Matthew 6 34

Matthew 6:34 kjv

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Matthew 6:34 nkjv

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6:34 niv

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:34 esv

"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6:34 nlt

"So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.

Matthew 6 verses

Matthew 6 34 Meaning

This verse admonishes believers not to be overly anxious or consumed with worry about future needs or what tomorrow may bring. It teaches radical trust in God's daily provision, asserting that each day has enough challenges or concerns of its own. Therefore, one should focus on the present day's responsibilities and rely on God's grace for each moment, rather than being paralyzed by speculative fears about the future. It calls for a profound dependence on God, who knows and cares for the needs of His children.

Matthew 6 34 Context

Matthew 6:34 is the concluding verse of Jesus' teaching on worry within the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Specifically, it follows His instruction not to be anxious about food, drink, or clothing (Mt 6:25-30), highlighting God's care for creation and His superior care for humanity. It contrasts the anxieties of the Gentiles (non-believers) who primarily seek material provisions (Mt 6:32) with the priorities of kingdom citizens who are to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Mt 6:33). The historical and cultural context for the original audience, who lived in an agrarian society often at the mercy of weather and socio-political stability, would have naturally fostered worries about daily subsistence. This teaching was a direct challenge to a worldview that prioritized survival and accumulation above spiritual trust, and it offered a radical alternative based on divine fatherly care and kingdom citizenship, diverging from the prevailing secular and even some religious practices of excessive earthly provision accumulation or fatalistic despair.

Matthew 6 34 Word analysis

• Therefore (Οὖν - Oun): A conjunction meaning "accordingly," "consequently," "for this reason." It connects this concluding statement directly to the preceding arguments and commands in verses 25-33, establishing it as the logical summation of Jesus' teaching on anxiety.
• do not be anxious (μὴ μεριμνήσητε - mē merimnēsēte): This is an aorist active subjunctive, preceded by mē, forming a strong prohibition against habitual or immediate worrying. The verb merimnaō (from meris, "a part," and nous, "mind") means to be drawn in different directions, to be distracted, divided in mind, or anxious about. It describes a restless, unsettling concern that often leads to internal turmoil and unproductive rumination, not merely prudent planning.
• about tomorrow (εἰς τὴν αὔριον - eis tēn aurion): "About tomorrow" refers to the future. Aurion literally means "tomorrow" or "the coming day." The phrase emphasizes the specific nature of the prohibited anxiety: worrying about events or needs that have not yet occurred or are beyond immediate control.
• for tomorrow will be anxious for itself (ἡ γὰρ αὔριον μεριμνήσει τὰ ἑαυτῆς - hē gar aurion merimnēsei ta heautēs):
  • for (γάρ - gar): An explanatory particle, indicating the reason for the command.
  • tomorrow will be anxious for itself (ἡ γὰρ αὔριον μεριμνήσει τὰ ἑαυτῆς): This uses personification, treating "tomorrow" as if it were a conscious entity. The future tense merimnēsei ("will be anxious") indicates that tomorrow will bring its own specific set of concerns or troubles. It implies that today's worries are sufficient for today, and tomorrow will have its own share to be dealt with then, not now. It is not advocating idleness or lack of forethought, but a calm reliance on God for the present day.
• Sufficient (ἀρκετόν - arketon): An adjective meaning "enough," "sufficient," "adequate." It signifies that what each day brings in terms of challenges is all that one should concern themselves with for that day.
• for the day (τῇ ἡμέρᾳ - tē hēmera): In the dative case, meaning "to the day," "for the day." It specifies that the sufficiency applies to the current day.
• is its own trouble (ἡ κακία αὐτῆς - hē kakia autēs):
  • trouble (κακία - kakia): This Greek word is significant. While it can mean "evil" in a moral sense, in this context, it primarily denotes "badness," "calamity," "trouble," "distress," or "hardship." It refers to the difficulties, challenges, or afflictions inherent to any given day.
  • its own (αὐτῆς - autēs): Possessive, emphasizing that each day carries its particular set of troubles. This reiterates the idea that there's no need to borrow trouble from the future; the present provides enough.

Matthew 6 34 Bonus section

• This verse stands as a powerful polemic against any philosophy, whether secular or religious, that encourages excessive worry or fosters an illusion of absolute control over one's future. It challenges the common human inclination to live by fear of the unknown rather than faith in God.
• The phrase "tomorrow will be anxious for itself" or "tomorrow will worry about itself" is an idiomatic expression that vividly illustrates the point: each day has its specific burdens, and dwelling on hypothetical future problems is counterproductive.
• The teaching here does not advocate for idleness or neglecting provident living (e.g., storing grain in times of plenty, as Joseph did). Instead, it targets the anxiety accompanying such efforts, distinguishing between diligent preparation and despairing worry. True foresight is based on wisdom, while worry arises from lack of trust.
• This verse undergirds the concept of daily bread from the Lord's Prayer (Mt 6:11), reinforcing the idea that God provides for daily needs, encouraging dependence rather than hoarding or anxious accumulation.
• "Trouble" (κακία - kakia) specifically points to the practical difficulties, hardships, and distresses that are part of daily life in a fallen world, not moral evil. Acknowledging these daily challenges helps contextualize why reliance on God's strength for that day is vital.

Matthew 6 34 Commentary

Matthew 6:34 provides a practical, daily application of Jesus' teaching on prioritizing God's Kingdom. It does not forbid responsible planning or forethought, which is wisdom, but it unequivocally prohibits debilitating anxiety (merimnaō), a restless preoccupation that fractures the mind and obstructs trust in God. Jesus contrasts the believer's tranquil dependence on the heavenly Father with the pagans' worried pursuit of basic necessities. The verse powerfully personifies "tomorrow" to highlight that each day inherently holds enough challenges to demand our attention and faith, without needing to "borrow" or anticipate troubles from the uncertain future. Living one day at a time in dependence on God's daily grace, sufficient for that day's "trouble" (hardship/affliction), is the antidote to crippling worry. This mindset cultivates present contentment and fosters a robust, moment-by-moment reliance on God's faithful provision, freeing the believer to seek God's Kingdom and righteousness without distraction.