Matthew 6:33

Matthew 6:33 is the thirty-third verse of the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount. ^[1] This verse continues the discussion of worry about material provisions.

In the Authorized King James Version of the Bible the text reads:

But seek ye first the kingdom of God,

and his righteousness; and all these

things shall be added unto you.

The World English Bible translates the passage as:

But seek first God’s Kingdom, and

his righteousness; and all these

things will be given to you as well.

For a collection of other versions see BibRef Matthew 6:33

Jesus has just told his followers not to worry about material things such as food or clothing, as God will provide the needs of his followers. Earlier in the chapter Jesus presented a discussion on how one must not pursue wealth and material things before God. This verse ties the two notions together. If one places the pursuit of the Kingdom of God first, then material needs will follow without need for worry or anxiety. The present imperative verb seek makes clear that pursuing the eschatological kingdom is not a passive act, but one that must be pursued with rigour. Hill notes that the word God is left out of many of the better early manuscripts of the Gospel, and it thus might be a later addition. Kingdom of God is a somewhat unusual phrase, with the author of Matthew generally preferring Kingdom of Heaven. Even without the word it is quite clear that this is a reference to the Kingdom of God.^[2] The parallel to this verse at Luke 12:31 does not mention righteousness, but as France notes the author of Matthew shows a special interest in righteousness throughout his gospel.^[3]

Interpretation

The interpretation or meaning of this verse may be a subjective matter. However, the common perception is speaking of prioritization, in which one who is a believer is to place God above all other things.

References