{"id":460,"date":"2014-11-03T12:00:13","date_gmt":"2014-11-03T12:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/forbiblestudynerds\/?p=460"},"modified":"2014-10-27T19:20:51","modified_gmt":"2014-10-27T19:20:51","slug":"matthew-625-34-do-not-worry-rhetorical-influences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/forbiblestudynerds\/2014\/11\/matthew-625-34-do-not-worry-rhetorical-influences.html","title":{"rendered":"Matthew 6:25-34; Do Not Worry (Rhetorical Influences)"},"content":{"rendered":"

How odd it seems that Jesus felt compelled to argue with first-century hearers about God\u2019s faithfulness in caring for them. Yet there he is in Matthew 6:25-34, forcefully presenting debate-style arguments to support this seemingly-obvious message.<\/p>\n

First, when admonishing hearers not to worry, Christ used a common rabbinical debate form known as going from the major to the minor<\/em>. This is seen in Matthew 6:25, \u201cIs not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?\u201d The implication, of course, is that God has already provided each person with the major elements here\u2014life and a body\u2014so why would he scrimp on the minor things (food and clothes) that are necessary for those?<\/p>\n

Next, in verse 26, Jesus used comparative reasoning<\/em> to form his argument. \u201cLook at the birds of the air\u2026are you not much more valuable than they?\u201d In other words, God provides for the needs of his inconsequential creations (birds) each day, so comparatively speaking, he will also provide the daily needs of his most prized creations\u2014you and me.<\/p>\n

Third, in Matthew 6:27, Jesus delivered an undeniable argument of cause-and-effect reasoning<\/em>: \u201cWho of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?\u201d The answer, of course, is no one, making worry a zero-sum enterprise better replaced by trusting in God\u2019s faithfulness to provide.<\/p>\n

Verses 28-30 finds Jesus pointing to the lilies of the field to make an argument drawn from conditional reasoning<\/em> (i.e. \u201cIf\u2026Then\u2026\u201d): \u201cIf that is how God clothes the grasses of the field\u2026will he not much more clothe you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Finally, in verse 32, Jesus uses exemplar reasoning<\/em> to drive home his point. Pagans who don\u2019t know God are the negative example he uses in this case. Those who follow God, then, are called to be the opposite: Positive examples of faith that fully trust their heavenly Father\u2019s knowledge and ability on their behalf.<\/p>\n

In all, Jesus deployed five<\/em> distinct forms of argument in the few, simple sentences here\u2014just to make the point that we don\u2019t have to worry because God cares for us. Wow. Maybe today, once again, it\u2019s time for you and me to \u201cLook at the birds of the air\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Works Cited<\/a>:<\/p>\n

[BKB, 133]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2126\u2126\u2126<\/p>\n

About: For Bible Study Nerds\u2122<\/a><\/p>\n

About: Mike Nappa<\/a><\/p>\n

Copyright \u00a9 2014 to present by\u00a0Nappaland Communications Inc<\/a>. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How odd it seems that Jesus felt compelled to argue with first-century hearers about God\u2019s faithfulness in caring for them. Yet there he is in Matthew 6:25-34, forcefully presenting debate-style arguments to support this seemingly-obvious message. First, when admonishing hearers not to worry, Christ used a common rabbinical debate form known as going from the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":571,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,113],"tags":[127,196,189],"class_list":["post-460","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-matthew","category-rhetorical-influences","tag-faith","tag-gods-provision","tag-worry"],"yoast_head":"\nMatthew 6:25-34; Do Not Worry (Rhetorical Influences) - For Bible Study Nerds<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/forbiblestudynerds\/2014\/11\/matthew-625-34-do-not-worry-rhetorical-influences.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Matthew 6:25-34; Do Not Worry (Rhetorical Influences) - For Bible Study Nerds\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"How odd it seems that Jesus felt compelled to argue with first-century hearers about God\u2019s faithfulness in caring for them. 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