The following commentary is a summary and subjective interpretation of Matthew 6:25 – 34.

All commentaries are based on the ESV translation.

Starting with verse 25, Christ opens up with instructions against worrying. He lists five specific things that we should not worry about, namely our lives, what we will eat, what we will drink, about our bodies, and what we will clothe ourselves in. He closes the verse with a rhetorical question asking whether or not there is more to life than just food and more to the body than its clothing.

In verse 26, He uses the birds as an example. Unlike humans, they do not store up their food in barns nor do “they neither sow nor reap.” Regardless, Our Heavenly Father continues to see that these animals are continually fed. As if setting up a poetic rhythm, Christ poses a second rhetorical question to close out this verse: Do humans not have more value than the birds?

In verse 27, Christ poses a third rhetorical question. Here, He asks if anyone can increase the number of hours that they have on earth by worrying.

In verse 28, Jesus persists with His questions, asking why people are concerned about what they wear. Then, He asks those who are paying attention to his words to ponder the lilies, specifically how they mature. His description of their upbringing suggests that they never have to work for what they have obtained.

Continuing into verse 29, King Solomon is brought to center stage. Christ notes that this king even in all his glory never obtained the same beauty as one of these lilies.

In verse 30, Jesus asks another question, specifically to individuals of “little faith.” He asks that if the quickly dying grass is clothed by God, then why should God not clothe humans more so.

In verse 31, Our Lord again gives us an instruction: We should not ask nor be worried about what we will eat, drink, or wear.

In verse 32, He gives yet another example. The Gentiles (most likely ones who do not have God’s grace) seek all of these things that we as followers of Christ should not be concerned about. Interestingly, He states this as a fact but follows up with the fact that Our Father in Heaven is mindful that we need each of these things.

In verse 33, another command is given: We should seek both God’s kingdom and righteousness as higher priorities than what we will eat, drink, or wear. However, there is a blessing that comes with this commandment: If we seek these two things of God, our needs will be met in turn.

In verse 34, Christ again instructs those listening/reading not to worry about the next day, noting how tomorrow doesn’t need to be dealt with until tomorrow. His justification for such logic would seem to be that each day has enough trouble in its own right.

Thus, let us not lose sight of God’s righteousness nor His kingdom. Both of these are essential factors to our everyday living. We do not live on bread, drink, nor clothing alone. And though we will face times, persecution, and perhaps starvation against our faith, we should keep in mind what two factors should be central parts of the Christian life. In their true forms, neither of these factors can lead us astray. As righteousness leads us to be holy as God is holy, it cannot lead us to sin. Since His kingdom requires us to be holy, it forbids sin from the onset. We cannot eat, drink, nor wear clothing for the rest of our lives. But as long as the Holy Spirit exists within us, we can pursue His kingdom and righteousness until we see both factors fleshed out in the fullness of His splendor.

Amen.