Luke 12:25

And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

12:22-40 Christ largely insisted upon this caution not to give way to disquieting, perplexing cares, Mt 6:25-34. The arguments here used are for our encouragement to cast our care upon God, which is the right way to get ease. As in our stature, so in our state, it is our wisdom to take it as it is. An eager, anxious pursuit of the things of this world, even necessary things, ill becomes the disciples of Christ. Fears must not prevail; when we frighten ourselves with thoughts of evil to come, and put ourselves upon needless cares how to avoid it. If we value the beauty of holiness, we shall not crave the luxuries of life. Let us then examine whether we belong to this little flock. Christ is our Master, and we are his servants; not only working servants, but waiting servants. We must be as men that wait for their lord, that sit up while he stays out late, to be ready to receive him. In this Christ alluded to his own ascension to heaven, his coming to call his people to him by death, and his return to judge the world. We are uncertain as to the time of his coming to us, we should therefore be always ready. If men thus take care of their houses, let us be thus wise for our souls. Be ye therefore ready also; as ready as the good man of the house would be, if he knew at what hour the thief would come.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 6:25-33.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

25, 26. which of you, &c.—Corroding solicitude will not bring you the least of the things ye fret about, though it may double the evil of wanting them. And if not the least, why vex yourselves about things of more consequence?

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Luke 12:22"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And which of you with taking thought,.... In an anxious and distressing manner, for food and raiment, in order to preserve and continue life,

add to his stature one cubit? The Persic version reads, "to his stature and height", as if this referred to the height of stature; whereas it seems rather to regard the age of a man, and the continuance of his life; See Gill on Matthew 6:27.

Geneva Study Bible

And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

25. to his stature] Some would here render the word ἡλικία, ‘age’ (comp. Psalm 39:5); but ‘stature’ is probably right.

Bengel's Gnomen

Luke 12:25. Τίς δὲ ἐξ ὑμῶ͂ν, moreover which of you) In antithesis to God, who feeds the ravens, and all birds, and all animals, and men.—ἡλικίαν, stature) Some make the reference of this word be to length of life or age: but no one measures age by cubits.—αὐτοῦ, his own) If our own stature is not at our disposal, how much less are all the creatures, from which we derive our meat and drink!—πῆχυν ἓνα, one cubit) The height of a man is equal to four of his own cubits [the πῆχυς, cubitum, is strictly the length from the point of the elbow to the end of middle finger]: a man cannot, however anxious (with all his anxieties), add even one such cubit, i.e. a fifth, to his height; whether he wish for it, or does not. A man is not likely to wish that a hand-breadth or a foot, much less a cubit, should be added to his height: but he who is unduly anxious as to his life (what he is to eat, drink, and put on), in reality, even though unconsciously, wishes for greater stature, wherewith he may expend more toil and make more gain.

Luke 12:25

Vincent's Word Studies

Stature (ἡλικίαν)

The original meaning of the word is time of life, age. So, commonly, in classical Greek. See, also, John 9:21, John 9:23; Hebrews 11:11. The other meaning, stature, also occurs. Herodotus speaks of one who was of the same height (ἡλικιήν) with another (3:16). But both the usage and the connection are in favor of the meaning age. A measure of time is sometimes represented by a measure of length, as in Psalm 39:5; but, most of all, the addition of a cubit (a foot and a half) to one's stature would not be a small one, as the text implies (that which is least), but a very large one. Moreover, Christ is speaking of food and clothing, the object of which is to foster and prolong life. Rev., age, in margin.