A couple of weeks ago my pastor preached from Matthew 6, including v 33 where Jesus says, But seek ye first the kingdom of God.” He of course commented on this, but since he was covering verses 19-34, he didn’t dwell on it. This is a well known verse, even a popular chorus (listen here), but I left pondering this verse. What does it mean to seek the kingdom? What does it look like? How do I actually do this?
I began to meditate on this. Every year during vacation I take a biblical subject or a book and study it; this year was Matthew 6:33. Naturally, I was blessed, but I admit I was also a little surprised by what I saw. The next few posts will be what I saw about seek ye first the kingdom of God. I have 5 posts planned. They are:
(1) The context of Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (as well as Luke 12)
(2) What is the kingdom of God?
(3) Matthew 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
(4) Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
(5) Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Obviously, I will have to explain how I went from Matthew 6:33 to Colossians 3:1-2, and from seek to savourest to mind to affections - and I will!
1. The context in Matthew 6 and Luke 12
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
The context, as I mentioned earlier, is verses 19-34. The statement, but seek ye first the kingdom of God flows out of what he says in 19-32
First, Treasure, 19-24
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great [is] that darkness!
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also and no man can serve two masters.
Second, take no thought 25-32
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, [shall he] not much more [clothe] you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, [shall he] not much more [clothe] you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Two therefores! (there is a third when you add v 34) This is obviously the application of treasure and mammon.
Take no thought for your life – don’t be anxious, don’t worry about what ye shall eat, what ye shall drink, what ye shall put on…For after all these things do the Gentiles seek.”
So, seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness seems to be set in opposition to living a life devoted or dedicated to earthly pursuits, even necessary ones. And let’s be honest, eating, drinking, and wearing clothes are rather necessary! We also know the nations take even these necessary things to extremes. We could no doubt add the other things the Gentiles seek: pleasure, entertainment, housing, cars, sports, health, politics. Instead of a life devoted to seeking these worldly things and satisfying the lusts of the flesh, Jesus says:
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
We are to seek the kingdom, pursue, value, prioritize, the kingdom of God.
He gave some helpful hints:
20 lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven
25, 31 take no thought – don’t be anxious or worried about these things
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof.
Seek ye first is clear, the question now is, What is the kingdom?
But first Luke 12
13-21 warning
13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, [and] be merry.
20 But God said unto him, [Thou] fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So [is] he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, [and] be merry.
20 But God said unto him, [Thou] fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So [is] he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. This is a warning that we especially (in the West) need to heed.
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. This actually sets the stage for seek first the kingdom.
22-30 Therefore. Yep, he is applying this matter of treasure
22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body [is more] than raiment.
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more [will he clothe] you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body [is more] than raiment.
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more [will he clothe] you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
Take no thought (22) ends with seek (30), preparing us for
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you
So far this is similar to Matthew 6: Don’t be consumed with worldly or natural cares, seek the kingdom of God, focus of the kingdom, and these things will be supplied.
32 Provides great comfort: what he is asking you to seek and give priority to, God wants to give you!
33 Practical: how to gain treasure in heaven – sell that ye have and give alms. This is radical.
34 Principle: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also
I’m telling you, seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you is a great promise (and a wonderful song), but this cuts deep into our materialistic culture/society! And we are still faced with the question, What is the kingdom?
Next: What is the kingdom of God?
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