Matthew 6:33

Commentary on Matthew 6:33 (KJV)

Matthew 6:33 is a pivotal verse from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, offering a profound principle for living a life free from anxiety by reordering one's priorities. It is a cornerstone teaching on faith, trust, and divine provision.

Context

This verse serves as the climax of Jesus' extended teaching on worry and material possessions in Matthew chapter 6. Prior to this, Jesus directly addresses the futility of anxiety over basic necessities like food, drink, and clothing (Matthew 6:25-32). He contrasts human anxiety with God's meticulous care for birds and lilies, highlighting that if God provides for the natural world, He will certainly provide for His children. Matthew 6:33 then presents the solution and the command: shift your focus from earthly concerns to heavenly pursuits, and God will take care of the rest.

Key Themes

• Prioritizing God's Kingdom: The command to "seek ye first" emphasizes that God's reign, His will, and His purposes must be the primary pursuit in a believer's life. This isn't merely about religious activity, but about aligning one's entire being – thoughts, desires, and actions – with God's sovereign rule. It's about living under His authority and participating in His redemptive plan.
• Seeking His Righteousness: This refers both to God's inherent character of justice and holiness, and the righteous living that He desires for His people. It's about pursuing moral integrity, ethical conduct, and a right relationship with God and others, reflecting God's own nature. This pursuit involves hungering and thirsting for righteousness (Matthew 5:6) and living in a way that honors Him.
• Divine Provision: The promise "and all these things shall be added unto you" directly addresses the material anxieties Jesus just spoke about. It assures that when spiritual priorities are correctly ordered, God faithfully provides for the legitimate needs of His children. This is not a promise of wealth or luxury, but of sufficiency and sustenance for those who commit their lives to Him. It underscores God's faithfulness as our provider, as also seen in Philippians 4:19.

Linguistic Insights

• The KJV phrase "seek ye first" translates the Greek prōton zēteite (πρῶτον ζητεῖτε), underscoring the absolute priority Jesus demands. It signifies that this pursuit is not one option among many, but the foundational and foremost endeavor of life.
• "The kingdom of God" (Greek: basileia tou theou - βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ) refers to God's sovereign rule, which is both a present reality in the hearts of believers and a future consummation when His will is fully established on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew often uses "Kingdom of Heaven," which is interchangeable in meaning, respecting Jewish custom of not directly naming God. Jesus' ministry began with the proclamation that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
• "Righteousness" (Greek: dikaiosynē - δικαιοσύνη) encompasses divine justice, moral uprightness, and conformity to God's will. It describes the standard of character God Himself embodies and requires from His people.
• The passive voice of "shall be added" (Greek: prostethēsetai - προστεθήσεται) highlights God as the active agent. It is He who adds what is needed, reinforcing the idea of divine care and provision.

Practical Application

Matthew 6:33 calls believers to a radical reorientation of their lives. In a world often driven by material acquisition, consumerism, and the pursuit of status, this verse challenges us to make God's will and character our paramount concern. It implies:

• Trust over Anxiety: Rather than succumbing to worry about future needs, we are invited to trust God's faithfulness and His promise to provide.
• Priorities in Action: Our daily choices – how we spend our time, money, and energy – should reflect our genuine pursuit of God's kingdom and righteousness. This means aligning our careers, relationships, and leisure with divine principles.
• Freedom from Covetousness: When God is our primary source and focus, the endless chase for "more" loses its grip. This verse offers peace and purpose, reminding us that our ultimate security rests not in what we possess, but in the One who possesses all things and promises to care for those who seek Him. A parallel teaching can be found in Luke 12:31.