Matthew 6:29

29 But I tell you that not even King Solomon with all his wealth had clothes as beautiful as one of these flowers. 1

Matthew 6:29 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 6:29

And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory,
&c.] 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 (wtevb hmlv) , "Solomon in his hour" F7: that is as their commentators explain it F8, (wtwklm teb) , "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 F9.''


FOOTNOTES:

F7 Misn. Bava Metzia, c. 7. sect. 1. T. Bab. ib. fol. 49. 1. & 83. 1. & 86. 2.
F8 Jarchi & Bartenora in ib.
F9 Tzeror Hammor, fol. 95. 1. & 99. 4. & 110. 4.

Matthew 6:29 In-Context

27 Can any of you live a bit longer by worrying about it?
28 "And why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow: they do not work or make clothes for themselves.
29 But I tell you that not even King Solomon with all his wealth had clothes as beautiful as one of these flowers.
30 It is God who clothes the wild grass - grass that is here today and gone tomorrow, burned up in the oven. Won't he be all the more sure to clothe you? What little faith you have!
31 "So do not start worrying: "Where will my food come from? or my drink? or my clothes?'

Cross References 1

  • 1. 6.29 1 K 10.4-7;2 Chronicles 9.3-6.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.