What is the biblical meaning of lilies of the field?

Answer 1

The phrase the lilies of the field is part of Jesus' sermon on the mount as recorded at Matthew 6:26-34 (compare Luke 12:27-31.)

At this point in his sermon he was encouraging his listeners to put the kingdom of God first in their lives, and not to worry too much about other daily/mundane necessities, such food and, in this particular instance, clothing.

"And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?" ~King James Version.

Some have suggested that Jesus may have been referring to a particular type of wild flower when he said the lilies of the field. Alternatively, as the context indicates, perhaps he was just referring to vegetation in general. Either way, he was illustrating his good counsel with an example drawn from nature, using something that all people, from their own knowledge and experience, can understood and appreciate.

Jesus therefore used the poetic phrase the lilies of the field as part of his well-known Sermon on the Mount, the overall objective of which was to teach his followers to have a more spiritual attitude and outlook, and, in this particular context cited, to remind them that God knows and will always satisfy the needs of those who look to God.

Answer 2

At Matthew 6:25-32, Jesus says: "On this account I say to YOU: Stop being anxious about YOUR souls as to what YOU will eat or what YOU will drink, or about YOUR bodies as to what YOU will wear. Does not the soul mean more than food and the body than clothing? Observe intently the birds of heaven, because they do not sow seed or reap or gather into storehouses; still YOUR heavenly Father feeds them. Are YOU not worth more than they are? Who of YOU by being anxious can add one cubit to his life span? Also, on the matter of clothing, why are YOU anxious? Take a lesson from the lilies of the field, how they are growing; they do not toil, nor do they spin; but I say to YOU that not even Sol′o·mon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these. If, now, God thus clothes the vegetation of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much rather clothe YOU, YOU with little faith? So never be anxious and say, 'What are we to eat?' or, 'What are we to drink?' or, 'What are we to put on?' For all these are the things the nations are eagerly pursuing. For YOUR heavenly Father knows YOU need all these things."

Jesus is saying: Don't worry, God will provide our needs.

This was part of the well-known 'Sermon on the Mount'. Following the Model Prayer, Jesus points out that our heartfeltprayers: (Matthew 6:7--"But when praying, do not say the same things over and over again, just as the people of the nations do, for they imagine they will get a hearing for their use of many words".) to our heavenly Father, along with doing his will, is what is necessary for us to gain Everlasting life.