The Lord, understanding the myriad challenges and concerns we might face—be it health, finances, or our general safety and security—offers guidance in the Gospels. Specifically, Jesus provides insights on combating anxiety in the Sermon on the Mount. While this sermon is perhaps one of Christ’s most celebrated teachings, it is important to recognize that the Sermon on the Mount is but one of the five profound discourses documented in Matthew. The first is the Sermon itself in Matthew 5-7. Subsequent discourses can be found in chapters 10, 13, 18, and finally, 24-25. The verses we are examining today, specifically 6:25-34, contain ethical admonitions. Here, Jesus accentuates the importance of adopting a heavenly perspective over a solely earthly one. This guidance, while deeply spiritual, also bears direct relevance to our daily lives, particularly in emphasizing the importance of refraining from undue worry.
The Context
Before delving into the specific verses, let us be mindful of the context. What was Jesus saying before He introduced the antidote for anxiety, and what was the underlying message? Turning back to Matthew 6:16-24, Jesus explains that true treasure is not of this world but rather possesses eternal significance. The Lord does not rebuke the pursuit of treasures. Instead, He warns against valuing earthly treasures at the expense of heavenly ones. In verses 19-23, Jesus says:
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The eye is the lamp of the body; so then, if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
What Jesus was saying was, “Be mindful of what holds the deed to your heart … Be mindful of where you set your eyes.” Then, in verse 24, He continues:
No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
Following this statement, Jesus addresses the matter of anxiety and its solution. In verse 25, Jesus proclaims:
For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. (italics mine).
But one might wonder: for what reason? The answer is intricately tied to His earlier declaration concerning the intrinsic difficulty of serving two masters. It is for this reason that Jesus advises, “Do not be worried about your life.” And why does He discourage worry? Because those who place unwavering faith in God for spiritual, eternal matters can unquestionably trust Him with earthly, temporal concerns. If you rely on Him for significant spiritual matters, you can assuredly do so for smaller, worldly issues. Anxieties about worldly matters often arise from a lack of faith, leading to conflicted thoughts.
In Matthew 6:25, Jesus emphasizes that a life aligned with the values of God’s reign is incompatible with a divided heart. One cannot dedicate oneself to both God and another master; a choice must be made. Many anxious souls tend to anchor their trust in the fleeting instead of the eternal God. By doing so, they invite the chaos of uncertainty. Thus, it is only logical that they are anxious since they place their trust in something unreliable. Double-mindedness hinders effective functioning because undivided attention always yields better results. Jesus delves into this topic, highlighting the essence of genuine faith and the object of one’s trust. Remember this point, as we will be revisiting this crucial insight later.
The Symptoms of Anxiety
In verses 25-34, the Lord presents His discourse on anxiety:
For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather crops into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more important than they? And which of you by worrying can add a single day to his life’s span? And why are you worried about clothing? Notice how the lilies of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin thread for cloth, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.
So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Jesus begins by saying, “Do not be worried” about essentials such as food, drink, or clothing. It is worth noting that He reiterates this phrase three times in these verses. When God chooses to repeat Himself, it is prudent for us to pay close attention and embrace His guidance. Importantly, the directive “Do not be worried” is framed as a negative imperative. Hence, if we do worry, then we sin by disobedience. This command underscores that our reactions to felt needs should not be purely emotional or based on personal whims; instead, they should align with the biblical wisdom encapsulated in God’s Word.
Undoubtedly, food, drink, and clothing are fundamental to life. This is important to note because needs are distinct from wants. While one might want a luxury home or vast wealth, these are not necessities, and God does not promise to fulfill such desires. It is not sinful for any person to be concerned about and desire basic things that will sustain their natural life; in fact, the person who has no concern over basic necessities is detached from reality and individual responsibility. Jesus’s message targets the innate human tendency to become overly engrossed in worldly matters, making peripheral matters our ultimate focus.
The Cause of Unbelief
In examining Jesus’s injunction against worry, we must understand the precise meaning of worry in this context. The term worry comes from the Greek word μεριμνάω, which translates to “to be anxious about” or “to have a care that is distracting.” This form of anxiety is oriented toward future uncertainties, continually projecting toward the not-yet. Individuals consumed by such concerns are often so preoccupied that they lose sight of the present and the essential. They are pulled apart into pieces, with each fragment being drawn in a different direction. Just imagine someone tossing and turning in the middle of the night because they are thinking about what may happen in the morning, besieged by questions like, “What if this happens?” or “What if that happens?” Such worry is centered on oneself rather than on God. Consequently, one might find themselves ruminating on dilemmas such as “What will I do?” or “How can I handle this situation?” The inability to find immediate resolutions, coupled with the unpredictability of the future, only amplifies their anxiety, further fueling distractions and intensifying their distress. A bad eye leads to a body full of darkness (Matthew 6:23), which can manifest as extreme physical symptoms such as heart racing, a sense of impending doom, rapid breathing, and sensations of near fainting.
Following Jesus’s caution against worry (“Do not be worried”), He offers a positive direction: turn to nature for guidance. Reflecting on this, He posits, “Do you not see how God cares for animals and flora? Are they not provided for? If God so tenderly cares for the lesser things, will He not also provide for the greater?” After all, if the Lord clothes the grass of the field with such splendor, will He not also clothe His children? We firmly believe He will. When humanity erred and felt the need for clothing, God’s provision far surpassed anything they could have crafted themselves. The essence of Jesus’s observation is this: by reflecting on nature, a spiritually attuned person can perceive God’s providence. They see that God faithfully provides for all of His creatures. It is noteworthy to emphasize that Jesus’s teaching on this matter closely follows His guidance to His disciples on the art of prayer (Matthew 6:9-14). When one prays for “daily bread,” it is a testament to their trust in God’s providing nature. A fruit of faith is prayer, and Jesus’s teachings in verses 25-34 are an expansion on the petition for daily provision; that is, a child of God should pray for daily needs—essentials like water, food, and clothing.
In verse 30, Jesus delves into the core of the anxiety issue. He says:
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! (italics mine)
As mentioned, an individual consumed by anxiety is more concerned about themselves than with God; the sin of pride, therefore, plays a significant role. With such self-centeredness comes a diminished trust in the King. Considering that no one holds absolute sovereignty, they become anxious over their own inability to provide for themselves. On a related note, this principle of human nature explains why people frequently sacrifice something of greater value to alleviate their anxiety over life’s basic needs. This unbalanced trade is a “devil’s bargain,” which has been a choice many have made throughout history. Because of anxieties related to fundamental aspects of life—such as drink, food, clothing, money, and health—many are willing to relinquish something valuable, be it freedom, wealth, or privileges, to calm their fears.
At its core, anxiety is a symptom; the true disease is an absence of faith. This touches upon what I mentioned earlier: one cannot genuinely serve two masters, for loyalty inevitably gravitates toward one over the other. It is impossible for a person to consider both God and worldly matters to be of first importance. For such a double-minded individual, faith in the God of tomorrow to provide for the next day falters. They question whether the same God who shaped the universe will craft something just for them. Thus, confronting the uncertainties of the future alone becomes a daunting endeavor, naturally leading to increased stress. The sin of worry drives us into unnecessary fretting over matters beyond our control, leaving many feeling utterly powerless.
Certainly, individuals who are habitually anxious or consumed by worry are sinners, just like you and me. However, they commit the specific sin of unbelief. It is crucial to clarify the fact that Jesus does not accuse the anxious of having no faith at all. He says, “You of little faith.” Possessing little faith is distinct from having no faith or being an unbeliever. Beloved, we are all broken people, and our brokenness will manifest in many different ways. It would be erroneous to infer from this passage that a genuine Christian is immune to anxiety. Such a notion is patently false. An anxious Christian is imperfect, as every true Christian is. Nonetheless, they remain cherished by God. Why else would the Good Shepherd provide solace to the anxious through His teachings?
The Cure for Unbelief and Anxiety
If anxiety is grounded in the sin of unbelief, what is the biblical solution? It certainly is not simply resorting to medication, for pills address only the biological symptoms and not the underlying spiritual sin of unbelief. Jesus offers two answers to this issue of anxiety. The first is spiritual, while the second is practical.
In verses 31-34, Jesus says:
Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.
So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
In order to address anxiety from a divine perspective, the solution is to transition from detrimental thinking to a godly mindset. Although we are advised against worry, we are simultaneously instructed to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.” What does this entail? It implies that when we prioritize the matters of the divine kingdom, everything else will be accorded to us by the Lord, free from anxiety. In essence, if you tend to God’s affairs, He will oversee yours. The encouraging message for believers is that our worldly concerns are bundled with the blessings of the kingdom. We can rejoice in the knowledge that while God’s kingdom will eventually come to full fruition in the future, He continually provides for our present needs.
A person who is oriented toward the kingdom does not have a diminished view of themselves. Rather, they become increasingly selfless. Why? Because their primary focus is the heavenly kingdom. This highlights a continual emphasis in the New Testament on the death of self in pursuit of God. We become entangled in worldly matters when such concerns and anxieties dominate our thoughts and actions. True life—and, therefore, true freedom—emerges when one realizes that conquering the world and all of its baggage comes when we are prepared to relinquish such worldly concerns—treating them as the lesser things—and prioritize Christ above all. Jesus says in Matthew 16:24-26:
If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what good will it do a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what will a person give in exchange for his soul?
To further accentuate the importance of putting God first, consider Psalm 27. The exact circumstances of David’s life when this psalm was written are uncertain, but it is evident that it was a tumultuous period marked by challenges from adversaries, false witnesses, and violent men. Facing imminent danger and speaking in strictly temporal terms, David had ample reasons to be consumed by anxiety. Yet, what stands out in the psalm? It begins with God. David does not lead with his troubles. He does not begin with his presupposed anxiety or the origins of his fears. Instead, he starts by seeking God first. The psalm begins by saying the following:
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom should I dread? (Psalm 27:1; italics mine)
The entire psalm resonates with expressions of unwavering trust in God. David’s heart, brimming with faith, left no room for fear or anxiety. This gives us immense hope, reminding us that we do not worship an indifferent Creator but rather our Heavenly Father, who understands and knows that we truly have a need for all these things. However, the path He delineates for us to meet these necessities is not through worry but by centering our focus on Him. Beloved, if God made everything out of nothing, can He not also provide for you?
The Bible commences with the words, “In the beginning, God …” Therefore, let each day of your life open in the same way. An heir to the kingdom shall not die of starvation when blessed with heavenly manna.
This was the first remedy for anxiety Jesus offered. In verse 34, He provides the second, more practical cure, which says:
So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Here lies a pivotal observation. Jesus proclaims, “Do not worry about tomorrow.” This suggests that the disobedience of worry is characterized not only by its self-centered nature but also by its preoccupation with the future. This is why worry pulls us apart into pieces, manifesting in physical symptoms like hair loss or stomach ulcers. One can be consumed with anxieties about tomorrow, yet there is little one can do to control the uncertainties of the future. In fact, the grand irony is that worrying often immobilizes an individual with inaction, leaving them so deeply “torn into pieces” by the anticipated troubles of tomorrow that they remain stagnant in the present, ultimately resolving nothing. Consequently, all the worrying proves fruitless. Because all of their internal tension cannot be discharged in a productive way, it is inevitable that one begins to unravel. Jesus asks in Matthew 6:27, “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?” The Lord is essentially asking, “What benefit is there to worrying?” The implied answer is none. Worrying is self-destructive and self-defeating. The effects of being anxious about the unforeseeable future are invariably negative, leading to God’s directive against such a mindset. We cannot influence the events that have yet to occur, the circumstances that are not yet present, or the possibilities that might never happen. Let us not forget that worry is a sin.
As the legendary biblical counselor Jay Adams once wrote:
“Tomorrow always belongs to God. Tomorrow is in His hands. Whenever we try to take hold of it, we try to steal what belongs to Him.”
The biblical perspective encourages us to trust that the future resides in God’s hands, in whom we place our faith. We find solace in understanding that the all-knowing, all-powerful God reigns over tomorrow, so why would we compete with omniscience by encroaching on His territory? Trusting in God means believing that whatever the future holds, all events will unfold favorably for those devoted to the Lord (Romans 8:28). Thus, we refrain from fretting over the future. God’s directive is twofold: on the one hand, we should not agonize over aspects of the future beyond our control. We should not let the potential challenges of the future unsettle our current peace. On the other hand, we should invest our energy in the present, over which we have some measure of influence. Notice the nuance in Matthew 6:34, where Jesus advises:
So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (italics mine)
Do you perceive Jesus’s intent? He is redirecting our focus. His command to avoid worrying does not imply indifference or negligence. The goal is not to abandon care or concern; such a detachment would indeed be problematic. Rather, Jesus is guiding us to refocus our energies and concerns toward the present moment. For in this very moment, we possess the ability, time, energy, space, and means to do something. While the faithful trust God for the future, they also recognize that God has blessed them with the present moment. And in bestowing this gift, God inherently expects it to be used responsibly.
Before proceeding further, it is essential to clarify a point. When Jesus states in Matthew 6:34, “Do not worry about tomorrow,” there is nothing in the Lord’s words that precludes thinking, considering, or planning for tomorrow. Additionally, the benefits of future planning are discussed in James 4:13-15, which states:
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. For you are just a vapor that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”
Furthermore, in Luke 14:28, when Jesus is teaching about discipleship, He implores His disciples to “count the cost.” In other words, He was advocating that His followers plan and consider before taking action. The point is that all of the Lord’s servants should plan for tomorrow, but they must refrain from being consumed by worry. If God wills, then our plans may come to pass. Conversely, despite our meticulous planning, everything may be demolished or radically changed, for the Lord is sovereign.
The teaching Jesus imparts in Matthew 6 is that the pathway to a life devoid of worry and permeated with peace involves redirecting our energies, first toward God and, secondly, addressing our immediate challenges. Addressing current concerns prompts action. When we actively engage with concrete challenges and pursue concrete solutions, we achieve concrete results. And we can do this confidently, knowing that such a way of life is in the will of God. Whenever a person faithfully works for Christ and does everything that they can right now, they can lay their head on their pillow in peace when their labors are finished.
Some might wonder, “What if I am powerless to change my current situation? What if a relative just received a terminal diagnosis, and I lack medical expertise? What if I heard there are layoffs happening at my job, and I am in a low-level position with no seniority?” It is essential to understand that “doing something” does not exclusively mean external action; it encompasses internal adjustments as well. What I am emphasizing is that there is always an opportunity to change your perception of a situation. Consequently, something can always be done to address the challenges of today, and even if everything around you stays the same, you can change. Often, the transformation within ourselves is the true objective. When anxiety stems from doubt, it indicates that our faltering faith feeds idolatrous thoughts. As a remedy, we must discard these negative thoughts and embrace the perspective of Christ.
Applications
So, what are three steps that any Christian can undertake right now to prioritize God and seek His kingdom? How can we adopt the mindset of Christ?
Application One: Do Meditate on God’s Word. Do Not Mull Over Your Own Thoughts.
When anxiety strikes, a particular thought tends to consume your mind. As highlighted, there is a fixation on matters beyond your control, leading to worry. Paradoxically, this worry prompts deeper rumination, intensifying the anxiety. You feel restless on the inside, yet even though you have all this nervous energy, you often find yourself stuck in a repetitive cycle. You might struggle with focus, experience sleepless nights, and find yourself trapped in an endless loop of distressing thoughts. In conversations, it becomes apparent that such thoughts have taken hold. The solution is not to wallow in these concerns. If your mindset is cluttered with negativity, it needs to be replaced with the wisdom from above. Hence, turn directly to the Scriptures and fill your mind with divine truth, not human speculations. If your mind dwells on foolishness, do not expect noble results. As Philippians 4:8 reminds us:
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Your transformation comes from the renewal of your mind (Romans 12:1-2). What can calm an anxious soul is the Word of God. Dive into tales of how God navigated individuals through storms, like Joseph’s journey. Reflect on Jesus’s guidance in Matthew about the futility of undue worry. Embrace God’s promises detailing His unwavering support and care (e.g., Psalm 23:4, 34:4; Isaiah 41:10; II Timothy 1:7). Even if it means revisiting familiar verses, the goal is clear: fixate on the Lord and His teachings. Moreover, such reflections naturally lead you to prayer. After all, the Lord invites all of His children to speak to Him in moments of anxiety, allowing us to cast all our concerns upon Him. As Philippians 4:6-7 says:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
With faith as your guide, you are drawn into prayer, and it is this faith that lets you emerge from your prayerful solitude with the comforting thought, “I have laid my burdens before my Heavenly Father, and He will handle them.”
Application Two: Meditate on God’s Providence.
In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus directed His listener’s mental attention away from anxiety and toward divine providence. Therefore, we are encouraged to adopt the same perspective. According to Theopedia, providence may be defined as “[the Lord’s] guardianship and care for His creatures and creation … Any manifestation of such care may be described as providence.”
We can consider God’s power in preservation, cognizant that no creature has the power to preserve itself. Indeed, God is the force that “puts our soul in life” (Psalm 66:9), and evidence of His providential care is everywhere: from the rains that nurture the earth, the growth of grain, the pastures that feed the animals, to the miracle of birth. Each moment underscores the reality that all of existence is underpinned by His divine intervention. Given His consistent sustenance, is it not logical to expect His unwavering care in the future? Pondering God’s providence is beneficial because it underscores the truth that God has, and continues to, provide. A wavering faith in the future often stems from an oversight of His enduring support in the past and present.
Referring to A.W. Pink’s work, The Attributes of God, we find reflections that, though centered on God’s faithfulness, resonate deeply with our current discourse:
“God is faithful in preserving his people. “God is faithful, by whom ye are called unto the fellowship of his Son.” (1 Cor 1:9). In the previous verse promise was made that God would confirm unto the end his own people. The apostle’s confidence in the absolute security of believers was founded not on the strength of their resolutions or ability to preserve, but on the veracity of him that cannot lie. Since God has promised to his Son a certain people for his inheritance, to deliver them from sin and condemnation, and to make them participants of eternal life in glory, it is certain that he will not allow any of them to perish.
Pink directs our focus to Christ, exemplifying God’s enduring commitment to His children. Accordingly, this brings me to my final application.”
Application Three: Meditate on Christ.
Beloved, the hope that God gives us is that Christ makes it possible for us to live a life devoid of worry and anxiety. Let us not forget that in Matthew 6:25-34, God Himself stood before the people, telling them, “Do not worry.” Taking into account the overarching message of the New Testament, it becomes evident that, due to their sin, all of humanity should reflect upon their position before God. Accordingly, the unspoken lesson in Christ’s words is profound: His flock need not be consumed by anxiety, for He serves as the bridge of peace between God and humanity. Beloved, if you are united with Christ, your eternal fate is solidified by His life, His sacrifice, and His Resurrection. Therefore, because of Jesus, do not worry about earthly things when heaven is already your inheritance. Of course, this does not minimize the reality that creatures on earth will have many earthly needs. This is why God provides the means by which our worries are eradicated: by casting our cares on Him (I Peter 5:7). The good news is that for those united with Christ, God carries our burdens on our behalf. This endows us with a profound sense of peace, knowing that the vastness of heaven and earth lies securely within God’s domain.
When God worries for us, it does not imply that He is restless or uneasy. Instead, it signifies our trust in letting God oversee the uncertainties of what is to come, confident in the knowledge that the future rests securely in His grasp. Our focus remains rooted in the present, approached with the humble understanding that our control over today is limited. In contrast, the Lord maintains sovereignty over all things at all times. Thus, any apprehensions about the future are fully satisfied in our Precious Lord. Christ is God’s King, who sits on His throne with all of reality subject to His command (Psalm 2). We are comforted by the knowledge that the Lord has predetermined the outcomes of our tomorrows before they dawn upon us. Therefore, we exist not in a constant state of worry but in a state of peace inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Dr. C. H. E. Sadaphal