In Luke 12:27, Jesus tells His listeners, “Consider the lilies, how they grow.” He then makes a remarkable comparison: even Solomon, with all his wealth and royal splendor, was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers.
But what exactly were these “lilies”?
Probably not the large white Easter lilies we picture today.
The Greek word used in Luke is krinon, traditionally translated “lily,” but it may have referred more broadly to the colorful wildflowers growing throughout the countryside. One intriguing possibility is the crown anemone (Anemone coronaria), a brilliant red wildflower found throughout the region. Other possibilities include the Madonna lily, irises, or simply the mixture of spring wildflowers covering the Galilean hillsides.
The exact species, however, may be less important than the picture Jesus was painting.
Imagine Him standing outdoors, perhaps gesturing toward flowers scattered across a hillside. They didn’t work. They didn’t manufacture clothing. They didn’t worry about tomorrow. Yet Jesus says that Solomon—with all his wealth, craftsmen, expensive dyes, and magnificent royal garments—couldn’t match their beauty.
Then comes the point.
Jesus reminds His listeners that the grass and flowers surrounding them are temporary: alive today and perhaps burned as fuel tomorrow. Yet God clothes them beautifully.
If God pays that much attention to a flower that may disappear tomorrow, how much more does He care about you?
Sometimes our anxiety convinces us that everything depends upon us.
Jesus says: Look at the flowers.
God hasn’t forgotten them.
And He hasn’t forgotten you.
About the Author
Dr. Bill Young is an elder at the Danville SDA church and a professor at Eastern Kentucky University. Having a long-term background in prehospital emergency medicine, he has seen the worst that this world has to offer. In doing so, he has found that turning to the scriptures is a very real refuge. He enjoys exploring the history and geography of Israel during the time that Jesus walked the land.