SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM

Passage: Matthew 6:19-34

Key verse: 33

NIV

Treasures in Heaven(A)

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,(B) where moths and vermin destroy,(C) and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,(D) where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.(E) 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.(F)

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,[a] your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy,[b] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.(G)

Do Not Worry(H)

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry(I) about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.(J) Are you not much more valuable than they?(K) 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[c]?(L)

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor(M) was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?(N) 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.(O) 33 But seek first his kingdom(P) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.(Q) 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 6:22 The Greek for healthy here implies generous.
  2. Matthew 6:23 The Greek for unhealthy here implies stingy.
  3. Matthew 6:27 Or single cubit to your height
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven

19 (A)“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where (B)moth and rust[a] destroy and where thieves (C)break in and steal, 20 (D)but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 (E)“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 (F)but if (G)your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

24 (H)“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 (I)money.[b]

Do Not Be Anxious

25 (J)“Therefore I tell you, (K)do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 (L)Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. (M)Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his (N)span of life?[c] 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, (O)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, (P)O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For (Q)the Gentiles seek after all these things, and (R)your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But (S)seek first (T)the kingdom of God and his righteousness, (U)and all these things will be added to you.

34 (V)“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 6:19 Or worm; also verse 20
  2. Matthew 6:24 Greek mammon, a Semitic word for money or possessions
  3. Matthew 6:27 Or a single cubit to his stature; a cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Jesus warns us not to store up treasures on earth, because everything on earth is bound to perish, spoil, or fade. He wants us not to put our hearts where loss is guaranteed. Instead, he invites us to invest in treasures in heaven that last forever—treasures that moths cannot destroy, rust cannot corrode, and thieves cannot steal. What we treasure most reveals who we truly are, for our hearts follow our treasure. Loving and following Christ is the way to store our treasures in heaven and is the mark of his people.

If we have healthy spiritual eyes to see eternal things, our whole life will be full of light. But if our eyes are unhealthy, clouded by sin and spiritual blindness, darkness fills our hearts. When our eyes are fixed on Jesus, heavenly light fills our souls.

We cannot serve two masters. Trying to do so leads to constant anxiety. Jesus tells us not to worry about our lives—what we will eat, drink, or wear—because our heavenly Father knows our needs. Birds and flowers testify that God provides for them. Worrying cannot add a single hour to our lives; rather, it robs us of peace. When we seek first God’s kingdom, he takes care of the rest. We must trade anxiety for trust in God.

Prayer: Lord, help me treasure what is eternal and trust in my Father God’s faithful provision.

One Word: Look at the birds and seek God