Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 6:29
And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
29. was not arrayed ] Rather, arrayed not himself. The middle voice has a special force. Though he arrayed himself, the lilies, who trusted to God for their array, are more beautiful than he.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 29. Solomon in all his glory] Some suppose that as the robes of state worn by the eastern kings were usually white, as were those of the nobles among the Jews, that therefore the lily was chosen for the comparison.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
29. And yet I say unto you, Thateven Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of theseWhatincomparable teaching!best left in its own transparent clearnessand rich simplicity.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory,…. This is a certain truth, to be affirmed in the strongest manner, and to be believed, that not only men and kings too in general; but even particularly Solomon, the richest and most magnificent of all the kings of Israel, whose grandeur, and glory, exceeded all the princes of the earth; that even he, not in his common dress, but when “in his glory”, and in “all” his glory, when arrayed with his royal and richest robes, with his crown on his head, and when seated on his throne,
was not arrayed like one of these lilies, or flowers of the field: for the glory and beauty of his garments were purely from art, but their’s by nature; which can never be equalled by art. This phrase, “Solomon in all his glory”, is the same which the Jewish doctors, in their writings, express by , “Solomon in his hour” g: that is as their commentators explain it h, , “in the time of his reign”; for they say he was first a king, and then a private person. Now, not whilst he was a private person, but when a king, in the height of his grandeur and magnificence, and when dressed out in the most splendid manner, he was exceeded in array by a single lily: or the sense is, in his royal apparel. For as the same doctors say,
“what is a man’s “glory?” It is his clothing that is his outward glory; and again, garments are the glory of a man i.”
g Misn. Bava Metzia, c. 7. sect. 1. T. Bab. ib. fol. 49. 1. & 83. 1. & 86. 2. h Jarchi & Bartenora in ib. i Tzeror Hammor, fol. 95. 1. & 99. 4. & 110. 4.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Was not arrayed ( ). Middle voice and so “did not clothe himself,” “did not put around himself.”
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And yet I say unto you,” (lego de humin) “Yet I tell you,” in simple language that you know what I am saying,
2) “That Solomon In all his glory,” (hoti oude Solomon en pase te dokse autou) “That Solomon in the midst of all his glory,” or without all his glory of accumulated riches, of gold, Over, horses, cattle, camel, wives, concubines, servants, buildings, and pools, and while wearing his royal robes, 1Ki 7:19-46; So 2:16; 4:5; 6:2,3; 1Ki 10:1 to 1Ki 13:34; 2Ch 9:1-28; Luk 12:27.
3) “Was not arrayed like one of these.” (periebaleto hos en touton) “Was not clothed (in beauty or glory) as even one of those,” one of these field lilies in Galilee, which has no appearance of anxiety or worry. Yet, they spring up, bloom, and offer their smile of, beauty to all nature repeatedly, in their season, in more gorgeous attire than Solomon and all his retinue of princes and princesses in their magnificent attire.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
29. Not even Solomon in all his glory This means, that the kindness of God, which is gloriously displayed in herbs and flowers, exceeds all that men can accomplish by their wealth or power, or in any other way. Believers ought to be convinced that, though all means fail, they will want nothing that is necessary for their full satisfaction, provided they continue to enjoy the blessing of God alone. O you of little faith In this respect Christ justly accuses us of deficiency or weakness of faith: for the more powerfully we are affected, according to our own grovelling views, by anxiety about the present life, the more do we show our unbelief, if every thing does not happen to our wish. Many persons, accordingly, who in great prosperity appear to possess faith or at least to have a tolerable share of it, tremble when any danger of poverty presents itself.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(29) I say unto you.The formula of emphasis is not without a special force here (comp. Mat. 18:10; Mat. 18:19). Mans gaze was drawn to the gorgeous apparel, the gold-embroidered robes of kings and emperors. Jewish traditions as to the glory of Solomon represented even his attendants as clothed in purple, and with hair glittering with gold-dust. He, the true Son of David, saw in the simplest flower that grows a glory above them all. The lily shames the king.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Mat 6:29 . ] Not even ( ) Solomon when he appeared in all his glory , not merely in his royal robes (Kuinoel); it is in that the special part of the whole is first mentioned. On the of Solomon, see 2Ch 9:15 ff.
, not . Observe further the : his glorious apparel was not equal to any one of these.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Ver. 29. And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory ] In all his bravery, which doubtless was very great, in the day of his espousals, especially, when his mother crowned him, Son 3:11 . Herod’s cloth of silver did so dazzle the people’s eyes in a sunny day, that they deified him. a Alcisthenes the Sybarite’s cloak was sold to the Carthaginians by Dionysius for 120 talents. And Demetrius, king of Macedon, had a robe royal so stately and costly, that none of his successors would wear it, for avoiding of envy. There is no doubt but Solomon’s royal robes were very sumptuous, being so mighty and wealthy a monarch. Great ones may go arrayed according to their state; and they that are in kings’ houses wear softs, Mat 11:8 . Yet is it reckoned as a fault in the rich man, Luk 16:19 , that he was often clothed in purple and fine linen, b and God threatened to punish even princes and kings’ children, and all other such as are clothed with strange apparel, Zep 1:8 . The Jews for affecting the Chaldaean habit were soon after carried captive into Chaldea, Eze 23:15 . And what heavy things are thundered against those curious dames of Jerusalem by the prophet Isaiah, who being himself a courtier, inveighs as punctually against that noble vanity as if he had lately viewed the ladies’ wardrobes. Our Saviour finds fault with the scribes that loved to go in long clothing, Mar 12:38 ; and St James with those Christians that would fawn upon a gold ring and a goodly suit, Jas 2:2 . In the year 1580, great ruffs, with huge wide sets, and cloaks reaching almost to the ankles, no less uncomely than of great expense, were restrained here by proclamation, saith Mr Camden. c And need we not the like law now, when so many prodigals turn rents into ruffs, and lands into laces, Singulis auribus bina aut terna dependunt patrimonia, as Seneca hath it, hang two or three patrimonies at their ears, a pretty grove upon their backs, a reasonable lordship or living about their necks. This is far from that humility wherewith St Peter would have young men clothe themselves, 1Pe 5:5 ; and from that meek and quiet spirit, wherewith, saith he, the holy women of old adorned themselves, not with plaited hair, and golden habiliments, 1Pe 3:3-4 . Cyprian and Austin say that superfluous apparel is worse than whoredom: because whoredom only corrupts chastity, but this corrupts nature.
a Act 12:22 . Hunc homines decorant quem vestimenta decorant.
b , Verbum est quasi frequentativum, quo luxus divitis illius epulonis arguitur.
c Vestium curiositas deformitatis mentium et morum indicium est. Bern. Fulgent monilibus, sordent moribus. Salvian. Cultus magna cura, magna virtutia est incuria. Cato.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
29. ] We here have the declaration of the Creator Himself concerning the relative glory and beauty of all human pomp, compared with the meanest of His own works. See 2Ch 9:15-28 . And the meaning hidden beneath the text should not escape the student. As the beauty of the flower is unfolded by the Divine Creator-Spirit from within , from the laws and capacities of its own individual life, so must all true adornment of man be unfolded from within by the same Almighty Spirit. See 1Pe 3:3-4 . As nothing from without can defile a man, (ch. Mat 15:11 ,) so neither can any thing from without adorn him. Our Lord introduces with His revelations of omniscience: see ch. Mat 18:10 ; Mat 18:19 .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mat 6:29 . : the speaker is conscious He makes a strong statement, but He means it. , not even Solomon the magnificent, most glorious of the kings of Israel, and on state occasions most gorgeously attired. : the lilies are in view, and one of them is singled out to vie with Solomon.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
29.] We here have the declaration of the Creator Himself concerning the relative glory and beauty of all human pomp, compared with the meanest of His own works. See 2Ch 9:15-28. And the meaning hidden beneath the text should not escape the student. As the beauty of the flower is unfolded by the Divine Creator-Spirit from within, from the laws and capacities of its own individual life, so must all true adornment of man be unfolded from within by the same Almighty Spirit. See 1Pe 3:3-4. As nothing from without can defile a man, (ch. Mat 15:11,) so neither can any thing from without adorn him. Our Lord introduces with His revelations of omniscience: see ch. Mat 18:10; Mat 18:19.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mat 6:29. , I say) Christ truly knew the dress of Solomon.-, as) sc. is clothed, or is.-, one) any one, not to say a whole garland.[287]-, of these) The pronoun is used demonstratively.
[287] Kings were wont to wear white robes; but these are surpassed by the whiteness of the lilies.-V. g.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
even: 1Ki 10:5-7, 2Ch 9:4-6, 2Ch 9:20-22, 1Ti 2:9, 1Ti 2:10, 1Pe 3:2-5
Reciprocal: 2Ch 18:9 – clothed Est 8:15 – royal apparel Son 2:2 – General Luk 7:25 – are in Luk 11:9 – I say
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6:29
The glory of Solomon’s royal robes was artificial, made by the art of man, and doubtless was unexcelled by any other king of his time. His general surroundings also were the greatest of his time. (See 1 Kings 10.) The glory and beauty of the flower is natural and hence is made directly by the hand of the Creator without the instrumentality of man, which shows the ability of God to accomplish the utmost in the field of adornment and clothing.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 6:29. Even Solomon. The magnificence of his court is still proverbial through the East. To the Jew he was the highest representative of human glory.
Like one of these. One is emphatic. The meanest of Gods creatures exceed in glory the highest earthly pomp. Vanity about such things is therefore the height of folly. Another lesson is hidden beneath the text, As the beauty of the flower is unfolded by the Divine Creator-Spirit from within, from the laws and capacities of its own individual life, so must all true adornment of man be unfolded from within by the same Almighty Spirit. (Alford.)