Matthew 6:25–34 - BibleStudy.ph

These are the original teaching notes from this passage.

Review…
- The Sermon of the King…
  - The LONGEST public teaching recorded in the New Testament – Matthew 5-7
  - Teaching disciples – those who want to learn – how to be CITIZENS of the KINGDOM of God!
- Poor in Spirit…
  - Beginning with the Beatitudes – Jesus established we are POOR in Spirit…
  - Because in order to be GOOD – we would have to keep every JOT and TITTLE of the LAW…
  - Jesus took FIVE laws [out of 613] – to prove we are NOT good – we are NOT perfect…
  - And knowing that is what allows us to be a Citizen of the Kingdom – because it drives us to Jesus!
- Relationship with God
  - Jesus went on to define how to LIVE as a CITIZEN – how to RELATE to God in SIX ways…
  - FIRST – we are to GIVE in secret – because it shows a heart for God…
  - SECOND – we are not to PRAY in secret – talking to God – not to be seen by men…
  - THIRD – we must FORGIVE everyone – everything – every time – just as we were forgiven…
  - FOURTH – we are to FAST in secret – denying the physical so we can strengthen the spiritual…
  - FIFTH – we are to store up our treasures in HEAVEN – so we have a HEART for God…
  - Because we cannot serve TWO masters – we have to CHOSE – God or Money!
1^st – Do not Worry… vs. 25-30
- 1^st – Meaning of Life… vs. 25
  - Serving God…
    - Since we should store up our TREASURES in HEAVEN [not on earth]
    - Because where we put our TREASURE – is where our HEART will follow…
    - And where our HEART is – God or Money – that is who we CHOSE to serve…
    - The next obvious question becomes – what do we do about the things we NEED!
    - It sounds nice to say let us put all our TREASURES in Jesus…
    - Read our Bible – Pray – and spend all day in Church – but how will we afford to LIVE!
    - This seems to be a reasonable argument – we justify we have to be WISE…
    - We need to make sure we have enough MONEY to take care of our NEEDS!
  - Physical needs…
    - Therefore I say to you – do not worry about your life.
    - What you will eat or what you will drink. Nor about your body – what you will put on!
    - Jesus says the OPPOSITE – He commands us [imperative] – do NOT worry…
    - WORRY [μεριμνάω] – 6x in this passage – to be anxious when we think about the FUTURE…
    - We are NOT to worry about what we might [subjunctive] EAT – DRINK – or WEAR!
    - Yet If we honest with – this is exactly what we WORRY about – a LOT…
    - How many hours of sleep have we lost WORRYING about how to feed our families…
    - How many fights have we gotten into over NOT having enough money!
    - The problem is we do CANNOT see what will happen tomorrow…
    - The best we have is to GUESS what MIGHT take place – what if…
    - And we tend to think of the WORST possible outcome – which causes us to WORRY!
  - More than food…
    - Life is more than food and the body more than clothing!
    - This may read like a question – but it is NOT – it is a statement [indicative]
    - The MEANING of life cannot be found in – FOOD or CLOTHING…
    - The problem with WORRYING about what we need PHYSICALLY…
    - Is we end up LIVING for things that do not matter SPIRITUALLY…
    - We put our TREASURES in the WRONG place – and our HEART wanders from God!
    - A man came to Jesus and demanded he tell his brother to share his inheritance…
    - Jesus responded by giving the PARABLE of the RICH fool – Luke 12:16-20
    - A man had such a great harvest – he did not know what to do with all his CROPS…
    - He decided to build bigger and better BARNS – then he would enjoy the EASY life…
    - But the Lord called him a FOOL – for that night he would DIE…
    - Then what would happen with all his MONEY – what would happen to him!
    - Ecclesiastes 5:15 – “People who live only for wealth come to the end of their lives as naked and empty handed as on the day they were born.”
    - When we were BORN we had nothing – when we DIE we will leave with nothing…
    - So all even if we had ALL the possessions – ALL the money in the world – it does not last…
    - We can WASTE our life chasing these things – or choose to be CONTENT – Hebrews 13:5
    - Because the meaning of in life is not how much we OWN – it is KNOWING Jesus!
    - Luke 12:15 – “Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”
- 2^nd – The Birds… vs. 26
  - Three Examples…
    - To emphasize WHY we do NOT need to WORRY about what we NEED…
    - Jesus went on to give THREE examples of how God PROVIDES!
    - Jesus used EXAMPLES from familiar things that were all around the DISCIPLES…
    - As they were there on the HILL [Mount of Beatitudes] – most likely in the SPRINGTIME…
    - They were surrounded by BIRDS – MEN of different ages – and FLOWERS!
  - Ravens…
    - Look at the birds of the air – for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns.
    - Yet your heavenly Father feeds them!
    - FIRST – Jesus commanded [imperative] the DISCIPLES to look at the BIRDS of the air…
    - They did not have to WORRY about their FOOD…
    - They did NOT sow seeds – so they could harvest enough FOOD…
    - Yet they did not STARVE – because our Father in Heaven FEEDS [present] them!
  - More Valuable…
    - Are you not of more value than they!
    - In the parallel account in Luke – Jesus calls the birds – RAVENS – Luke 12:24
    - Ravens are unclean to the Jews – a forbidden bird – Leviticus 11:13-15
    - Meaning Jews did not have care if a RAVEN lived or died!
    - The equivalent for us might be RATS – creatures we rather see dead than alive…
    - My guess is none of us have ever gone to bed worried about the poor RATS…
    - We do NOT lie in bed wondering if the little RATS had enough food to eat today!
    - Yet God does care – He looks after something we despise – could care less about…
    - And if God makes sure the RATS [birds] have enough to eat – if He cares for them…
    - How much more will He make sure His CHILDREN have food to eat…
    - God gives His CHILDREN the amazing promise – we never have to worry about food!
    - Psalms 37:25 – “I have never seen the godly forsaken – or their children begging for bread.”
- 3^rd – Long Life… vs. 27
  - Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
  - SECOND – Jesus looking at the DISCIPLES gathered around Him – old and young…
  - And asked WHO had the POWER [δύναμαι] – to add one DAY [cubit] to his LIFE [stature]
  - If they worried about WHEN they would DIE – would it make them LIVE longer!
  - If someone wanted to test our STRENGTH – and asked how much we could LIFT…
  - And we could not pick up 100 kilos – would we then try and lift 1000 kilos…
  - If we are unable to do something EASY – why would we try doing something HARDER!
  - We WORRY and tress about the future as if we have POWER [δύναμαι] over what happens…
  - Yet we do NOT even have the POWER [δύναμαι] to add ONE day to our lives…
  - In fact more than likely all our WORRYING takes days away from our lives…
  - Stress comes when we try to control something that is beyond our control – the FUTURE…
  - But God know the FUTURE – and He has POWER [δύναμαι] over all things…
  - If we LOOK to Jesus – TRUST in Him – then there is no reason to WORRY!
- 4^th – The Flowers… vs. 28-30
  - Better than Solomon… vs. 28-29
    - So why do you worry about clothing?
    - Consider the lilies of the field – how they grow: they neither toil nor spin.
    - And yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these!
    - THIRD – Jesus told the DISCIPLES to think about the FLOWERS [lilies]
    - They grow [present] – but they do not get exhausted [κοπιάω]
    - Yet Jesus said [indicative] – and He would KNOW since He is God…
    - That even SOLOMON – the richest man in the Bible – with all his WEALTH…
    - Was not dressed as beautifully as a simple FLOWER!
    - We will never see a flower having to STYLE its pedals – try on the latest fashions…
    - We will never see a flower spending hours in front of the mirror – getting ready…
    - Yet when we think of beauty – there is no higher standard than a simple FLOWER…
    - Though their BEAUTY only lasts for a short time – FLOWERS wilt fast!
  - Little Faith… vs. 30
    - If God so clothes the grass of the field – which today is and tomorrow is thrown into the oven.
    - Will He not much more clothe you – O you of little faith?
    - If God gives such BEAUTY – to something that only lasts for a day…
    - How much MORE will He make sure His KIDS also have what they NEED…
    - You of little FAITH [ὀλιγόπιστος] – to have SMALL faith!
    - Romans 12:3 – “God has dealt to each one a measure of FAITH.”
    - We all have FAITH – but we might wonder if are FAITH is SMALL…
    - But Jesus would clarify when the disciples asked Him to INCREASE our FAITH!
    - Luke 17:6 – “If you have faith as a mustard seed…”
    - I could have FAITH – that I could win an Olympic Gold medal…
    - But that does NOT mean I will win – because my FAITH is misplaced!
    - FAITH is not about QUANTITY or QUALITY – it is about WHO we put our TRUST in…
    - If we put our FAITH in something that does NOT have the POWER – it does NOT work…
    - But if we put our FAITH in Jesus – then we NEVER have to WORRY!
2^nd – Seek First… vs. 31-34
- 1^st – Do Not Worry… vs. 31
  - Therefore do not worry – saying:
  - What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear?
  - THEREFORE – in light of the THREE examples: BIRDS – AGE – and FLOWERS…
  - We should NOT worry [subjunctive] – about the things we NEED [food and clothing]
  - But this is NOT a command – it is a question – but WHY would we WORRY!
  - I knew a Pastor who was lacking money to PAY his bills – he had a NEED….
  - He prayed – and God told him He would PROVIDE – but he was still WORRIED…
  - The next day the pastor got a call from a friend – it was on his heart to send some money…
  - He began to dance around the house – God had PROVIDED…
  - But the Lord spoke to his heart – asking what if his friend did NOT send the money…
  - The Pastor told the Lord his friend was FAITHFUL – he would do what he said…
  - So God asked – is your friend more faithful than Me…
  - When God told the Pastor He would provide – he did NOT dance!
  - WORRY is the opposite of TRUST – we WORRY because we are not TRUSTING God…
  - Instead of worrying we should put our FAITH in the Lord…
  - Because when we put our FAITH in Jesus – ALL of our WORRIES disappear…
  - Our perspective changes – we see our circumstances in a new light…
  - We no longer see what we NEED – instead our God who lacks for NOTHING!
  - Philippians 4:6 – “Do not worry about anything. Instead pray about everything.” [NLT]
- 2^nd – God Knows… vs. 32
  - World worries…
    - After all these things the Gentiles seek!
    - Those who do NOT know Jesus – unbelievers [ἔθνος]
    - WORRY constantly [present] about ALL [πᾶς] these: seeking FOOD – CLOTHES – MONEY…
    - Because the promise to PROVIDE is not for just anyone – it is only DISCIPLES!
    - We would do anything to make sure our KIDS have everything they NEED…
    - But we are NOT willing to make the same sacrifices for the KIDS of others!
    - In the same way God promises to take care of His KIDS – those who believe in Jesus…
    - God does NOT make the same promise to those who belong to this world!
  - Heavenly Father…
    - For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things!
    - For His KIDS – there is NOT reason to WORRY…
    - Our Father KNEW [perfect] ALL [πᾶς] we NEEDED – before we even asked…
    - But there is a BIG difference between NEED and WANT…
    - We all have a LOT of WANTS in life – but the question is do we NEED it!
    - If Hallel came to me the other day and needed money for her Black Belt exam – NEED…
    - But after she also asked if she could go to DAIRY queen – WANT…
    - One was given – the other was NOT – because NOT everything she WANTS is good for her!
    - Apparently – the ONLY things God says we NEED – are food and clothing…
    - Pretty much everything else in life appears to fall into the WANT category!
- 3^rd – God Provides… vs. 33
  - Conditional…
    - But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness!
    - In CONTRAST to what those in the world SEEK after [food – clothes – money]
    - We are commanded [imperative] to SEEK [present] – the Kingdom of God FIRST [πρῶτον]
    - That does not mean we IGNORE everything else – it is about PRIORITIES…
    - We do not put stuff of this life FIRST – we put the RIGHTLESSNESS of God FIRST…
    - Because the things of this life do not LAST – but the things of heaven never fade away!
  - Forget the past…
    - HOW to SEEK Jesus – by letting go of the PAST!
    - Philippians 3:13-14 – “One thing I do – forgetting those things which are … I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
    - Too often in our Christian walk we hold onto our PAST – our mistakes and failures…
    - But in Jesus the PAST is forgotten – whether the past is TEN years ago or TEN minutes…
    - And if we are focused on our PAST – then we are not SEEKING Jesus!
  - Sit down…
    - How to SEEK Jesus – by spending time with Him!
    - Luke 10:41 – “Martha you are WORRIED… about many things. But one thing is needed!”
    - How many times have we been there – not enough TIME – not enough MONEY…
    - WORRIED about MANY things – rushing around – busy – no time to spare…
    - We need to remember only ONE thing is NEEDED – sit at Jesus feet…
    - ONLY when we put Jesus FIRST – will everything else fall into place!
  - Abide…
    - How to SEEK Jesus – by ABIDING in Him!
    - John 15:4-5 – “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself – unless it abides in the vine. Neither can you – unless you abide in Me.”
    - If you plug a light into DIRT – NOTHING happens – it has no POWER!
    - In the same way we often try and PLUG our lives into the world…
    - Then we wonder why we have NO power – why we are always WORRIED…
    - It is only when we PLUG into Jesus – put Him FIRST – the LIGHTS come on!
  - Provision…
    - And all these things shall be added to you!
    - When we put Jesus FIRST: forget the PAST – SIT at His feet – ABIDE in Him…
    - Then ALL [πᾶς] of things we NEED will be [passive] GIVEN [indicative] to us…
    - Not that this is EASY – it is SCARRY to TRUST that God will PROVIDE…
    - But Jesus would go on to encourage His DISCIPLES!
    - Luke 12:32 – “Do not fear little flock – because it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
    - Notice what our Father want to give us – not just what we NEED…
    - He wants to give us the WHOLE kingdom – bless us beyond imagination…
    - The only reason He would NOT give us something – is He knows it is NOT good for us…
    - Since He desires to give us EVERYTHING – what do we have to WORRY about!
- 4^th – Not Tomorrow… vs. 34
  - Therefore do not worry about tomorrow – for tomorrow will worry about its own things.
  - Sufficient for the day is its own trouble!
  - THEREFORE – in light of our Father KNOWING what we NEED…
  - And PROMISING to provide everything we NEED – as we SEEK Him FIRST…
  - We should NOT [subjunctive] WORRY about tomorrow [the future]
  - Tomorrow will worry about itself – it is enough for us to TRUST God for what we need TODAY!
  - Too often we ask the WRONG question – is God going to provide for TOMORROW…
  - We get ahead of God – and that gets us WORRIED – stressed…
  - The RIGHT question is – do we lack anything right NOW…
  - Not what do we need a YEAR from now – or MONTH – or FIVE minutes from now…
  - God has been FAITHFUL to provide everything we need for this very MOMENT…
  - And He will continue to be faithful – taking care of every NEED!