07 · Words of Jesus

Do Not Worry About Tomorrow

Matthew 6:25–34

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Jesus teaches outdoors about worry and trust, with birds of the sky and flowers of the field visible in the landscape.

Jesus speaks about worry over food, drink, clothing, and tomorrow.

Do Jesus' words mean we should not plan ahead?

Choose a perspective

There is no score – choose the perspective you find closest and discuss why.

Discuss: How can we distinguish wise planning from the worry Jesus warns about?

After your discussion: compare with our assessment

Our assessment

A captures Jesus' call not to let anxiety over basic needs dominate life, but to trust the Father's care and seek God's kingdom first. C captures the ending: Jesus does not promise a trouble-free life. Each day has enough trouble of its own. The contrast is between today's responsibilities and tomorrow's anxiety.

07 · Matthew 6:25–34

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Text & context

Full translation

25 Therefore I tell you: Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 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 much more than they? 27 And which of you, by worrying, can add a single cubit to his span of life? 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider how the lilies of the field grow. They neither labor nor spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these. 30 If God so clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, "What will we eat?" or "What will we drink?" or "What will we wear?" 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Translated from the Greek text – SBLGNT

What is happening here?
Matthew 6:25 begins with "therefore," linking the passage to Jesus' teaching about treasure and serving God rather than mammon. Jesus addresses food, drink, and clothing, points to birds and plants as examples of God's care, and leads to the priority: "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness."
Notice this

Jesus does not say tomorrow will be free of problems. He ends: "Each day has enough trouble of its own." The command therefore concerns not carrying tomorrow's unknown troubles today. Verse 25 also begins with "therefore," immediately after the teaching about God and mammon.

Language & translation

From the Greek

μεριμνᾶτε -- merimnate

worry / be anxious From merimnaō. It recurs throughout the passage.

πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ -- peteina tou ouranou

birds of the sky An ordinary feature of the surroundings used as an example of God's care.

κρίνα τοῦ ἀγροῦ -- krina tou agrou

lilies / flowers of the field Traditionally "lilies"; the exact botanical species is not the main point.

ζητεῖτε δὲ πρῶτον -- zēteite de prōton

but seek first Prōton marks priority.

ἀρκετὸν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἡ κακία αὐτῆς -- arketon tē hēmera hē kakia autēs

each day has enough trouble of its own Kakia can mean evil, difficulty, or trouble; "trouble" fits this context.

Translation note

Independent English translation from the Greek text, using SBLGNT as the primary Greek edition.

Compare for yourself

Read Matthew 6:25–34 in another Bible translation and compare: - merimnaō - birds of the sky - lilies of the field - zēteite de prōton - kakia in verse 34 - verse 27: bodily height or span of life?

    Continue the conversation

    Discuss further
    1. What is the difference between planning for the future and worrying about it?
    2. What does seeking God's kingdom first mean in questions of work, money, and security?
    3. How does the passage change when read with Jesus' words about God and mammon?
    4. How might these words be heard by someone who actually lacks food, clothing, or financial security?
    Parallel passages
    • Luke 12:22–31
    • Matthew 6:19–24
    Sources
    • The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition (SBLGNT), Matthew 6:25–34
    • Matthew 6:19–24
    • Standard Greek lexical resources for merimnaō, peteinon, krinon, zēteō, hēlikia, and kakia