Luke 12:23

23 For life is more than food, and the body [more than] clothing.

Luke 12:23 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 12:23

The life is more than meat
What in Matthew is put by way of question, is here strongly affirmed; and these words contain a reason or argument to dissuade from an anxious, distressing thought and care about the necessaries, conveniencies, and comforts of life: and all the Oriental versions read, "for", or "seeing the life is more than meat"; that is, it is more excellent and valuable in its own nature, being that for the support of which meat is provided; and seeing God is the author and giver of life, it need not be doubted but he will give meat for the maintenance and continuance of it, so long as is his pleasure it should subsist.

And the body is more than raiment;
it is of more worth than the richest clothing that can be had; the finest piece of embroidery is not comparable to the curious workmanship of the body, ( Psalms 139:15 ) and he that has so curiously wrought that, will not fail to provide suitable and proper clothing for it; and therefore there ought to be no anxiety on this account; (See Gill on Matthew 6:5).

Luke 12:23 In-Context

21 So [is] the one who stores up treasure for himself, and who is not rich toward God!"
22 And he said to his disciples, "For this [reason] I tell you, do not be anxious for [your] life, what you will eat, or for [your] body, what you will wear.
23 For life is more than food, and the body [more than] clothing.
24 Consider the ravens, that they neither sow nor reap; to them there is neither storeroom nor barn, and God feeds them. How much more are you worth than the birds?
25 And which of you [by] being anxious is able to add an hour to his life span?
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.