Lesson 14. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. “Foundations of the Teachings of Christ” School. A series of foundational teachings that Jesus Christ taught His disciples on the mountain.
Matthew 6:25 Therefore I tell you: do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Jesus teaches that if God has given us life, He will also provide food to sustain it. If God has given us a body, He will also provide clothing for us to wear. If God has given us life, we can trust Him with everything necessary to sustain it.
Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
The Lord could have used Elijah and John as examples and told us how they were fed, but then we would look for reasons why God fed them. Jesus spoke about the birds to show us how unconditionally God the Father cares for His creation.
Matthew 6:27 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature [even] one cubit?
Jesus continues to prove that worrying and anxiety are pointless in any case. Worry and anxiety solve nothing.
Matthew 6:28–30 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these; and if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
If God adorned the wildflowers so beautifully, even though there was no need for it, will He not clothe us as well?
Matt. 6:31–32 Therefore do not worry or say: What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and because your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
Jesus presents a very important argument against agitation and anxiety: “this is characteristic of the Gentiles, not of those who are children of God.” Unbelievers are not reconciled to God, so they have something to worry about. Believers, however, have been adopted and no longer need to worry about such trivial things.
Matt. 6:33 But seek [be concerned about] first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness [righteousness], and all these things will be added to you.
What will be added? Everything you need. What does “But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” mean? There are three kingdoms: the kingdom of the world, the kingdom of the devil, and the Kingdom of God. Each kingdom has its own laws and principles, but only one kingdom is eternal.
Jesus teaches us not to worry about what the world and the devil may offer, but to care about what God offers—the eternal Kingdom.
It is written that nothing unclean will enter there. That is why we learn and change here. God did not simply give us commandments to restrict us—He gave us commandments to make us like Him. He said, “Do not steal,” because He does not steal. He said, “Forgive,” because He forgives.
Finally, Jesus says that worry and anxiety about provision can be overcome by learning not to worry about tomorrow.
Matt. 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself: each day has enough of its own trouble.
In general, cares and anxiety are not caused by external circumstances. In the same circumstances, a person may react differently because everything depends on the condition of our heart.
One preacher tells how he once met a beggar. “May God give you a good day, my friend,” he said to him. “Thank God, I have never had a bad one,” the beggar replied. “May God grant you a happy life,” said the preacher. “Thank God,” the beggar replied, “I have never been unhappy.” Astonished, the preacher asked, “What do you mean by that?” “Well,” the beggar answered, “when everything is wonderful and the weather is fine, I thank God; when it rains, I thank God; when I have enough food, I thank God; when I have little food, I thank God. How can I say I am unhappy if I am happy?” The preacher stared at the beggar in amazement. “Who are you?” he asked. “I am a king,” said the beggar. “And where is your kingdom?” asked the preacher. The beggar calmly replied, “In my heart.”
Jesus says that if we seek the Kingdom of God and righteousness first, everything we need will be added.
Cares and anxiety are unbelief. Verse 30… And why are you concerned about clothing?… You of little faith! All who worry about tomorrow are of little faith, because if they had perfect faith in God, they would not worry so much.
You shouldn’t take on the burden of worries that haven’t come yet. We have enough to deal with today, and tomorrow we’ll deal with what comes tomorrow. That is what trusting God means.
End of lesson.
Source: Father’s Blessing Church
Teacher: Dmitriy Leo
