SEV Biblia, Chapter 6:27
Mas ¿quin de vosotros podr, acongojndose, aadir a su estatura un codo?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:27
Verse 27. Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?] The third reason against these carking cares is the unprofitableness of human solicitude, unless God vouchsafe to bless it. What can our uneasiness do but render us still more unworthy of the Divine care? The passage from distrust to apostasy is very short and easy; and a man is not far from murmuring against Providence, who is dissatisfied with its conduct. We should depend as fully upon God for the preservation of his gifts as for the gifts themselves.
Cubit unto his stature?] I think hlikian should be rendered age here, and so our translators have rendered the word in John ix. 21, autov hlikian ecei he is of age. A very learned writer observes, that no difficulty can arise from applying phcun a cubit, a measure of extension, to time, and the age of man: as place and time are both quantities, and capable of increase and diminution, and, as no fixed material standard can be employed in the mensuration of the fleeting particles of time, it was natural and necessary, in the construction of language, to apply parallel terms to the discrimination of time and place. Accordingly, we find the same words indifferently used to denote time and place in every known tongue. Lord, let me know the MEASURE of my days! Thou hast made my days HAND-BREADTHS, Psa. xxxix. 5. Many examples might be adduced from the Greek and Roman writers. Besides, it is evident that the phrase of adding one cubit is proverbial, denoting something minute; and is therefore applicable to the smallest possible portion of time; but, in a literal acceptation, the addition of a cubit to the stature, would be a great and extraordinary accession of height. See Wakefield.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 27. Which of you by taking thought , etc.] As Christ argued before, from the unnecessariness of anxious thoughts and cares, about the provisions of life; so here, from the unprofitableness of them; it being impossible for a man, with all his care and thought, to add one cubit unto his stature , or to his age; so the word is rendered, ( John 9:21-23; Hebrews 11:11) to the days of his life, he is so solicitous about; for a cubit may as well be applied to a mans age, as an hands breadth is to his days, ( Psalm 39:5). Nor is it so reasonable to think, that Christ should be speaking of making such an addition to a mans height; though that, to be sure, is an impossible thing: since the far greater part of Christs hearers must be come to their full growth, and could not hope to have any addition made to their height; though they might hope to add to their days; much less such a monstrous one as that of a cubit, and which is a strong reason against the other sense of the word, and for this: for our Lord is speaking of something very small, which men cannot do; as appears from what Luke says, ( Luke 12:26) If ye then be not able to do that which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? Whereas, to add a cubit to a mans height, is a great deal: the stature of a middling man (says Bartenora) is three cubits.
And to add one more, makes a large addition to his stature; but to apply this to a mans age, is a small matter, and yet is what men cannot do: the sense of the words is this, that no man, by all the care and thought he can make use of, is ever able to add one cubit, or the least measure to his days; he cannot lengthen out his life one year, one month, one day, one hour; no, not one moment.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 25-34 - There is scarcely any sin against which our Lord Jesus more warns his disciples, than disquieting, distracting, distrustful cares about the things of this life. This often insnares the poor as much as the love of wealth does the rich. But there is a carefulness about tempora things which is a duty, though we must not carry these lawful cares to far. Take no thought for your life. Not about the length of it; but refer it to God to lengthen or shorten it as he pleases; our times ar in his hand, and they are in a good hand. Not about the comforts of this life; but leave it to God to make it bitter or sweet as he pleases. Food and raiment God has promised, therefore we may expec them. Take no thought for the morrow, for the time to come. Be no anxious for the future, how you shall live next year, or when you ar old, or what you shall leave behind you. As we must not boast of tomorrow, so we must not care for to-morrow, or the events of it. God has given us life, and has given us the body. And what can he not d for us, who did that? If we take care about our souls and for eternity which are more than the body and its life, we may leave it to God to provide for us food and raiment, which are less. Improve this as a encouragement to trust in God. We must reconcile ourselves to ou worldly estate, as we do to our stature. We cannot alter the disposal of Providence, therefore we must submit and resign ourselves to them Thoughtfulness for our souls is the best cure of thoughtfulness for the world. Seek first the kingdom of God, and make religion your business say not that this is the way to starve; no, it is the way to be wel provided for, even in this world. The conclusion of the whole matte is, that it is the will and command of the Lord Jesus, that by dail prayers we may get strength to bear us up under our daily troubles, an to arm us against the temptations that attend them, and then let non of these things move us. Happy are those who take the Lord for their God, and make full proof of it by trusting themselves wholly to his wise disposal. Let thy Spirit convince us of sin in the want of thi disposition, and take away the worldliness of our hearts __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
τις 5101 I-NSM δε 1161 CONJ εξ 1537 PREP υμων 5216 P-2GP μεριμνων 3309 5723 V-PAP-NSM δυναται 1410 5736 V-PNI-3S προσθειναι 4369 5629 V-2AAN επι 1909 PREP την 3588 T-ASF ηλικιαν 2244 N-ASF αυτου 846 P-GSM πηχυν 4083 N-ASM ενα 1520 A-ASM
Robertson's NT Word Studies
6:27 {Unto his stature} (epi ten helikian autou). The word hlikian is used either of height (stature) or length of life (age). Either makes good sense here, though probably "stature" suits the context best. Certainly anxiety will not help either kind of growth, but rather hinder by auto-intoxication if nothing more. this is no plea for idleness, for even the birds are diligent and the flowers grow.
