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Luke 19:3
And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.

Matthew 5:36
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

Matthew 6:27
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

can add a single hour
The phrase highlights the limitations of human control over life. In the original Greek, the word translated as "hour" can also mean "cubit," a measure of length, suggesting the futility of trying to extend one's life or stature through worry. This reflects the biblical theme that life and its duration are in God's hands (Psalm 139:16). The historical context shows that life expectancy was much shorter in ancient times, making the desire to extend life even more poignant.

to his life?
This rhetorical question underscores the point that worry is ineffective in altering the course of one's life. The Bible consistently teaches that God is the author of life and that He alone determines its length (Job 14:5). This phrase connects to the broader biblical narrative of trusting God with one's life and future, as seen in passages likeProverbs 3:5-6. It also points to the ultimate hope in Christ, who offers eternal life beyond the temporal concerns of this world (John 3:16).

• Jesus turns to His listeners personally: “Who of you…”—pulling every hearer, then and now, into self-examination (cf.James 1:23-24).

• The Lord often frames truth with a question (Mark 8:36;Jonah 4:4) so hearts are stirred, not merely informed.

• Here the question exposes a universal struggle: we all know what it is to worry, yet none can claim it produces life-giving results.

• “Worrying” pictures anxious preoccupation—circling thoughts that assume responsibility God never assigned (Matthew 6:25-26;Philippians 4:6-7).

• Scripture calls anxiety a weight we are to cast on the Lord: “casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

• Worry often masquerades as prudence, but Jesus separates the two: planning is wise (Proverbs 6:6-8), worry is futile.

• The verb stresses capability: Do we truly possess the power to alter the length of our lives? (Proverbs 16:9;Jeremiah 10:23).

• Even the most diligent health regimen submits to God’s sovereign scheduling (Psalm 139:16).

• Human limitation is not a flaw in God’s design; it reminds us to trust the One who is unlimited (Isaiah 40:28-31).

• Jesus chooses the smallest measurable slice of time, underlining how utterly powerless worry is.

• Job acknowledged, “Since his days are determined…the number of his months is with You” (Job 14:5).

• If we cannot stretch life by sixty minutes, how irrational to think anxiety could manage larger issues.

• Life itself is a stewardship from God (Acts 17:25). Its duration, quality, and fruitfulness are in His hands (John 10:10).

• Jesus will soon instruct, “Seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you” (Luke 12:31), shifting the focus from self-preservation to kingdom pursuit.

• When eternal life is secure through Christ, the fear of running out of earthly time loses its grip (John 11:25-26;2 Corinthians 5:1).

Luke 12:25 dismantles the illusion that anxiety can secure or extend life. Christ’s pointed question exposes worry as powerless, contrasts it with God’s sovereign care, and invites believers to exchange anxious toil for confident trust. Since the Lord alone numbers our days, we are freed to seek His kingdom, live joyfully in the present, and rest in the certainty that every moment is already held in His wise, loving hands.

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