First thoughts on Matthew 6:19-34
Matthew 6:25-34 First Thoughts
6: 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or 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 air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?[e] 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive 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 it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34 “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
–Matthew 6:25-34 (NRSV)
Praying toward Sunday
Throughout Lent our congregation has been working through the Sermon on the Mount as recorded in Matthew 5-7. This week’s sermon text is Matthew 6:19-34. Jesus is telling his followers not to worry about tomorrow. God will provide the things they need on a daily basis. For many people it is one of the more challenging things that Christ ever says because on the surface it seems as if he is giving his followers a “pie in the sky” promise.
Shortly after telling the disciples not store up treasures on earth, he encourages them to store up treasures in heaven. He calls on them not to worry, that God knows what they need and assures them those things will be provided. The utter audacity of his words is lost on most modern day Americans. Even in the darkest parts of last decade’s Great Recession most middle class Americans have never had to worry about food, clothing, or shelter. While, of course, there are many other things to fret about, such a level of material security cannot be assumed in many places around the world, nor would it have been the case for Jesus’ original hearers, most of whom were living at the very bottom of the Roman socioeconomic ladder.
Some questions to wrestle with before March 31, 2019:
- What concerns does this text raise for you?
- How do you think it would have felt to be in the crowd with the disciples?
- Is this merely a “pie in the sky” promise?
- How do you combat worry in your life?
