Matthew 6:27 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

NIV: Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

NASB: And which of you by worrying can add a single day to his life’s span?

CSB: Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying?

NLT: Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

KJV: Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

NKJV: Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

Jesus is teaching about money's place in the hearts and minds of God's people. To live for the purpose of building wealth on earth for oneself, He has said, is like living with bad eyes. It creates moral darkness inside a person. Instead, God's people should live in light by serving Him, not money (Matthew 6:19–24). Next, Jesus commanded His followers to reject anxiety about money, even if they don't know what they will eat or wear. Worrying about money when you don't have any still amounts to serving money instead of God. Those who serve God trust God to provide all they truly need. Worry is evidence of faulty faith (Matthew 6:25–26).

Here Jesus points out another problem with anxiety, fear, and worry: they're useless. They don't work. They don't help. Those emotions are powerless, so far as those actual needs are concerned. Anxiety is a natural human response—especially when you're wondering how to feed your family. Still, it's a brute fact that worry, in and of itself, can't add a single hour to anyone's life. Worry is ineffective.

Of course, many will protest that anxiety is not like a hat: it's not simply something we can remove. God knows this, and understands how difficult it is to put trust in God when times are difficult. In fact, this is why these reminders are in Scripture. If being a born-again believer made all our fears and doubts disappear, there would be no reason for God to remind us not to worry! Jesus will continue in this passage to show why it is essential for God's people to make an effort to shed worry.

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.