King James Bible
"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."
Jesus directs attention to wildflowers as objects of contemplation, inviting careful observation of their natural growth process. The imperative 'consider' suggests more than casual notice—it calls for thoughtful reflection on how God provides for creation without human effort. Lilies neither labor in fields nor engage in textile work, activities that dominated daily life in first-century Palestine. This emphasizes their complete passivity and dependence, contrasting with human anxiety about clothing and provision. Solomon represented the pinnacle of royal splendor in Jewish memory, his wealth and magnificent robes legendary. Jesus declares that God's effortless adornment of temporary wildflowers surpasses even the greatest human achievement in beauty, underscoring divine generosity toward creation.