Matthew 6:25-34 teaches that Jesus does not want his followers ruled by anxiety about food, clothing, or the future. He grounds this in the Father’s care, which is shown in the birds and the wildflowers, and he asks his listeners to put God’s kingdom and righteousness first. The passage comes from the Sermon on the Mount, in the Gospel of Matthew.
25 Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they? 27 “Which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan? 28 Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin, 29 yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of little faith? 31 “Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.
Matthew 6:25-34 (WEB)
Matthew 6:25-34 Summary
Jesus begins with a command: do not be anxious about your life, including what you will eat, drink, and wear. He then asks two questions that answer themselves. Life is more than food and the body is more than clothing, so worry is looking at the wrong things. Anxiety also accomplishes nothing, since no one can add a moment to their lifespan by worrying.
Jesus then points to creation. Birds are fed without sowing or storing, and lilies are dressed more splendidly than Solomon without toiling. If God cares for grass that dies in a day, he will care much more for people. The passage closes by redirecting desire toward God’s kingdom and righteousness, and by telling listeners to take tomorrow one day at a time.
Context of Matthew 6:25-34
The Gospel of Matthew is traditionally attributed to Matthew, a former tax collector and one of the twelve disciples. It was written mainly for a Jewish-Christian readership, and it presents Jesus as the teacher who fulfills and deepens God’s law. The Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5 to 7) is his longest recorded teaching, addressed to disciples and to the crowds who gathered to hear him.
The verses just before this passage, in 6:22-24, speak about the eye as the lamp of the body and warn that no one can serve two masters. That warning sets up the teaching on anxiety: worry is a form of divided loyalty, a sign that money or security has become the master. The passage then moves from warning to reassurance, showing that the heavenly Father already knows what his children need.
Matthew 6:25-34 Verse by Verse
Philippians 4:6-7
6 In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
(WEB)
Paul gives a parallel instruction: bring every anxious concern to God through prayer and thanksgiving. The promise is a peace that guards the heart and mind, echoing the calm trust Jesus describes in Matthew 6.
1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.
(WEB)
Peter invites believers to cast all their anxiety on God because he cares for them. The image of handing over a burden to someone who cares echoes Jesus’ picture of a Father who knows what his children need.
A Prayer Based on Matthew 6:25-34
Father, you know what I need before I ask, and still I lie awake rehearsing worst cases. Teach my heart to rest in your care the way the birds and the lilies do. Show me what it means to seek your kingdom first, and let that desire shape my choices today. When tomorrow feels heavy, remind me that you are already there. Give me enough faith for this day, and help me trust you with the rest. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Matthew 6:25-34 mean Christians should never plan ahead?
No. Jesus is addressing anxious worry, not sensible planning. Scripture elsewhere commends wisdom, diligence, and saving for the future. The passage asks believers to hold their plans with trust in God rather than fear.
What does “seek first the kingdom of God” mean in this passage?
It means making God’s rule and his righteousness the central priority of life. Other goods are not forbidden, but they are placed in their proper order. When God is first, the desire for security loses its grip on the heart.
Why does Jesus use birds and flowers as examples?
Creation shows the Father’s ongoing provision in ordinary, everyday ways. If God cares for birds and wildflowers, who have no storehouses or wardrobes, he will certainly care for people made in his image. The examples are meant to encourage trust, not to romanticize idleness.
