Knowing The Word in Matthew 6:25-34

Do Not Be Anxious

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious [mental attitude rather than the outworking of life] about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? [What is prohibited is worry, not work!] 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? [For Matthew, faith is a very practical reliance on the power and care of the Father and of Jesus. Anxiety is therefore the opposite and ruled out for a disciple.] 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles [do not know the Father and therefore worry themselves and their own gods in their prayers] seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek [present indicative, implying a continuing obligation] first the kingdom of God [and his sovereignty in your life] and his righteousness [the kind of life God commands in this present age], and all these things will be added to you. [Material concern is not only distracting but unnecessary.]

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. [God’s sure provision of our needs does not guarantee a life without problems. He knows they will come and will help us when they do.]