Seek first God’s way (Matthew 6:25-34)
Matthew 6:25-34 is a core part of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus commands his followers not to worry about basic needs—food, drink, and clothing—but instead to trust in God’s providence. He instructs them to prioritize seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness first, assuring that all necessities will be provided. GotQuestions.org +3
Don’t worry about basic needs: (Matthew 6:25)
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
“Take no thought” (vs. 25, 31, 34): In modern English, this can be misleading. In the 1611 KJV context, it does not mean “don’t plan,” but rather “do not be anxious” or “distracted by care”. The Greek word used, merimnao, literally means to be “drawn in different directions”. He will surely provide the food and clothing (the lesser gifts) to sustain it.
The fowls of the air (Matthew 6:26-27)
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
The Futility of Worry (vs. 27): Jesus asks, “Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?” This highlights that worry is unproductive; it cannot even perform a small physical change like increasing one’s height.
The Fowls of the Air: They do not store food in barns, yet God feeds them. You are “much better than they”.
The lilies of the field (Matthew 6:28-29)
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
The Lilies of the Field: They do not “toil nor spin,” yet their natural beauty surpasses the “glory” of King Solomon’s finest robes.
Grass of the field (Matthew 6:30)
30 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?
God knows our needs (Matthew 6:31-32)
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Seek ye first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33-34)
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
The Core Command (vs. 33): “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” This is the “perfect prescription” for worry: prioritize God’s reign and His ways above all else, and your material needs will be provided as a byproduct.
Sufficient Unto the Day (vs. 34): “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” This means each day has enough of its own troubles; adding tomorrow’s potential problems only creates an impossible burden for today.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
Leave a Reply