Luke 12:26

Luk 12:26. Οὔτε ἐλάχιστον, not even that which is least) The argument is drawn from the greater to the less in Luk 12:23. Now it is by an argument from the less to the greater that the truth is shown, that our anxieties are vain and driftless. To add a cubit to the stature of a man already born and in full strength, was regarded by Jesus as a thing the least difficult with God Almighty, and as even a less exertion of power than the remarkable increase of the five loaves, etc., ch. Luk 9:16. On the contrary, it is the greatest exhibition of power, that He has given us stature itself and strength of body, whereby the necessaries of life are obtained,—nay more, hath given us the soul along with the body: and year by year, and day by day, produces corn, wine, oil, spices, fruits, berries, vegetables, herbs, cows, sheep, wild beasts, birds, and fishes, and preserves and maintains the whole world of nature. These are the τῶν λοιπῶν, the rest, the other remaining things, which are much less in our power than the height of our stature: and yet they have a much closer connection with our sustenance than our stature has.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Luk 12:26 . ἐλάχιστον : the application of this epithet to the act of adding a cubit ἐπὶ τὴν ἡλικίαν at first appears conclusive evidence that for Lk. at least ἡλικία must mean length of life: as to add a cubit to one’s stature is so great a thing that no one thinks of attempting it (Hahn, similarly Holtzmann, H. C.). But adding to one’s stature a cubit or an inch is of minimum importance as compared with lengthening our days. Yet it must be owned that Lk.’s ἐλάχιστον puts us off the track of the idea intended, if we take ἡλικία = stature. The point is, we cannot do what God has done for all mature persons: added a cubit at least to the stature of their childhood, and this is the greater thing, not the least, greater than giving us the means of life now that we have reached maturity. Vide notes on Mt.

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

(26) If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least.—The words are peculiar to St. Luke’s report. If no amount of anxious care can add one cubit to our stature or the measure of our days (see Notes on Mat_6:27), how much less can we control all the myriad contingencies upon which the happiness of the future may depend!

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

If ye then be not able to do that which is least,.... As to make the smallest addition to a man's stature, or rather to add one moment to his days:

why take ye thought for the rest? which are much greater, as to preserve the body in its whole bulk, and all its parts, or for the feeding and clothing of it, or rather for the continuation and preservation of life to any length of time; for if it cannot be by all a man's care and solicitude lengthened out one moment longer than is the pleasure of God, how should it be by such anxiety continued for months and years?

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

Ver. 26. For the rest] For superfluities, when ye cannot provide yourselves of necessaries.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

26. εἰ … οὐδὲ ἐλάχιστον. The negative does not depend on the εἰ (in which case μηδὲ would be required), but reverses the meaning of δύνασθε—‘since you are unable.’ Comp. Joh 3:12; Rom 11:21, &c.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

26. ἐλάχιστον] This shews the truth of the interpretation of ἡλικ. given in the note on Matt. A cubit would not be ἐλάχιστον to add to the stature, but a very large increase: [whereas, as Trench observes, “a cubit would be infinitesimally small when compared to his length of life, that life being contemplated as a course, or race, which he may attempt, but ineffectually, to prolong.”]

Henry Alford, The Greek Testament (1849–1861) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

26. εἰ οὖν οὐδὲ ἐλάχιστον δύνασθε. These words have no equivalent Mt. and are omitted in D, which for the whole verse has simply καὶ περὶ τῶν λοιπῶν τί μεριμνᾶτε. So also a b c d ff2 i l r: et de cæteris quid solliciti estis. By τῶν λοιπῶν are meant clothing (Mt.), food, and other bodily necessities.

For οὐδέ we might have expected μηδέ. But εἰ=ἐπεί and the sentence conditional in form only. “If (as is certain) ye cannot” = “Since ye cannot.” Comp. Joh 3:12, Joh 3:5:47; 1Co 11:6; Heb 12:25. Win. lv. 2. a, pp 600 Or we may consider οὐδέ as belonging to δύνασθε, and not to the whole sentence “If ye are unable.” Simcox, Lang. of N.T. p. 183. But the former is better.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.