta peteina tou ouranou) “You all take a look at the birds of heaven,” the fowls that fly in the air, even above the clouds. Take them as an object lesson of His care for His own things, Psa 24:1. Observe the fowls to learn a lesson from them.
2) “For they sow not,” (hoti ou speirousin) “Note that they sow not,” as men sow to help provide production of their food.
3) “Neither do they reap, nor gather into barns;” (oude therizousin oude sunagousin eis apothekas) “They neither reap nor do they gather (store) into barns,” do they?
4) “Yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.” (kai ho pater humon ho ouranios trephei, auta) “And your heavenly Father feeds them,” doesn’t He? Will He then leave you, who are dearer to Him than fowls, to starve and to die?
5) “Are ye not much better than they?” (ouch humeis mallon diapherete auton) “Do you all not excel them in value?” or you all excel the birds in value, don’t you? Joh 3:16; Php_4:19.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
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 covetousness is 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, (Heb 13:5.) The substance of the exhortation is, that we ought to trust in God, by whom none of his own people, however mean their condition may be, are disregarded.
Your heavenly Father feedeth them This deserves careful attention: 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 pleased to 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 reckoned among 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, ( τὰ πετεινὰ ,) Luke uses the word ravens, ( τοὺς κόρακας,) alluding perhaps to that passage in the Psalms, who giveth food to the young ravens that call upon him, (Psa 67:0 : 9.) Some think that David expressly mentioned the ravens, because they are immediately deserted by 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 teach his people to throw all their cares on God.
(459) “ Pource que le pere et 1a mere les abandonnent incontinent qu’ils sont nais;” — “because their parents forsake them as soon as they are born.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(26) Behold the fowls of the air.Better, birds. As the words were spoken we may venture to think of them as accompanied by the gesture which directed attention to the turtle-doves, the wood-pigeons, and the finches, which are conspicuous features in a Galilean landscape. Our modern use of the word has restricted fowls to one class of birds; 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 again the reasoning is fortiori. Assuming a personal will, the will of a Father, as that which governs the order of the universe, we may trust to its wisdom and love to order all things well for the highest as for the meanest of its creatures. For those who receive whatever comes in the spirit of contented thankfulness, i.e., for those who love God, all things work together for good.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
26. Fowls of the air They do their part, and God takes care of the rest. Hence we have not an unintelligent fate, or a blind chance to deal with; but a heavenly Father, who knows his children, and how to provide for them. The birds of heaven shall teach you to live by faith.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
A further consideration for those of little faith:
v. 26. 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?
Examples of perfect trust in God who has always provided for them: the birds do even less than that expected of human beings in the matter of providing for the future, Pro 6:6; Pro 20:4. For them there is neither seed-time nor harvest; they have no barns and granaries to store food against the coming of famine. And yet, behold them! Fix your eyes upon them and think who keeps them alive, who cares for them. Their table is always set, sometimes with the choicest of foods, sometimes with just enough to sustain life, but He feedeth them. If He cares for these humble creatures and provides for them, is there not reason to believe that His children will not want bread?
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Mat 6:26 . ] , the birds that fly in the air, in this wide, free height, are entirely resigned! Genitive of locality, as in Mat 6:28 . This is manifest (in answer to Fritzsche: towards the heavens) from the juxtaposition of the words in Gen 1:25 ; Gen 2:19 ; Psa 8:9 ; Psa 104:12 ; comp. Hom. Il. 17. p. 675: . On the saying itself, comp. Kiddushin, s. fin.: “Vidistine unquam bruta aut volatilia, quibus esset aliqua officina? et tamen illa nutriuntur absque anxietate.”
] equivalent to , Joh 2:18 ; Joh 9:17 ; Joh 11:51 ; Joh 16:9 ; 2Co 1:18 ; 2Co 11:10 . To this belongs all that follows as far as .
. ] This (magis) only strengthens the comparative force of (to be superior to any one). Comp. on Phi 1:23 , and the that frequently accompanies .
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
26 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?
Ver. 26. Behold (or cast your eyes upon) the fowls of the air ] Look upon them intently ( ), consider them wisely, learn of them carefully, to cast away carnal carefulness, and to cast all your care upon God, who careth for them, how much more for you? “Ask now the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee,” saith Job, Job 12:7 “that there is a reward for the righteous, and a God that judgeth in the earth.” As he made them at first for his own glory (that we might admire his workmanship in their multitude and variety of colours, tunes, and taste, 1Co 15:39 ), and for our both use and delight; so he knows them all, Psa 50:11 , and maintaineth them, providing both for their use, Psa 147:9 , and delight, Psa 104:12 , giving us wisdom beyond them, Job 39:17 , and yet setting us to school to them, to learn dependence upon God, both for preservation from evil, Mat 10:29 , and for provision of good, as here and Job 39:16 . He taketh care of the ostrich’s young ones, and of the young ravens that cry unto him, Psa 147:9 . They are fed of God when forsaken of their dams and left bare and destitute, for out of their dung and carrion, brought before to the nest, ariseth a worm, which creepeth to their mouth and feedeth them. (Aristot., Hist. Animal. ix. 31.)
They sow not, neither do they reap, &c. ] They take no care, nor have any to care for them, as geese, hens, and other tame pullen; and yet they are provided for, we see. And, oh, that we would see as our Saviour here enjoins us, and behold not only the fowls of the air, but the clouds above them, and other heavenly bodies! When one asked Luther, where he could be safe and at quiet? sub coelo, under heaven, said he. And to Pontanus, the Chancellor of Saxony, he propounds to be viewed and weighed by him that most beautiful arch work of heaven, resting upon no posts nor pillars, and yet standing fast for ever and ever, merely upheld by the mighty hand of God. The clouds also, as thin as the liquid contained in them; “Behold,” saith he, “how they hang and move, though weighty with their burden; they salute us only, or rather threaten us, and vanish we know not whither.” a These things would be thought on, that God may be the better rested on. “Be not ye of doubtful mind,” saith our Saviour, “live not in careful suspense,” hang not as meteors in the air between heaven and earth, uncertain whether to keep your standing, or fall to the ground; to trust God, or otherwise, as you can, to make sure for yourselves. Meteors are matters that few men can tell what to make of; Aristotle himself confesseth that he knew little of many of them. b And as little can the distrustful person tell what to make of those infinite projects and discourses in the air that he incessantly frames for the compassing of his desires. When he needs but either to look up to the birds or down to the lilies, and learn, that if God feed and clothe them without any their care and pains, surely he will much more provide for his people that rely upon him, and with their reasonable pains and moderate care do serve his providence. Shall the great housekeeper of the world water his flowers, prune his plants, fodder his cattle, and not feed and clothe his children? Never think it. God provided for the necessity and comfort of the unreasonable creatures ere he made them; grass for the beasts, and light for all living and moving creatures, and all for man, for the man in Christ especially. Compare Psa 8:4-5 , with Heb 2:6-8 , and it will appear that whatsoever is spoken there of a man is applied to Christ; and so is proper to the saints, by virtue of their union with Christ. In which respect, saith one, they are more glorious than heaven, angels, or any creature: and shall these want food and raiment?
a Non decidentes, sed velut torvo vultu nobis salutatis subito diffugiunt. Luther.
b , Luk 12:29 . Meteora dicta volunt, quod animos hominum suspensos, dubios, et quasi fluetuantes teneant. Aristoteles fatetur se de quibuadam eorum adhuc dubitare, quaedam vero aliquo modo attigisse. Magir. Physlolog.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
26. . ] The two examples, of the birds and the lilies, are not parallel in their application. The first is an argument from the less to the greater; that our Heavenly Father, who feeds the birds, will much more feed us: the second, besides this application, which ( Mat 6:30 ) it also contains, is a reproof of the vanity of anxiety about clothing, which, in all its pomp of gorgeous colours, is vouchsafed to the inferior creatures, but not attainable by, as being unworthy of, us. Notice, it is not said, ; the birds are not our example to follow in their habits, for God hath made us to differ from them the doing all these things is part of our , (Luk 12:24 ,) and increases the force of the fortiori; but it is said, . ; , , . . Euthymius.
, not : thus by every accessory word does our Lord wonderfully assert the truths and proprieties of creation, in which we , his sons, are His central work, and the rest for us . ., and afterwards , as Thol. remarks, are not superfluous, but serve to set forth the wild and uncaring freedom of the birds and plants. I may add, also to set forth their lower rank in the scale of creation, as belonging to the air and the field. Who could say of mankind, ? Thus the fortiori is more plainly brought out.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mat 6:26 . , fix your eyes on, so as to take a good look at (Mar 10:21 ; Mar 14:67 ). . ., the birds whose element is the air; look, not to admire their free, careless movements on the wing, but to note a very relevant fact , that without toil they get their food and live. , , . .: the usual operations of the husbandman in producing the staff of life. In these the birds have no part, yet your Father feedeth them. The careworn might 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, greatest of all optimists, though no shallow or ignorant one, quietly adds: : 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 ?
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Behold = Look attentively (emblepo, App-133.) at (eis).
of = which fly in. Genitive of Relation. App-17.
air = the heaven. Sing, in contrast with earth. See note on Mat 6:9, Mat 6:10.
your. Speaking to disciples. Contrast “them” with their creator.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
26. .] The two examples, of the birds and the lilies, are not parallel in their application. The first is an argument from the less to the greater; that our Heavenly Father, who feeds the birds, will much more feed us: the second, besides this application, which (Mat 6:30) it also contains, is a reproof of the vanity of anxiety about clothing, which, in all its pomp of gorgeous colours, is vouchsafed to the inferior creatures, but not attainable by, as being unworthy of, us. Notice, it is not said, – – ;-the birds are not our example to follow in their habits, for God hath made us to differ from them-the doing all these things is part of our , (Luk 12:24,) and increases the force of the fortiori; but it is said, – . ; , , . . Euthymius.
, not :-thus by every accessory word does our Lord wonderfully assert the truths and proprieties of creation, in which we, his sons, are His central work, and the rest for us. ., and afterwards , as Thol. remarks, are not superfluous, but serve to set forth the wild and uncaring freedom of the birds and plants. I may add,-also to set forth their lower rank in the scale of creation, as belonging to the air and the field. Who could say of mankind, ? Thus the fortiori is more plainly brought out.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mat 6:26. , neither do they collect) as for example by purchase, for the future.[286]-, your) He says your, not their.-, more) i.e. you more excel as sons of God, than other men do, or than you who indulge in such care (anxiety) consider. The word , therefore, is not redundant. In this verse, the argument is from the less to the greater; in Mat 6:25, from the greater to the less.
[286] Into barns: or even into other repositories of food, as we may see instanced in other animals-V. g.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
the fowls: Mat 10:29-31, Gen 1:29-31, Job 35:11, Job 38:41, Psa 104:11, Psa 104:12, Psa 104:27, Psa 104:28, Psa 145:15, Psa 145:16, Psa 147:9, Luk 12:6, Luk 12:7, Luk 12:24-31
your: Mat 6:32, Mat 7:9, Luk 12:32
Reciprocal: Gen 6:21 – General Deu 28:8 – storehouses 1Ki 19:4 – better Psa 50:11 – know Psa 111:5 – hath given Pro 6:6 – the ant Mat 10:31 – General Mat 12:12 – is a Luk 4:4 – That Luk 12:15 – for Rom 12:16 – condescend to men of low estate 1Co 9:9 – Doth 1Th 3:11 – God 1Pe 5:7 – for
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6:26
This verse Is not intended to encourage indolence on the part of man, for the fowls cannot perform the scientific works of production while man is able to do so. The idea is that since these helpless creatures are abundantly supplied without their own help, it shows the power and willingness of the Creator to accomplish all that is necessary. Therefore the servants of God should have full confidence in His ability and willingness to supply all the needs of man that he cannot obtain for himself.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
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 you not much better than they?
[The fowls of the air, they sow not, etc.] “Have you ever seen beasts or fowls that had a workshop? And yet they are fed without trouble of mind,” etc. See also Midras Tillin.
Fuente: Lightfoot Commentary Gospels
Mat 6:26. Behold, look attentively.
The birds of the heaven, the sky, the atmospheric heaven. This expresses the wild freedom above the earth which contains their food, and also their lower rank in the scale of creation.
That. Not for. We are to behold with respect to the birds this fact, that they sow not, etc. Do not use the means which we all ought to use.
Barns, any kind of storehouse.
And, not yet ; you are to consider this fact also, that your heavenly Father, standing in a higher relation to you than to them, feedeth them.
Are not ye much better than they? This conclusive argument shows that Mat 6:25 must be designed to forbid our numerous earthly cares.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
6:26 Behold the fowls of the {k} 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?
(k) Of the air, or that line in the air: in almost all languages the word “heaven” is taken for the air.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
If we fret constantly about having enough food and clothing, we show that we have not yet learned a very basic lesson that nature teaches us: God provides for His creatures’ needs. Furthermore God is the heavenly Father of believers. Consequently He will take special care of them. This argument is a minori ad maius, "From the lesser to the greater." This does not mean we can disregard work, but it does mean we should disregard worry.
Fretting cannot lengthen life any more than it can put food on the table or clothes on the back (Mat 6:27). Worry really shortens life.