Worry. Someone once defined worry as a “small trickle of fear that meanders through the mind until it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.”
Before we dive into Matthew 6:24ff, understand the context of chapter six. Do not think you have to do your righteous deeds to be seen by men so you will receive rewards from men.
For that reason… “Do not worry.” Now, let’s get into the heart of Jesus’ sermon here…
DO NOT BE WORRIED – 6:25:
Jesus here lists the most basic elements of life: eating & drinking and clothing. Jesus says we need to have some perspective! “Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”
Life is more than the types of foods we get to eat and the color of clothing we get to wear. Anything above the bare necessities is simply blessings from God given by His grace. Jesus would say, “Don’t worry about not getting the extras.”
ILLUSTRATIONS – 6:26-29:
Now Jesus gives some illustrations for the point that it is useless and counter-productive to worry. Take, for example, the birds of the air.
Jesus says we need to have some perspective! “Are you not worth much more than they?” Yes, mankind is made in the image of God and Christians are remade in the image of Christ. We are far more valuable than birds are. If God is going to care for the birds, will He not also care for the disciples of Christ?
Secondly, Jesus goes to the lilies of the field for an illustration (vss 28-29). The lilies of the field do not work to provide their clothes. They do not toil nor spin threads. Yet Solomon, in all his regal glory, was not clothed as beautifully as the lilies of the field.
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GOD WILL PROVIDE – 6:30:
“You of little faith!” To call His disciples ones with “little faith,” which Jesus does four times in Matthew and once in Luke, is to rebuke them (and us) for worrying about trivial matters. The remedy for a life lived in worry is to replace it with faith.
DO NOT WORRY AND ACT LIKE AN UNBELIEVER – 6:31-33:
Jesus returns to His command: “do not worry.” In verses 32 and 33, there are a couple of words and phrases I want to emphasize to you as Jesus has emphasized them.
First, Jesus says that the Gentiles, who have no relationship with God, “eagerly seek” all these things. So, underline the phrase “all these things” and circle the word “eagerly seek.”
But notice, verse 32, Christ’s followers have a “heavenly Father” who knows that we need all these things. There, underline the phrase “all these things” once again. The things the Gentiles eagerly pursue, we have from our heavenly Father.
The second command (the first was “do not worry”) is: “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.” Again, circle the word “seek” and underline the phrase “all these things.”
For the third time, in verse 34, Jesus commands: “Do not worry.” Do not worry about tomorrow. Why? Well, first, let tomorrow “worry” about itself. The NASV translates the word “care for itself” but the Greek word is the same that has been translated “worry” in the rest of the text. Let tomorrow worry about itself. Every day has enough troubles of its own. Abraham Lincoln once said, “The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time.”
Do not worry about tomorrow. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
–Paul Holland
