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Mat_6:25. Διὰ τοῦτο ] because this double service is impossible.
οὐχὶ ἡ ψυχὴ , κ . τ . λ .] Chrysostom: ὁ τοίνυν τὸ μεῖζον (life and body) δοὺς πῶς τὸ ἔλαττον (food and clothing) οὐ δώσει ;
The care has been unwarrantably limited to anxious care, a meaning which is no less unjustifiable in Sir_34:1; the context would be expected to furnish such a limitation if it were intended. Jesus does not only forbid believers the πολλὰ μεριμνᾶν (Xen. Cyr. viii. 7. 12), or the ἀλγεινὰς μεριμνάς (Soph. Ant. 850), the μεριμνήματʼ ἔχειν βάρη (Soph. Phil. 187), or such like, but His desire is that—simply giving themselves to the undivided (curae animum divorse trahunt, Terence) service of God, Mat_6:24, and trusting to Him with true singleness of heart—they should be superior to all care whatsoever as to food, drink, etc. (Php_4:6); nevertheless, to create for themselves such cares would amount to little faith, Mat_6:30 ff., or a half-hearted faith as compared with their duty of entire resignation to that God whose part it is to provide for them. It is only by absolute and perfect faith that the moral height of αὐτάρκεια (Php_4:11 ff.), and of exemption from earthly care, is to be attained. Comp. A. H. Franke’s example in founding the orphanage.
τῇ ψυχῇ ] Dative of immediate reference: in regard to the soul (as the principle of physical life, Mat_10:39, Mat_16:25, Mat_2:20), in so far as it is sustained by means of food and drink. In the case of μεριμνᾶν the object ( τί φάγητε ) is in the accusative (1Co_7:32-34; 1Co_12:25; Php_2:20; Php_4:6).