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Luke 12:27
ESV Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
NIV "Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
NASB Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither labor nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.
CSB "Consider how the wildflowers grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these.
NLT Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.
KJV Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
NKJV Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

What does Luke 12:27 mean?

Jesus is explaining that God has more important uses for our energy than worrying. We have no good reason to panic about starvation, nakedness, or even death. In Luke 12:24, He reminds a crowd that ravens neither work nor store food in barns, but God feeds them regardless. Here, Jesus points out that God adorns the grasses with beautiful wildflowers even if they are destined to be burned the next day (Luke 12:28). The grasses don't work or worry about what they will wear. God provides.

If God loves us more than ravens, and the grasses' dress is more beautiful than Solomon's clothing, the wealthiest of all Israel's kings, there is no point in worrying about food to eat or clothes to wear. This verse isn't saying that God will give His followers clothing as beautiful as Solomon's. Nor is it saying we do not have to work to eat or be clothed. It means it is useless to invest energy into fear or angst about such things.

Solomon was the son of David and the third king of Israel. He was known for his God-given wisdom and great wealth. "Lily" isn't a specific plant; rather, as "raven" means any crow (Luke 12:24), lily refers to any flower. "Toil," of course, means to work hard. "Spin" refers to spinning wool into yarn to knit or weave clothing. The flowers do not work hard to decorate the grass; God does all the work.
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