Dr Tom Hover
April 27, 2025
Matthew 6:25-34
SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS!
SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS!
Jesus On Anxiety and Worry Matthew 6:25-34
Introduction: The final subject for instruction in this sixth chapter of Matthew is: Putting Kingdom Living First Cures Anxiety and Worry. This segment of the Sermon on the Mount takes up more text than the previous subjects in this sixth chapter.
I. WHAT BOTHERS YOU, BURDENS YOU!
A. Jesus Speaks on The Character of This Anxiety / Worry
“Take no thought for your life” (Matthew 6:25).
1. Defining The Problem. “Thought.” It comes from the meaning of the word translated “thought.” The word is found six times in this section (once each in Matthew 6:25, 27, 28 and 31 and twice in Matthew 6:34). The word means “anxious care” (Zodhiates).
2. By Distinguishing The Problem. “Take no thought.” (Matthew 6:25).
It is OK to have Forethought, however it is not OK to have Foreboding!
II. WHAT BURDENS, YOU ENSLAVES YOU!
A. Jesus Remarks Condemning Anxiety / Worry (Matthew 6:25-32)
B. Jesus Uses Repetition in His Condemnation of Anxiety / Worry!
“Take no thought” (Matthew 6:25, 31), and “Take therefore no thought” (Matthew 6:34).
C. Jesus’ Region in Which He Speaks Condemnation of Anxiety / Worry! Our Lord summarizes the things that most are given to worrying about. “Take no thought what he shall eat, or what ye shall drink, nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on [or] for the morrow” (Matthew 6:25, 34).
1. Chow (worry about what you eat),
2. Clothes (worry about what you wear)
3. Calendar (worry about the future) OR:
1. Food Matthew 6:25-26 2. Fashion Matthew 6:25-26
3. Fitness Matthew 6:27 4. Future Matthew 6:34
D. Jesus’ Reasons for His Condemnation of Anxiety / Worry!
First, The Fleshliness of Anxiety / Worry! “Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment” (Matthew 6:25).
Second, The Forgetfulness of Anxiety / Worry! “Yet your heavenly Father feedeth them” (Matthew 6:26).
Third, The Foolishness of Anxiety / Worry! “Are ye not much better than they?” (Matthew 6:26).
Fourth, The Futility of Anxiety / Worry! “Which of you by taking thought [by worrying] can add one cubit unto his stature?” (Matthew 6:27).
Fifth, The Fearfulness of Anxiety / Worry! “Consider the lilies shall he not much more clothe you” (Matthew 6:28, 30).
Sixth, The Faithlessness of Anxiety / Worry! “O ye of little faith”
(Matthew 6:30).
Seventh, The Foulness of Anxiety / Worry!
“Take therefore no thought for the morrow Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Matthew 6:34).
Eighth, the Finiteness of Anxiety / Worry! “Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things” (Matthew 6:31). Worry is a mild form of atheism. It's acting like God doesn't exist. Hebrews 13:5 "I will never leave you, nor forsake you." Jesus taught that worry is pagan. "After these things do the Gentiles seek."
III. Jesus Wants to Free You!
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. John 8:32, John 14:6
A. The Cure for Anxiousness / Worry Matthew 6:33
B. The Seeking in the Cure for Anxiousness / Worry
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). John 1:40-41
First, The Path in The Seeking. “Kingdom of God.”
Second, The Praise in The Seeking. “Kingdom of God.”
Third, The Purity in The Seeking. “His righteousness.”
Fourth, The Priority in The Seeking. “First.”
C. The Supply in The Cure for Anxiousness / Worry
“And all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).
The reward for seeking the right thing is the supplying of all the needs you were worried about. Worry will not supply the needs but seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness will. It is a great promise but few claim it or experience its fulfillment. Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
TONIGHT SERVICE 6 PM
“JUDGE NOT, THAT YE BE NOT JUDGED.”
Matthew 7:1-6 (Matthew 7:1)
