Matthew 6 30

Matthew 6:30 kjv

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Matthew 6:30 nkjv

Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Matthew 6:30 niv

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you?you of little faith?

Matthew 6:30 esv

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Matthew 6:30 nlt

And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

Matthew 6 verses

Matthew 6 30 Meaning

Matthew 6:30 reveals God's meticulous and bountiful provision for creation, even for what is ephemeral and seemingly insignificant, thereby demonstrating His infinitely greater commitment to caring for His children. Jesus uses an a fortiori argument (from the lesser to the greater) to challenge His disciples' anxiety about material needs, labeling their worry as a symptom of "little faith." The verse asserts that if God decorates the wildflowers that are soon to perish, He will surely and more certainly clothe and provide for human beings made in His image and called into His kingdom. It calls believers to trust God's Fatherly care instead of succumbing to worldly anxieties.

Matthew 6 30 Context

Matthew 6:30 is part of Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, specifically within the section addressing anxiety and worry about material possessions (Mat 6:25-34). Preceding this verse, Jesus admonishes His listeners not to worry about food, drink, or clothing by pointing to birds that are fed without toiling (Mat 6:26). The broader context of Matthew 6 deals with kingdom righteousness, contrasting superficial piety with sincere devotion, and emphasizes treasures in heaven over earthly accumulation. Jesus' teaching here directly counters the prevailing human tendency to worry excessively about daily needs, a common struggle in agrarian, resource-dependent societies where the lack of even basic necessities could lead to serious hardship or death. The historical/cultural context involves a largely agrarian society where "grass" or wildflowers were plentiful but ultimately used as fuel, highlighting their fleeting nature. Jesus uses relatable, everyday examples to illustrate profound spiritual truths about God's Fatherly providence and the importance of faith over anxiety.

Matthew 6 30 Word analysis

• Wherefore: Connects this teaching logically to the preceding comparison with birds (Mat 6:26). It serves as a strong inference marker, introducing a conclusion based on previously established points.
• if God: Emphasizes divine agency and absolute sovereignty. The "if" does not imply doubt about God's actions, but rather posits a given fact for the sake of the argument: since God does this.
• so clothe (ἀμφιέννυμι, amphiénnumi): "To put on, array, deck." It signifies more than bare covering; it suggests elaborate, beautiful adornment, similar to how one might clothe royalty. This implies God's care extends beyond mere necessity to beauty and provision of exquisite detail.
• the grass of the field (χόρτος τοῦ ἀγροῦ, chortos tou agrou): "Grass" (chortos) refers not just to plain green grass but commonly to wildflowers or herbage, which could include the "lilies of the field" mentioned in the preceding verse (Mat 6:28). "Of the field" (agrou) signifies common, everyday vegetation, accessible to all, emphasizing their ordinary yet divinely adorned existence.
• which to day is, and to morrow (σήμερον...αὔριον, sēmeron...aurion): Highlights the extreme brevity and temporary nature of the grass/wildflower's life. "Today" is its peak, "tomorrow" its demise. This emphasizes the swift decay and ultimate insignificance of what God so wonderfully adorns in human terms.
• is cast into the oven (κλίβανον, klibanon): Refers to a baking oven or furnace, a common household item in ancient Judea, where dried grass, stalks, and weeds were frequently used as fuel. This specific detail powerfully reinforces the expendability and lack of lasting value of the grass from a human perspective, making God's prior elaborate clothing of it even more astonishing.
• shall he not much more clothe you (οὐ πολλῷ μᾶλλον ὑμᾶς ἀμφιέννυμι, ou pollō mallon hymas amphiénnumi): This is a rhetorical question, forming an a fortiori argument – from the lesser (temporary, expendable grass) to the greater (human beings, created in God's image, possessing eternal souls, called to His kingdom). "Much more" (pollō mallon) intensifies the certainty of God's provision. It logically demands an affirmative answer, underlining the irrefutable conclusion. "Clothe you" refers to meeting all of their basic needs for living and sustenance, not just physical raiment.
• O ye of little faith (ὀλιγόπιστοι, oligopistoi): A significant term Jesus uses here and in other contexts (Mat 8:26; 14:31; 16:8; Lk 12:28). It does not signify a total absence of faith, but rather a deficiency or insufficiency of trust and confidence, especially in specific situations of need or crisis. It describes believers who believe in God but fail to fully trust Him to provide for their present needs. Jesus often uses it as a gentle rebuke and a call to deeper reliance on His Father. This "little faith" is directly linked to worry and anxiety, as one demonstrates insufficient trust in God's providence by anxiously worrying about what He has promised to provide.

Matthew 6 30 Bonus section

The specific choice of "grass" (often referring to wildflowers, as alluded to by the lilies in Mat 6:28) instead of mere weeds highlights God's love for beauty and intricate detail even in His most fleeting creations. This artistic abundance for the temporal stands in sharp contrast to humanity's tendency towards anxious frugality concerning themselves. The phrase "cast into the oven" also grounds God's care in a very relatable and often humble reality of first-century Palestinian life, making the divine principle accessible and potent for every household, regardless of their status or wealth. Jesus' consistent use of "little faith" (oligopistos) to describe His disciples' anxieties reveals a recurring pedagogical strategy: He corrects their specific failures in trust, not by condemnation, but by reminding them of His Father's unwavering nature. This term highlights that it is not a lack of belief in God's existence, but a lack of sufficient confidence in His present and active provision that breeds anxiety among believers. The argument presented here directly opposes the materialistic worldview and frantic pursuit of temporal goods prevalent in many societies, then and now, by offering an alternative: serene reliance on divine providence when the "Kingdom of God and His righteousness" are sought first.

Matthew 6 30 Commentary

Matthew 6:30 powerfully challenges the human tendency to worry about daily needs by redirecting focus to the absolute trustworthiness of God's providence. Jesus builds upon His previous examples of God feeding birds (Mat 6:26) and adorning lilies (Mat 6:28-29) to reach an inescapable conclusion. The contrast is stark: God decorates the fleeting wildflower—which today flourishes in intricate beauty and tomorrow serves as common fuel for an oven—with an artistry unparalleled by even King Solomon in his grandest array. If such temporary and unthinking vegetation receives such detailed, extravagant attention from God, then His beloved children, created in His image, called to an eternal destiny, and having spiritual value, are assuredly under His much greater and more constant care. The "little faith" that leads to anxiety is therefore revealed as both irrational and offensive, undermining God's character as a loving and capable Father. This verse is not an endorsement of idleness but an invitation to relinquish anxious control, prioritize the kingdom of God, and fully depend on His unfailing supply, trusting that if He beautifies the transient, He will sustain the eternal.

Practical applications:

• Release Anxiety: When faced with material needs or uncertain futures, reflect on how God cares for simple creation, and intentionally release worries to Him.
• Cultivate Gratitude: Notice the beauty and intricate design in creation as evidence of God's detailed care, fostering a deeper sense of appreciation for His providence.
• Prioritize the Spiritual: Understand that seeking God's Kingdom and righteousness (Mat 6:33) naturally reorders priorities away from anxious accumulation of earthly goods.