Matthew: The King and His Kingdom Mt. 6.25 34
In our previous passage (Matt. 6:19 – 24) Jesus told those following him to store up treasures in heaven. Naturally, this left some people in His audience confused and worried that if their duty were to only focus on heaven and not the here and now, how would their daily needs be met? Who would pay the bills or make sure that there was food on the table? These worries are a common part of everyday life, but Jesus treats that fear by an overarching statement, do not be anxious about your life (v. 25). But then Christ drills down. First, He addresses the worry about food. Our value is far superior to the birds of the air and yet God feeds them. We witness the promise of God’s provision every time we look out our window and see the birds foraging for food. Secondly, we should not worry about what we will wear. The fields of the earth are here today and gone tomorrow, and yet the Lord beautifully clothes them with flowers. Jesus bookends these concerns once again by saying, do not be anxious (v. 31). For many this sounds easier said than done. Broadly speaking anxiety and worry are a part of our everyday lives. When we hear Christ say this, we may initially think he is being harsh and dismissive, that somehow if we worry, we are weak, but that is not the case. He is driving us towards the Kingdom where we should take all our cares and concerns seeking first God and His righteousness and these things will be added to us. Does this mean our anxieties will go away? No, not on this side of eternity. But there is One who can sustain us through our difficulties today and tomorrow.
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Matthew: The King and His Kingdom Mt. 6.25 34
- 1. The Cure for Worry Matthew 6:25-34 Scripture Reading
- 2. First Point Worry is a Trust Issue Matthew 6:25-30
- 5. Second Point Worry is a Discipleship Issue Matthew 6:31-33
- 6. Third Point Worry is a Clutter Issue Matthew 6:34
- 7. 7 Reasons Not to Worry “Life Application Bible” 1.The same God who created life in you can be trusted with the details of your life. See Mt. 6:25
- 8. 7 Reasons Not to Worry “Life Application Bible” 2. Worrying about the future hampers your efforts for today. See Mt. 6:26
- 9. 7 Reasons Not to Worry “Life Application Bible” 3. Worrying is more harmful than helpful. See Mt. 6:27
- 10. 7 Reasons Not to Worry “Life Application Bible” 4. God does not ignore those who depend upon Him. See Mt. 6:28-30
- 11. 7 Reasons Not to Worry “Life Application Bible” 5. Worry shows a lack of faith in and understanding of God. See Mt. 6:31-32
- 12. 7 Reasons Not to Worry “Life Application Bible” 6. There are real challenges that God wants us to pursue and worrying keeps us from them. See Mt. 6:33
- 13. 7 Reasons Not to Worry “Life Application Bible” 7. Living one day at a time keeps us from being consumed with worry. See Mt. 6:34
Editor's Notes
- Treasures in Heaven Matthew 6:19-24
- First Point Worry is a Trust Issue 24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
- Consider the Birds 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? But one important point should be made, namely that the most basic cause of hunger is not an inadequate divine provision, but an inequitable human distribution. (Stott)
- Consider the Wildflowers 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
- Second Point Worry is a Discipleship Issue Matthew 6:31-33 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. R. H. Mounce says, ‘Worry is practical atheism and an affront to God’, and Jesus gives good reasons for the truth of this.
- Third Point Worry is a Clutter Issue 34 Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Jesus didn’t just tell them to stop worrying; He told them to replace worry with a concern for the kingdom of God. A habit or a passion can only be given up for a greater habit or passion. (Guzik) It is true that Jesus forbids his people to worry. But to be free from worry and to be free from trouble are not the same thing. Christ commands us not to be anxious, but does not promise that we shall be immune to all misfortune.
- 7 Reasons Not to Worry “Life Application Bible” 1. The same God who created life in you can be trusted with the details of your life.
- 2. Worrying about the future hampers your efforts for today.
- 3. Worrying is more harmful than helpful.
- 4. God does not ignore those who depend upon Him.
- 5. Worry shows a lack of faith in and understanding of God.
- 6. There are real challenges that God wants us to pursue and worrying keeps us from them.
- 7. Living one day at a time keeps us from being consumed with worry.