Verse
VERSE

Matthew 6:33

So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. 

Christian Standard Bible

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What Is Matthew 6:33 About?

Matthew 6:33 belongs in the middle of Jesus’ best-known message, the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).

In this sermon, Jesus teaches about his heavenly Father, and in this verse, he challenges his listeners: Will you seek first God’s kingdom, trusting that God the Father is gracious and merciful to provide you with everything you need for life on earth?

Everyone has needs. And while at times you may feel that you are alone in those needs, as if nobody else cares, God cares.

And if God cares about your pressing physical needs, then you don’t have to care about them anymore, because he will care for you. Instead, you can pursue the things God cares about. This is what Jesus commands everyone to do in Matthew 6:33.       

He says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33 ESV).

Incredibly, those who seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness learn that their heavenly Father meets all their needs. Jesus commands his listeners three times in this message not to worry. Instead, trust God and seek what he is concerned about. He knows what you need. He will provide for you.

Trusting your heavenly Father rather than worrying, enables you to prioritize your concerns properly. Put another way; if you are not trusting God to provide for you, then you will be running after the things the world has to offer to meet your needs, all the while ignoring God’s kingdom and righteousness, which should be your first priority.

In his message, Jesus notes some ways to seek God’s kingdom and righteousness: spending time in prayer and fasting, giving your resources to those in need, using whatever earthly assets you have to invest in eternal treasures (God, God’s Word, other people). We are all called to seek God’s kingdom, not our own.

Consider your free time in any given month. Is it spent on worldly or heavenly matters? Take an inventory of your life—what do you seek first each morning, when you get home after a long day, and where do you spend your money? You’ll easily see whether or not you prioritize or seek God’s kingdom.

Then ask yourself, do I know God as my heavenly Father, and do I trust him?

by Bibles.net

Compare Versions

ESV

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

CSB

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you."

NLT

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."

NIV

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

KJV

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

NKJV

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."
Videos

Article: 6 Min

How Do I Seek First the Kingdom of God?

by Bibles.net

Image

Seek first 
the kingdom of God
and his
righteousness

MATTHEW 6:33 ESV
Article: 30 Min

First Things First

Read a message on Matthew 6:33 given by Charles Spurgeon in 1885

Quote

Rest assured that God will care for you
 if you make 
his service
your delight.
  

Videos

Image

Your heavenly Father
already knows
 
all your needs  

MATTHEW 6:32 NLT
Verse
ROMANS 8:32 NKJV

He who did not spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Verse
PSALM 37:25 NIV

was young, and now am old, 
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken, 
or their children begging bread. 

Message: 24 Min

What Are You

Worried About?

by H.B. Charles Jr.

Quote

The first anxiety
of every man
should be to
be a loyal subject
of the kingdom of God.

Charles Spurgeon
Image

Set your mind on things above, 
not on earthly things.
 

COLOSSIANS 3:2 CSB
Verse
Isaiah 55:6 NKJV

Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. 

Message: 45 Min

The Other Way

From Worry

by Britt Merrick

Verse
1 PETER 5:6-7 NIV

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 

Article: 15 Min

Why Control Doesn’t Solve Worry

by Jonathan K. Dodson at Gospel Centered Discipleship

Verse
MATTHEW 6:31-34 NIV

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Infographic

"The Robin and the Sparrow"

We have made a graphic to introduce you to this precious poem about worry, anxiety, and God’s Fatherly care. Feel free to download it and make it your wallpaper, or share it with others!

Gospel

His Eye Is On The Sparrow

by Keith & Kristyn Getty feat. Heather Headley
Verse
PHILIPPIANS 4:19 ESV

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 

Message: 31 Min

Worry

Removal

by Dave Patty

Article: 10 Min

The Single-Minded Christian 

by John MacArthur at Grace to You Ministry 

Quote

Focus your thoughts and
your energy
on the
Lord’s plans and
purposes
, and 
he will take care of
your
physical needs. 

John MacArthur
Definition

The Kingdom of God

I define the kingdom most simply as “the King’s power, over the King’s people, in the King’s place.”
Image

The LORD
Most High
is awesome,
the great king

over all the earth.

Psalm 47:2 NIV
Verse
ROMANS 3:21-22 ESV

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. 

Image

Jesus said,  
My kingdom
is not of
this world.

JOHN 18:36 NIV
Verse
MATTHEW 5:10 ESV

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Article: 3 Min

Seeking First the Kingdom

by George Muller at GeorgeMuller.org

Quote

It is not for attending to these two things
(God’s kingdom and righteousness) 
that we obtain
the blessing,
but 
in attending
to them. 
 

Article: 1 Min

Putting First Things First

by Dennis J. DeHaan at Our Daily Bread

Quote

Put first things first
and we get second
things thrown in:
put second things first
and we lose both
first and second things. 

C.S. Lewis
Verse
2 CORINTHIANS 5:21 ESV

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 

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