Matthew 6:31 kjv
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Matthew 6:31 nkjv
"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
Matthew 6:31 niv
So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
Matthew 6:31 esv
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
Matthew 6:31 nlt
"So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?'
Matthew 6 31 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 6:25 | "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life..." | Introduces the general theme of not worrying about life's provisions. |
| Matt 6:32 | "...for after all these things the Gentiles seek..." | Context: distinguishes believer's focus from worldly, unbelieving pursuits. |
| Matt 6:33 | "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added..." | Direct solution: Prioritize God's will and kingdom, trusting His provision. |
| Luke 12:22 | "Then Jesus said to His disciples: 'Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life...'" | Parallel passage, emphasizes spiritual priorities over material anxieties. |
| Luke 12:24 | "Consider the ravens: they do not sow or reap... yet God feeds them." | Illustrates God's provision for creatures, a lesson for humans. |
| Luke 12:28 | "If that is how God clothes the grass... how much more will He clothe you..." | Reinforces God's care, from lesser creations to His image-bearers. |
| Phil 4:6 | "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." | Practical guidance: Replace worry with prayer and trusting God. |
| 1 Pet 5:7 | "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." | Encouragement to entrust all worries to a caring God. |
| Psa 55:22 | "Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you..." | Old Testament wisdom for entrusting anxieties to God. |
| Psa 37:25 | "I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread." | Assurance of God's enduring provision for the righteous. |
| Heb 13:5 | "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" | Call for contentment and trust in God's constant presence and provision. |
| Prov 3:5-6 | "Trust in the Lord with all your heart... and He will make your paths straight." | Foundational call to trust God in all areas of life, leading to clarity. |
| Deu 8:3 | "He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." | Teaches reliance on God's word and His supernatural provision over mere food. |
| Jer 17:7-8 | "But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water..." | The blessedness and stability of those who put their trust in God. |
| Matt 13:22 | "The one who received the seed that fell among thorns is the man who hears the word, but worries about this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful." | Illustrates how worry chokes spiritual growth and fruitfulness. |
| Psa 23:1 | "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." | Expresses confidence in the Lord as the ultimate provider and caretaker. |
| Isa 41:10 | "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you..." | Reassurance against fear and worry, promising God's presence and aid. |
| Mal 3:10 | "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse... see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing..." | Illustrates God's faithfulness to provide when His people obey Him in finances. |
| Phil 4:19 | "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." | Assurance of God's abundant supply for every need in Christ. |
| Rom 8:32 | "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?" | Logical argument for God's provision, based on the greater gift of Christ. |
| Exo 16:4 | "...I will rain bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day..." | Example of God's daily provision for Israel, teaching daily reliance. |
| 1 Tim 6:6 | "But godliness with contentment is great gain." | Contrast with the pursuit of material gain; emphasizes sufficiency in God. |
| Psa 145:15-16 | "The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing." | Universal declaration of God's role as sustainer of all creation. |
Matthew 6 verses
Matthew 6 31 Meaning
Matthew 6:31 prohibits believers from giving themselves over to anxious preoccupation concerning fundamental material needs like food, drink, and clothing. This injunction arises from the understanding that such worry reflects a lack of faith in God’s fatherly provision, which distinguishes believers from those who do not know God. Instead of succumbing to material anxiety, the verse implicitly calls for trust in God’s steadfast care.
Matthew 6 31 Context
Matthew 6:31 is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, specifically within a larger teaching block (Mtt 6:19-34) on treasures, motives, and anxiety. It follows immediately after Jesus has illustrated God's abundant care for creation (the birds and lilies, Mtt 6:25-30), logically concluding that if God cares for these, He will surely care for His human children. This verse anticipates the call to "seek first the kingdom of God" (Mtt 6:33) as the alternative to worldly anxiety.
Historically and culturally, the original audience, many of whom were common people, faced daily uncertainties regarding basic provisions. For them, survival often involved significant anxiety over food, drink, and clothing. Jesus' teaching offers a radically counter-cultural perspective, directly challenging the prevailing pagan mindset (as explicitly stated in Mtt 6:32) that was consumed with these material pursuits. The exhortation here serves as a foundational ethic for those who claim God as their heavenly Father.
Matthew 6 31 Word analysis
- Therefore (οὖν, oun): This Greek particle signifies a logical conclusion or inference drawn from what has just been stated. It directly connects the preceding illustrations of God's care for birds and lilies to the instruction for humans. It points to a direct implication: because God provides for creation, therefore you should not worry.
- do not worry (μὴ μεριμνήσητε, mē merimnēsēte): The Greek verb merimnaō means to be anxious, to be distracted, to have a divided mind. It refers to a troubled state of mind, undue anxiety, or distracting care. The use of mē with the aorist subjunctive (prohibiting a potential future action) indicates a strong prohibition against initiating such anxiety or continuing in it. It's not about thoughtful planning, but destructive, faithless fretting.
- saying (λέγοντες, legontes): This participle describes the manner of worrying—it's often expressed verbally or internally through questions or murmuring that reflect the anxious thought process. It's not just a feeling, but a preoccupation of thought.
- ‘What shall we eat?’ (Τί φάγωμεν; Ti phagōmen?): This deliberative subjunctive rhetorical question reflects a preoccupation with basic sustenance.
- ‘or What shall we drink?’ (ἢ Τί πίωμεν; ē Ti piōmen?): Another rhetorical question, reiterating concern over fundamental bodily needs.
- ‘or What shall we wear?’ (ἢ Τί περιβαλώμεθα; ē Ti peribalōmetha?): This final question completes the trifecta of essential human needs, symbolizing all material necessities. It covers the spectrum of common daily provisions.
- words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Therefore do not worry": This is the core command, stemming from the divine truth that follows from God's character and preceding examples. It highlights the believer's response to God's providence.
- "saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’": This phrase details the specific anxieties being prohibited. These three basic human necessities represent the primary concerns for physical well-being and are indicative of a focus on earthly existence rather than heavenly reliance. They summarize the essence of worldly preoccupation and materialism.
Matthew 6 31 Bonus section
The context of Matthew 6:31 places human existence into divine perspective. The emphasis is on recognizing one's relationship with God as a Father who knows and provides, rather than living like pagans who have no such assurance. The "do not worry" (μὴ μεριμνήσητε) command, along with others in the Sermon on the Mount, calls for an inner transformation that aligns a believer's mind and heart with kingdom values, contrasting the superficial and anxious existence often seen in the world. Worry, in this context, is thus identified not just as an emotion, but as a symptom of misaligned priorities and insufficient trust in God. It reflects a misunderstanding of one's identity as a child of a supremely caring and capable Heavenly Father.
Matthew 6 31 Commentary
Matthew 6:31 serves as a pivotal command in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, directing His disciples away from a worldly mindset characterized by anxious preoccupation with material sustenance. Following His demonstrations of God's comprehensive care for birds and lilies, Jesus presents this verse as the logical imperative: if God cares for the lesser aspects of creation, His children, who are of much greater value, can confidently trust in His provision for their fundamental needs.
The "worry" prohibited here is not responsible planning or foresight, but rather an anxiety (merimnaō) that consumes and distracts the mind, manifesting in nagging questions about food, drink, and clothing. This type of anxiety is presented as an indicator of limited faith, aligning believers more with "Gentiles" (non-believers) who do not know the Heavenly Father's compassionate heart (Mtt 6:32). Jesus challenges the very source of such worry—a practical distrust in God’s goodness and omnipotence.
Ultimately, this verse lays the groundwork for Mtt 6:33, redirecting focus from striving for material things to prioritizing God’s kingdom and righteousness. The implied promise is that when spiritual priorities are correctly ordered, the necessary material provisions will follow, supplied by a faithful Heavenly Father. It encourages a life free from paralyzing material concerns, liberating individuals to fully engage in God's will and purpose.Examples for practical usage:
- A student worried about affording tuition after submitting aid forms can apply this by casting the care upon God in prayer, rather than consumed by dread.
- Someone concerned about securing the next meal during financial hardship can be reminded of God’s provision for birds, shifting from anxiety to trusting His daily faithfulness.
- Facing uncertain job prospects and bills, remembering this verse redirects focus from spiraling thoughts of lack to faith that God knows and cares.