25Because of this, do not let your mind be pulled in all directions about your physical existence — what you will eat or what you will drink — nor about your body, what you will wear. Is not your physical existence more than food and your body more than clothing? [6:26] Look at the birds of the sky: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth far more than they? [6:27] Which of you, by being pulled in all directions, is able to add a single hour to his lifespan? [6:28] And why are you pulled in all directions about clothing? Observe the lilies of the field, how they grow — they do not labor nor do they spin — [6:29] yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these. [6:30] But if God clothes the grass of the field, which exists today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven — how much more you, of little faith? [6:31] Do not therefore be pulled in all directions, saying: What will we eat? or What will we drink? or What will we wear? [6:32] For all these things the nations pursue. For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. [6:33] But seek first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. [6:34] Therefore do not let your mind be pulled in all directions about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be pulled in all directions on its own. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
MAT 6:25-34
Do Not Worry
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Galilee, daily survival was a pressing concern for many. The majority lived as subsistence farmers or laborers, vulnerable to crop failure, taxation, and exploitation by Roman or Herodian authorities. Anxiety about food and clothing was not abstract but immediate, tied to the precariousness of agrarian life. Jesus’ audience would have understood (anxious worry) as a consuming distraction, a state that could paralyze one’s ability to trust in God’s provision. The mention of birds, which neither sow nor reap, contrasts human striving with divine care, a theme resonant with Jewish teachings on God’s faithfulness. The reference to (Gentiles) highlights a cultural boundary: Gentiles, in Jewish thought, were often seen as preoccupied with material concerns, unlike Israel, who were called to trust in Yahweh. The term (lifespan/stature) underscores the futility of human effort to control life’s uncertainties. This teaching challenges the honor-shame economy, where status was often tied to visible displays of wealth and security, urging reliance on God rather than societal validation.
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How other translations render this
MAT 6:25
- KJV
- Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
- BSB
- Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?
- Koinōnos
- Because of this, do not let your mind be pulled in all directions about your physical existence — what you will eat or what you will drink — nor about your body, what you will wear. Is not your physical existence more than food and your body more than clothing?
MAT 6:26
- KJV
- Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
- BSB
- Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
- Koinōnos
- Look at the birds of the sky: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth far more than they?
MAT 6:27
- KJV
- Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
- BSB
- Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
- Koinōnos
- Which of you, by being pulled in all directions, is able to add a single hour to his lifespan?
MAT 6:28
- KJV
- And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
- BSB
- And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin.
- Koinōnos
- And why are you pulled in all directions about clothing? Observe the lilies of the field, how they grow — they do not labor nor do they spin —
MAT 6:29
- KJV
- And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
- BSB
- Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these.
- Koinōnos
- yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these.
MAT 6:30
- KJV
- Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
- BSB
- If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
- Koinōnos
- But if God clothes the grass of the field, which exists today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven — how much more you, of little faith?
MAT 6:31
- KJV
- Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
- BSB
- Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
- Koinōnos
- Do not therefore be pulled in all directions, saying: What will we eat? or What will we drink? or What will we wear?
MAT 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.
- BSB
- For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
- Koinōnos
- For all these things the nations pursue. For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things.
MAT 6:33
- KJV
- But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
- BSB
- But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
- Koinōnos
- But seek first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
MAT 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.
- BSB
- Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.
- Koinōnos
- Therefore do not let your mind be pulled in all directions about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be pulled in all directions on its own. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 6:25
- do be anxious about:The word translated 'do be anxious about' implies a distracting, divided mind, pulled in different directions by various concerns, rather than simply having worries.
- life:The term translated 'life' here refers to one's physical existence and vitality, the breath that animates a person, rather than one's spiritual or eternal being.
MAT 6:27
- lifespan:The word translated 'lifespan' could also refer to one's physical height. The ambiguity in the original language allows for both interpretations, adding a layer of meaning.
MAT 6:32
- Gentiles:The word translated 'Gentiles' refers to the nations or peoples who were not part of the covenant people of Israel, often implying those outside of God's direct revelation.