Matthew 6 32

Matthew 6:32 kjv

(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Matthew 6:32 nkjv

For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

Matthew 6:32 niv

For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

Matthew 6:32 esv

For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

Matthew 6:32 nlt

These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.

Matthew 6 verses

Matthew 6 32 Meaning

Matthew 6:32 underscores the unique position and privilege of believers under God's loving care. It explains that Gentiles—those without a covenant relationship with God—anxiously pursue material possessions and sustenance, whereas believers have a Heavenly Father who is fully aware of and committed to supplying all their genuine needs. This verse contrasts a life of constant, anxious searching for basic provisions with a life of secure trust in God's providence, liberating believers to seek higher spiritual priorities.

Matthew 6 32 Context

Matthew 6:32 is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, specifically within the section addressing worry about material provisions (Matthew 6:25-34). Preceded by parables about the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, which highlight God's unfailing care for His creation, this verse explains why disciples should not imitate the pagan world's anxiety over food, drink, and clothing. The surrounding verses establish the kingdom of God and His righteousness as the ultimate priority, in direct opposition to worldly pursuits. Historically and culturally, the Jewish audience was surrounded by pagan Roman and Greek societies whose deities were often seen as capricious or demanding, requiring appeasement for provision. This led to a pervasive anxiety about sustenance and an emphasis on accumulating wealth, a stark contrast to the trusting relationship God intended with His covenant people. Jesus' teaching here directly challenges this worldview, calling His followers to a higher level of trust.

Matthew 6 32 Word analysis

• For (γαρ - gar): A connective particle indicating a reason or explanation. It introduces the rationale behind the command not to worry given in the preceding verses.
• after all these things (ταῦτα πάντα - tauta panta): Refers collectively to the material needs previously mentioned: food, drink, and clothing (Mt 6:31). This signifies basic human necessities, often sought with consuming focus.
• the Gentiles (ἔθνη - ethnē): Refers to the nations or peoples who do not know the one true God; specifically, the non-Jewish peoples (pagans). This term often carried a connotation of those outside of God's covenant and revelation, characterized by a different set of priorities and worldview. They live as if these material needs are the sum total of their existence or the only things worthy of zealous pursuit.
• eagerly seek (ἐπιζητοῦσιν - epizētousin): A compound verb meaning "to seek earnestly," "to search diligently," or "to crave." It implies a strong, active, and perhaps anxious pursuit or striving, a consuming preoccupation. It denotes making these worldly concerns the primary object of their life's search.
• For your heavenly Father (ὁ Πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος - ho Patēr hymōn ho ouranios): This crucial phrase emphasizes the unique, intimate, and caring relationship between God and His children. "Heavenly Father" highlights His power, transcendence, and benevolent character. It distinguishes God from the pagan gods, who were often distant or capricious, and presents Him as a loving, involved parent.
• knows (οἶδεν - oiden): From the verb oida, meaning "to know by observation," "to have knowledge," or "to understand intuitively." This isn't merely intellectual awareness but implies comprehensive, intimate, and empathetic knowledge. God's knowledge of His children's needs is complete, perfect, and underlies His faithful provision.
• that you need them (ὅτι τούτων χρῄζετε - hoti toutōn chrēizete): "That you need these things." It refers back to "all these things" (material necessities). God is fully aware not just that His children exist, but that they have specific, tangible requirements for their lives. His knowledge is the foundation of His promise to provide.

Matthew 6 32 Bonus section

The underlying polemic against the Gentile (pagan) worldview is profound. The prevailing religious landscape during Jesus' time was filled with gods tied to specific aspects of nature (e.g., grain deities, weather gods) who required appeasement and sacrifice to ensure agricultural bounty or other material benefits. In such a system, human agency was primarily directed toward manipulating or placating these deities to secure basic necessities. Jesus presents a radically different paradigm: a personal God who is not distant or capricious but is intimately involved as a Father who inherently knows and cares for His children. This contrasts sharply with philosophical ideas like Epicureanism (gods uninterested in human affairs) or Stoicism (focus on self-sufficiency and accepting fate), neither of which offered the personal, loving, and active provision that Jesus describes. The implication is that true wisdom and security lie not in anxious pursuit or human effort alone, but in trusting God's benevolent, omniscient Fatherhood. This trust frees the disciple to live in a distinct way from the world, exhibiting a spiritual confidence that testifies to the nature of their God.

Matthew 6 32 Commentary

Matthew 6:32 serves as the bedrock of Jesus' teaching on spiritual priorities over worldly anxiety. The contrast between "the Gentiles" and "your heavenly Father" is central. The Gentile worldview, often consumed by the urgent demands of material existence, seeks provision as its highest pursuit because it lacks a personal, trusting relationship with an omniscient, benevolent Creator. Their deities were often seen as indifferent or needing appeasement, reinforcing a self-reliant and anxious struggle for survival.

Conversely, for those who acknowledge God as their "Heavenly Father," worry becomes antithetical to their spiritual identity. The Father knows (οἶδεν) what His children need—not merely what they want, but what is genuinely necessary for life and for fulfilling His purposes. This isn't an intellectual understanding, but an active, caring awareness that drives His provision. If He already knows and is capable, then human anxiety is rendered illogical and faithless. The implication is profound: trust in God's Fatherly care liberates the disciple from the burdensome pursuit of material goods, freeing them to pursue His Kingdom and righteousness (Mt 6:33). This promise is a powerful incentive for generosity, contentment, and a single-minded devotion to spiritual pursuits, knowing that temporal needs are already in the hands of the all-knowing and all-sufficient Father. For instance, instead of relentlessly working to accumulate vast wealth for future uncertainties, a believer can trust God for their daily bread, fostering a spirit of contentment and focusing their energy on kingdom work or serving others.