Matthew 6:25-34
The King frees His people from anxious striving by calling them to trust the Father and seek first the kingdom.
25 Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
26 See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they?
27 “Which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan?
28 Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin,
29 yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these.
30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of little faith?
31 “Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’
32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33 But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
34 Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.
The King frees his people from anxious striving by calling them to trust the Father and seek first the kingdom.
Matthew records Jesus commanding his disciples not to be ruled by anxiety over material needs, but to trust the Father and seek first his kingdom and righteousness.
The Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus teaches disciples about kingdom righteousness before the Father.
Hidden Righteousness, the Father’s Reward, and Seeking First the Kingdom
Kingdom righteousness lives before the Father rather than human applause, treasures God above earthly security, and seeks first his kingdom with childlike trust.