English
Jesus said, ‘Do not be anxious from morning until evening, and from evening until morning, [neither about your food and what you will eat, nor about your robe and] what you will wear. [You are of more value than the lilies, which neither card nor spin. As for you, when you have no clothing, what will you put on? Who might add to your stature? He will give you your clothing.]’
Interpretation
The Coptic version of Saying 36 says only not to worry about clothing, while the Greek version includes references to food, drink, and lifespan. The versions in Matthew and Luke are substantially longer (with Luke possibly dependent on Matthew), this saying is directed toward all manner of people (Matt 5.1–2; Luke 12.1). In the Gospel of Thomas, the target audience is ambiguous, but may be understood as one of many instructions given to prepare the disciples for their careers spreading Jesus’ message. As they (figuratively) fortify their cities (Saying 32), stand on their rooftops and set up their lamps (33), and bind the strong man (35), they should not worry for their own well-being, because God will provide for them as they fulfill their duty.
Parallels
Matthew
6.25–34 ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air. They neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” For it is the nations who strive for all these things. And indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his justice, and all these things will be given to you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.’
Luke
12.22–31 He said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens. They neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.’