Matthew 6:34

Commentary on Matthew 6:34 KJV

Matthew 6:34 concludes Jesus' profound teaching on worry within the Sermon on the Mount. This verse serves as a powerful summary, urging disciples to live with faith and focus on the present, rather than being consumed by future anxieties. It directly follows Jesus' reassurances about God's provision for all creation, leading up to the declaration that His followers should seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Context

This verse is the culmination of Jesus' discourse on anxiety, which begins in Matthew 6:25. Jesus challenges His listeners to consider the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, which are cared for by God without worry. He questions the futility of anxiety, stating it cannot add a single cubit to one's stature or lengthen one's life. The instruction to "take no thought for the morrow" is therefore not a call to irresponsibility, but a command to trust God's daily provision and deliverance from overwhelming concern about the future.

Key Themes

• Trust in Divine Provision: The verse reinforces the core message of the preceding verses: God, who cares for the smallest details of creation, will surely care for His children. Worry betrays a lack of faith in His constant provision and sovereignty.
• Focus on the Present: Jesus encourages a present-oriented faith. By focusing on the "morrow," individuals often neglect the duties and blessings of today. This theme aligns with the prayer for our daily bread, emphasizing sufficiency for each day.
• The Sufficiency of Today's Troubles: The phrase "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" highlights that each day brings its own set of challenges, difficulties, and responsibilities. There is no need to compound these by borrowing trouble or anxiety from an uncertain future.

Linguistic Insights

• "Take no thought": The KJV phrase "Take therefore no thought" uses an older English idiom for "do not be anxious" or "do not worry." The underlying Greek word is merimnao (μεριμνάω), which means "to be anxious," "to be distracted with cares," or "to worry." It does not forbid prudent planning or foresight, but rather debilitating, paralyzing anxiety that steals peace and productivity.
• "Evil": In "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof," the word "evil" comes from the Greek kakia (κακία). Here, it refers not to moral wickedness, but to trouble, hardship, difficulty, or vexation. Each day has enough of its own struggles without adding future, imagined ones.

Practical Application

In a world filled with uncertainties and increasing pressure, Matthew 6:34 offers profound peace and a practical pathway to living by faith. It calls believers to release the burden of future worries into God's capable hands.

• Overcoming Anxiety: This verse is a direct antidote to anxiety. Instead of being consumed by "what ifs," we are encouraged to address the present challenges with God's help, remembering that we can cast all our anxieties on Him, as echoed by Paul.
• Living by Faith: It promotes a lifestyle of daily dependence on God, trusting that He will provide strength, wisdom, and resources for the current moment. This perspective encourages proactive engagement with today's responsibilities rather than passive dread of tomorrow.
• Prioritizing the Present: The teaching reminds us that life is lived one day at a time. By focusing on today's tasks and opportunities, we can live more effectively and joyfully, rather than being weighed down by hypothetical future burdens. As James 4:14 reminds us, we do not know what tomorrow will bring.