Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 12:25

"And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit unto the measure of his life?" — Luke 12:25 (ASV)

The thrust of the comparison “how much more valuable?” is similar to the argument from the lesser to the greater in vv.6–7. There the sparrows represent birds of little value. Here the ravens may represent birds that were considered unclean (Leviticus 11:13–20, esp. v.15) and therefore presumably unworthy of God’s care. Jesus assures us that the God who cares for such birds surely will care for us. Verses 25–26 constitute still another argument from the lesser (adding minutes of life, or possible inches to height) to the greater (totality of life and its needs). If it is futile to worry about small matters we cannot control, it is even more futile to worry about the larger matters that lies further beyond our control.