The Flowers of the Fields
By Lindsay Grandison MacArthur
And why take ye thought for raiment?
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow;
they toil not, neither do they spin:
Matthew 6:28
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“The hillsides of Galilee are clothed in spring with the crown imperial, and the golden amaryllis, and crimson tulips, and anemones of all shades from scarlet to white, to say nothing of the commoner buttercups and dandelions and daisies; and all these are probably classed roughly together under the generic name of ‘lilies.’ And these, with what we may reverently speak of as a love of Nature, the Lord tells His disciples to ‘consider,’ i.e., not merely to look at with a passing glance, but to study—to learn, as it were, by heart—till they have realized every beauty of structure and form and hue.” – Charles John Ellicott
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“There is perhaps nothing so perfect in all language or literature as...the parable of the lilies of the field.” – G.K. Chesterton
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“The little yellow flowers that nobody notices on the edge of that road are saints looking up into the face of God.” – Thomas Merton
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“God cares not only for things that have necessities, as ravens have, but for things that have luxuries, as lilies have. When God does anything, he does it well. He is a grand Housekeeper. When God himself works in the kingdom of his grace, he does it perfectly; he does it gloriously.” – Charles Spurgeon
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“Look upon the lilies, and learn to trust God for raiment. That is another part of our care, what we shall put on; for decency, to cover us; for defense, to keep us warm; yea, and, with many, for dignity and ornament, to make them look great and fine; and so much concerned are they for gaiety and variety in their clothing, that this care returns almost as often as that for their daily bread. Now to ease us of this care, let us consider the lilies of the field; not only look upon them (every eyes does that with pleasure), but consider them. Note, There is a great deal of good to be learned from what we see every day, if we would but consider it.” – Matthew Henry
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“Therefore he would have you so live — industriously, prudently, thriftily, — that you shall get these things, and shall not waste them when you have them; but he would not have you live in an anxious, worrying, depressed spirit, as if you had no God, no Heavenly Father, no all-sufficient Friend; and as if there were no all-wise providence, and you were left to drift about uncared for and alone. It is not so. O you God of the lilies and God of the ravens, you will be the God of your people too!” – Charles Spurgeon
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“Christ does not direct his hearers to the lilies, or flowers which grow in the garden which receive some advantage from the management and care of the gardener; but to those of the field, where the art and care of men were not so exercised: and besides, he was now preaching on the mount, in an open place; and as he could point to the fowls of the air, flying in their sight, so to the flowers, in the adjacent fields and valleys: which he would have them look upon, with their eyes, consider and contemplate in their minds.” – John Gill
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“‘Consider the lilies of the field’ and ‘be still and know that God is God’ are related invitations. Both invitations encourage us to open our hearts and minds (in the spirit of revelation) so that the divine beauty, majesty, and purpose of God’s creations can bear testimony of their Supreme Creator. Both invitations urge us to feel Heavenly Father’s and our Savior’s spiritual assurances that They love and are close to us. And both invitations call us to let go of things which matter less, or which may ultimately not matter at all.” – Gerrit W. Gong
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