Matthew 6:31 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

NIV: So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

NASB: Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’

CSB: So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’

NLT: So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’

KJV: Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

NKJV: “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

If worry was ever a good option, it would be when the circumstances of our lives are at their worst. Isn't it time to start worrying if you don't know where your next meal or clothing is coming from? If not then, when?

That's part of Jesus' point in this passage. If that is not a good time to be fearful (Matthew 6:25), it means there is never a good time to be fearful. For the people who call God Father, worry is never the appropriate response to life. Human nature tempts us to fear, and to have anxiety, but it's not how God wants us to feel. As unrealistic as that sounds to many of us, that's the level of confidence He wants His disciples and listeners to have in their Father in heaven. It's a matter of trusting both God's ability and His willingness to provide for us.

Jesus has taught that God is both able and willing. We know God can provide because He feeds birds and dresses flowers. We know God is willing, Jesus has said, because His children are far more valuable to Him than birds and flowers (Matthew 6:26–29). Will we trust Him with the most basic, bottom-line questions of life?

It's important to notice two things about Jesus' teaching here. First, He is not promising His followers that God will provide lavish lifestyles on this side of heaven—He only says God will meet their needs. That "need" is always in the context of God's will for our lives, which is not always easy (Matthew 5:3–12). God will give us what we need to honor His plans, which might not be what we "need" to be comfortable or secure. Dependence on God's provision involves a radical re-imagining of what "needs" are. As the late Rich Mullins put it in his song Hard: "…He will watch over you and He will watch over me, so we can dress like flowers and eat like birds."

Second, Jesus is not telling His followers to stop working or planning or spending wisely. His teaching here does not mean we should sit wherever we are and wait for the world to feed us. God often provides work and wisdom to meet our needs. What believers should not do is obsess over wealth, either by stockpiling it or living in fear over poverty. God is a Father who feeds and clothes His children exactly as they truly "need" to be.

Matthew 6:25–34 concludes this part of the Sermon on the Mount with Jesus' teaching about anxiety. Even to the very poor, Jesus says not to worry about food or clothes. God feeds the birds and clothes the lilies beautifully, and His children are far more valuable than birds. Anxious emotions can't add even an hour to a person's life. Instead, Jesus tells His followers to trust God to provide what they truly need. The context of what we ''need,'' however, is the will of God—which might look very different from what we would prefer (Matthew 5:3–12).

The Sermon on the Mount continues in chapter 6, which is entirely composed of the words of Christ. Jesus teaches that God rewards deeds motivated by sincere devotion to Him, not by approval from other people. He teaches a simple and authentic model prayer. Christ warns against stockpiling money and possessions on earth. Instead, believers should make choices that store up treasure in heaven. A person's top priority can either be God, or money, but cannot be both. Along with that, Jesus says believers should fight against anxiety about daily needs. The heavenly Father knows what we need. All we need to do is pursue His kingdom and righteousness; He will take care of our needs, one day at a time.

Chapter 5 began Matthew's telling of the Sermon on the Mount. In that passage, Jesus pointed out that thoughts and attitudes are part of righteousness, just as much as actions. In Chapter 6, He explains how good deeds are only righteous when done out of sincere devotion to God, rather than for other people's approval. He also provides a model for prayer. Jesus explains how excessive worry, such as over money, interferes with faith in God. Knowing that God loves us should lead believers to trust Him, not to be anxious. Chapter 6 is one of the few chapters of the New Testament entirely composed of the words of Christ. In chapter 7 Jesus will introduce additional themes such as appropriate judgment, trust in God, and treatment of others.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.