Consider
More Than a Casual Glance
In Scripture, "consider" is never a casual suggestion. The various Hebrew and Greek words behind the English translation convey meanings ranging from close examination to deep meditation. When Jesus said, "Consider the lilies of the field" (Matthew 6:28), the Greek word suggests learning thoroughly by careful study. When the psalmist says, "When I consider your heavens" (Psalm 8:3), the Hebrew implies sustained, attentive observation. Biblical consideration is deliberate, focused, and transformative.
Considering God's Creation
Jesus used nature as the starting point for one of his most memorable lessons on faith and anxiety. "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these" (Matthew 6:28-29). The call to consider is an invitation to observe carefully and draw conclusions about God's character from what can be seen. If God clothes wildflowers with such beauty, how much more will he care for his children? Luke's parallel account uses a different Greek word meaning to observe thoroughly (Luke 12:27), reinforcing that this is not idle admiration but purposeful reflection.
Considering the Heavens
Psalm 8:3-4 captures the contemplative heart of biblical faith: "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them?" Here consideration leads to humility and wonder. The vastness of creation puts human significance in perspective, yet the psalm marvels that God nevertheless cares for humanity. This kind of consideration — moving from observation to theological reflection — is central to the worship life of the Psalms.
Considering One Another
The author of Hebrews extends the call to consider from creation to community: "Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works" (Hebrews 10:24). The Greek verb here means to observe carefully, to give sustained attention. Christians are called to study one another's needs and circumstances with the same attentiveness they give to Scripture, in order to encourage faithfulness and active love. This communal dimension of consideration prevents faith from becoming an isolated, private affair.
Considering the Faithful
Hebrews 13:7 instructs believers to "consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith," referring to spiritual leaders. The Greek word here means to look upward or look back at — to examine with respect and attention. Consideration of faithful examples is not mere nostalgia but active learning that shapes present behavior. Similarly, Hebrews 3:1 urges believers to "consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession," making Christ himself the ultimate object of contemplative faith.
Consideration in the Wisdom Tradition
The Wisdom literature is saturated with calls to consider. The virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 "considers a field and buys it" (Proverbs 31:16), demonstrating practical wisdom through careful evaluation. Isaiah rebukes Israel because "the ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not consider" (Isaiah 1:3). The failure to consider — to give thoughtful attention to God and his ways — is presented as a root cause of Israel's spiritual decline.
Biblical Context
"Consider" appears throughout Scripture: in wisdom literature (Proverbs 31:16; Psalm 8:3; 77:5), prophetic rebuke (Isaiah 1:3), Jesus's teaching (Matthew 6:26, 28; Luke 12:27), and the epistles (Hebrews 3:1; 10:24; 13:7). In Leviticus 13:13, the priest 'considers' skin conditions carefully. The concept spans from practical inspection to deep theological meditation.
Theological Significance
Biblical consideration is the foundation of contemplative faith. It teaches that spiritual growth requires attentive engagement — with creation, Scripture, community, and Christ himself. The failure to consider leads to spiritual blindness and moral decline, as Isaiah warns. The discipline of consideration transforms observation into worship, knowledge into obedience, and individual reflection into communal encouragement.
Historical Background
The emphasis on careful consideration in Scripture reflects the broader wisdom tradition of the ancient Near East, where attentive observation of nature, human behavior, and divine patterns was considered essential to understanding the world. Egyptian wisdom literature and Mesopotamian proverb collections similarly encouraged close observation and reflection. The Greek philosophical tradition, particularly Stoicism, also valued contemplation of nature as a path to understanding divine order. The biblical writers share this emphasis on observation but direct it toward the God of Israel rather than impersonal cosmic principles.