Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 12:28
If then God so clothe the grass, which is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more [will he clothe] you, O ye of little faith?
28. the grass…in the field ] The common Scripture symbol for evanescence, Isa 40:6; 1Pe 1:24; Jas 1:10-11.
is cast into the oven ] In the absence of wood this is the usual method of heating ovens in the East.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 28. Into the oven] See Clarke on Mt 6:30.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
If then God so clothe the grass,…. lilies and tulips; for they are no other than grass, weak, frail, fading, short lived flowers, which have all their gaiety and beauty from the great Creator of them:
which is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven: the grass is one day in the field, in all its verdure, glory, and beauty; and being cut down before evening, the next day it is withered and dried, and made fit to put into an oven, or under a furnace to heat them with:
how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? The Persic version renders the words, “how much more excellent are ye than that, O ye of little faith?” they are more excellent in their nature, and of a longer duration, and are designed for greater ends and purposes; and therefore if God clothes the one in such a manner as he does, how much more will he not clothe the other? and such who are distrustful and diffident in this matter, may well be called men of little faith; [See comments on Mt 6:30].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Clothe (). Late Greek verb in the Koine (papyri) for the older form (Mt 6:30). See Matthew for discussion of details. Matthew has “the grass of the field” instead of “the grass in the field” as here.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Which is today in the field. Construe in the field with the grass; and render is absolutely : exists, lives. So Rev., the grass in the field which today is.
Oven [] . Strictly, a covered earthen vessel, wider at bottom than at top, in which bread was baked by putting hot embers round it. The regular oven or furnace is ijpnov. Herodotus, speaking of the papyrus – plant (byblus), the lower portion of which is used for food, says, “Such as wish to enjoy the byblus in full perfection, bake it first in a closed vessel [ ] , heated to a glow” (ii. 92).
And seek not what ye, etc. Ye is emphatic : “and ye, seek not what,” etc.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “If then God so clothe the grass,” (ei de ho theos houtos amphiazei ton chorton) “Then if God so gorgeously clothes the grass-lilies,” or the grass that is mown down in the fields, where lilies are arrayed in the beauty of nature, 1Pe 1:24. For the flower is the glory of the grass, as the soul is the glory of man.
2) “Which is today in the field,” (en argo onta semeron) “Which exists in a field today,” one day, Mat 6:30.
3) “And tomorrow is cast into the oven;” (kai aurion eis klibanon ballomenon) “And tomorrow is thrown into an oven,” a covered earthen vessel, where bread was baked by putting coals of fire upon it, to be burned, in so short a time, Mat 6:30.
4) “How much more will he clothe you, 0 ye of little faith?” (poso mallon humas oligopistoi) “How much rather (by what greater priority will he clothe you all) you of such little faith,” or who use your faith in such a little manner! Or will He not be even more careful to clothe you all, you who hold so little faith? The implied answer is, He will, Mat 6:30; Php_4:6-7; Php_4:18-19.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
“But if God so clothes the growth in the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith?”
And God supplies such beauty to what grows in the fields in spite of how temporary their lives are. (For ‘today and tomorrow’ compare Luk 13:32 where it means for a little while). How much more then will He add to our lives the beauty that we seek, the true beauty, and ensure that we are clothed.
And yet they should then note that all that beauty of the flowers eventually gets burned up as fuel in the ovens. In the end it is really worth nothing. What does matter is the beauty of soul that will survive to eternity.
The reference to the casting into the oven (a beehive shaped oven used for cooking) is a reminder of how transient these beautiful flowers are. They die quickly and are then used for cooking with. Like our own food and clothing, they are temporary and all the beauty that they had was transient. In a moment it was gone. Thus the women who are His disciples should not be spending a lot of time concentrating on their own physical beauty, for it will pass away. What they should be spending their time on is the true beauty that reveals that they are of God (1Ti 2:9-10).
‘O you of little faith.’ At the root of all failure to do God’s will is a lack of faith. For those who believe have no problem with all this. If we question it, it is not because it is not the rational and logical way for a believer to behave, it is because we are not sure of God.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
grass, &c. Compare Isa 40:6. 1Pe 1:24. Jam 1:10, Jam 1:11.
cast: i.e. for fuel, “oven “being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for the furnace; as we say “the kettle boils” or “light the fire”.
O ye of little faith. Greek. oligopistos. See all the five occurances in note on Mat 6:30.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Luk 12:28. , in the field) This may be construed either with : in which view, comp. Mat 6:30, : or else with , so as to be in antithesis to .
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
which: Isa 40:6, 1Pe 1:24
O ye: Luk 8:25, Mat 8:26, Mat 14:31, Mat 16:8, Mat 17:17, Mat 17:20
Reciprocal: Mat 6:30 – clothe Luk 9:3 – two Heb 9:14 – How
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
8
God’s care for comparatively unimportant things such as the flowers, and hence His greater care for man, is the lesson of the verse. (See Mat 6:30.)
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Verse 28
Into the oven; as fuel.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
Grass is a common term for all types of plant life. People burn the common vegetation for warmth, yet God has made it beautiful. How much more will God provide for people who have a longer existence and serve a higher purpose than the grass.
The disciples were men of little faith because they worried about the necessities of life rather than trusting God to provide these for them.