Obviously people have a responsibility to provide for their own needs ( Genesis 1:29-30; 2 Thessalonians 3:10). Jesus was forbidding worrying over these things. He used hyperbole (i.e, overstatement for the sake of the effect) to make His point. The Greek word translated "worry" here is meteorizesthe meaning "to raise up" or "to suspend." The idea is of a person in suspense or "up in the air" with anxiety about his or her needs. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
Luke 12:22-34 - The Cure For Anxious Care
Notice this contrast between two kinds of men: the one cares for himself, is anxious for this life, worries about food and clothes and standing a cubit higher in the estimate of his fellows; the other is content to fill the niche and do the work assigned him by the Father. And he performs his life-task, not for the remuneration it will bring, but for the "well-done" of God-sure that all which is needed, whether for his soul or body, will be provided by Him who gave him being. The Father knows thy varied need, trust Him!
Do not think of God as grudging! It is your Father's good pleasure to give. Nothing delights Him more than to be able to "give good things to them that ask Him." For Him also "it is more blessed to give than to receive." Remember that the best investments are those we store, not in banks, etc., but in the lives of others: for God Himself guarantees the interest. [source]
Chapter Summary: Luke 12
1Jesus preaches to his apostles to avoid hypocrisy 13and warns against covetousness, by the parable of the man who set up greater barns 22We must not worry about earthly things, 31but seek the kingdom of God; 33give alms; 35be ready at a knock to open to our Lord whensoever he comes 41Jesus' disciples are to see to their charges, 49and look for persecution 54The people must take this time of grace; 57because it is a fearful thing to die without reconciliation
Greek Commentary for Luke 12:29
Seek not ye [υμεις μη ζητειτε] Note emphatic position of “ye” Stop seeking Matthew 6:31 has: “Do not become anxious” (μη μεριμνησητε mē merimnēsēte), μη mē and ingressive subjunctive occur as direct questions (What are we to eat? What are we to drink? What are we to put on?) whereas here they are in the indirect form as in Luke 12:22 save that the problem of clothing is not here mentioned. [source]
Neither be ye of doubtful mind [και μη μετεωριζεστε] Μη Mē and present passive imperative (stop being anxious) of μετεωριζω meteōrizō An old verb from μετεωρος meteōros in midair, high (our meteor), to lift up on high, then to lift oneself up with hopes (false sometimes), to be buoyed up, to be tossed like a ship at sea, to be anxious, to be in doubt as in late writers (Polybius, Josephus). This last meaning is probably true here. In the lxx and Philo, but here only in the N.T.sa120 [source]
Be ye of doubtful mind [μετεωρίζεσθε] Only here in New Testament. The verb primarily means to raise to a height; buoy up, as with false hopes; and so to unsettle, or excite, or keep in fluctuation. Thus Thucydides says of the war between Athens and Sparta: “All Hellas was excited ( μετέωρος ) by the coming conflict between the two chief cities” (ii., 8). [source]
What do the individual words in Luke 12:29 mean?
Andyounotseekwhatyou might eatyou might drinkbe in suspense
Greek Commentary for Luke 12:29
Note emphatic position of “ye” Stop seeking Matthew 6:31 has: “Do not become anxious” (μη μεριμνησητε mē merimnēsēte), μη mē and ingressive subjunctive occur as direct questions (What are we to eat? What are we to drink? What are we to put on?) whereas here they are in the indirect form as in Luke 12:22 save that the problem of clothing is not here mentioned. [source]
Μη Mē and present passive imperative (stop being anxious) of μετεωριζω meteōrizō An old verb from μετεωρος meteōros in midair, high (our meteor), to lift up on high, then to lift oneself up with hopes (false sometimes), to be buoyed up, to be tossed like a ship at sea, to be anxious, to be in doubt as in late writers (Polybius, Josephus). This last meaning is probably true here. In the lxx and Philo, but here only in the N.T.sa120 [source]
Only here in New Testament. The verb primarily means to raise to a height; buoy up, as with false hopes; and so to unsettle, or excite, or keep in fluctuation. Thus Thucydides says of the war between Athens and Sparta: “All Hellas was excited ( μετέωρος ) by the coming conflict between the two chief cities” (ii., 8). [source]