But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
This is one of the most important verses in Jesus’ teaching on the sermon on the mount. But the context of this verse is often ignored which leads to missing the true meaning of Matthew 6:33.
This verse should be a marker for everything in a Christian’s life. There’s some incredible truth found in the Matthew 6:33 meaning. And I think if you spend a few minutes looking at Jesus’ words you will be challenged and encouraged in your faith.
Let’s start by looking at the context of Matthew 6:33.
The Context Of Matthew 6:33
In Matthew 5 – 7 we find Jesus’ most famous message, the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus is encouraging his listeners to not get caught up in worrying about things out of our control.
He gives some powerful illustrations. Look at the birds who fly around peacefully. Look at the beauty of the lilies. God feeds and cares for them faithfully. And each person is FAR more valuable to God than flowers and animals. In other words, what Jesus is saying is God will care for you.
Therefore, we need not worry because the creator of the universe has our back.
This is what leads us to Matthew 6:33; as Jesus is concluding his thoughts on worry he tells us what we should be doing instead. Let’s check out the Matthew 6:33 meaning and see what it is.
The Meaning of Matthew 6:33
To help you better see and understand the meaning of Matthew 6:33 I’ve broken this verse down into two sections so we can dive into Jesus’ words.
Seek First The Kingdom Of God Meaning
The reality is we are surrounded by things that are demanding our time. Some of them have negative impacts on our life, others are distractions, and many are good things that we’ve elevated to an unhealthy place. If we aren’t careful we will end up pursuing something less than what God has for us.
What Jesus is saying here is that we should put the most important things first. We should seek first the kingdom of God.
Some Christians take this verse to mean that we should never do anything apart from the kingdom. But that’s not what Jesus is saying. We can value our jobs, families, vacations, relaxation, and other hobbies. But we should keep our priorities in order. God’s kingdom comes first.
To seek first the Kingdom of God means that we put God first in our lives. Followers of Jesus should prioritize living according to his Word and obeying what he says. And this should affect how we live our lives in all areas of our life.
This is what should be on the forefront of Christians’ minds and at the top of their priorities.
Followers of Jesus are not of this world and how we priories our lives should reflect that.
All These Things Will Be Given To You As Well Meaning
Some have taken this passage as a formula for gaining wealth. That if we simply follow God and do what he says, he will give us an endless supply of material possessions. This couldn’t be further from what Jesus is saying, and no where in the Bible is a promise such as that found.
When Jesus says, “all these things” we have to look back at the context to understand what he’s talking about. Here he is talking about the basics of life. “These things” are our food, clothing, and the things we need to get through the day.
Jesus is telling his listeners rather than prioritizing their next meal, they should prioritize the Kingdom of God. They don’t need to worry about these other things in life because their father knows their needs and will provide for them.
Here’s the reality, we are prone to worry. Many of us live in constant worry about our lives. But that worry produces nothing. Jesus is showing us a better way to live.
Rather than worrying, pursue God’s kingdom. Listen to what God says and trust in his provision. And if we do that he will take care of the basics of our lives.
God promises to take care of his children who are seeking him. So, put the most important things first and God will take care of the rest.
How To Apply The Matthew 6:33 Meaning To Your Life
What does Matthew 6:33 mean for us today? How can we apply what we’ve seen to our everyday lives?
I want to end by giving you two practical lessons that we can take from Matthew 6:33.
1. Properly Prioritize Your Life
In this passage Jesus is saying is that we need to reevaluate our lives and put them in the proper order. The most important things should come first.
Ask yourself, what do you value? What are you prioritizing?
Don’t just answer that with your words, evaluate your actions. What you do on a daily basis will reveal to you what you truly value.
Matthew 6:33 is saying that if you seek the kingdom of God first, if you put God first in your life, then the other things will work out. He will care for his children.
So, what are you prioritizing in life?
2. Give Your Worries To God
Even when we prioritize our life according to God and seek his kingdom first, we will still face worries. And when those worries come, give them to God.
If you look back in Matthew 6:25-32 you will see Jesus go into detail about why we shouldn’t worry. God knows you, he cares about you, and he will provide for you. So rather than worrying about the things of this life, give your worries to God.
We should also note that some struggle with severe anxiety. And while prayer and giving our worries to God is still the best place to start, more help might be needed. For those struggling with anxiety and worry that will not dissipate a visit to a doctor is the wise thing to do. God can remove your anxiety through prayer; he can also help you manage it through medication. You should do both.
For more check out: What “Do Not Be Anxious About Anything”Means (Philippians 4:6 Meaning) and The Meaning Of Psalm 55:22 (cast all your cares upon the lord) and The Surprising Meaning Of Matthew 6:34 (do not worry about tomorrow)
Matthew 6:33 is an incredible verse that should set the tone and direction for everything in a follower of Jesus’ life. Seek first God’s Kingdom, and he will take care of the rest.
BA in Biblical Studies - Ozark Christian College (2012)
MA in Theology - Regent University (2019)
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