Matthew6: 31 – 34: Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 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.
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KJV – 33- But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
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NIV – 33 – But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
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MSG – 33 – Steep your life in God- reality, God- initiative, God provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
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This certainly aligns and connects with this verse in the principle of God’s voice to us:
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verse 34- Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up, when the time comes.
Matthew7: 7-
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KJV – Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
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NIV – Ask and it will be given to you ; seek and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened.
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MSG – Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn’t a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in.
It may be observable to you, even now, that my focus is going to center on Matthew 6:33; however, I want to begin this exploration from the first words of
Matthew 6: 31- “Therefore, take no thought”…
Many of us, in Christ, claim we are seeking God, as first priority in our lives; yet, what do we really “listen” to first? I would say the “thoughts”, and not God’s Spirit, which dwells within us. Correct? So, then, immediately there is a place for conflicting “alliance” to be a factor in the operation of daily living, in moment by moment of living life.
Take:Strongs- 3309- merimano- to be anxious about- have care
>Thought- 3309 – same as take; therefore they go “together” in alignment of thinking.
Verse6:28 – “And why take ye thought for raiment?”
Raiment-1742- enduma- apparel; garment
…in other words, placing value on the outward appearance of one’s self, as well as on the appearance of others in what we regard.
Verse6:27 – Which of you by taking thought [3309] can add one cubit unto his stature? …
cubit-04803- pechus- affinity- as a measure
Are you understanding God’s Voice, in this passage of His Word, declares/ instructs, us what not to do, in God’s Kingdom Reality, in how we operate in our human value- placing upon the core of our person- before He declares we Seek Him, first? Yet, humanity has a penchant for the regard of our thoughts, our “own understanding”, before we “seek God”, and thus we then seek God with the definition of human perception, and not the reliance of God’s Spirit and direction,for living life. Correct?
Getting the “picture”? So, we shall now go to Matthew 6:33, and examine some of the Strong Greek definitions of some words, and hopefully gain more insight into specifically what God desires from our hearts.
- But (but first) –1161- deh- now ; moreover, nevertheless
First-4412- proton- at the first; first of all :
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first in time and place
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in any succession of things and purpose
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in influence; in honor
(the)Kingdom- 932- basilela- properly- royalty; concretely- realm of power.
The right of authority.
(His)Righteousness- 1343- dikaiosunh- (dik-ah-yos-oo-nay) -
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state of Him who is as he ought to be, in condition
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justice or virtue, which gives each his due
Things-5203- tauta- these; that- these words, misc.
Added-4369- prostiyhmi- again, send; give more; increase- proceed further
>From MSG- (from Webster’s Dictionary)- Steep-
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lofty; high
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rapid and intense decline or increase
We definitely can conclude that this verse certainly does not mean to align with someone, or some force, and influence who focuses on their own reasoning. (!) God should be the focus, in each day, in each moment we are living life, in His Kingdom Reality.
Let me do a paraphrase of this verse, based on the original language, as we have just studied from research into Strong’s:
Now, in any succession of all ongoing influences on us, seek and align with in constant purpose, with the dominion, and authority of God-His condition, not our own- and all the words, from His Voice, and Word will proceed further in your heart and mind.
Mount, and give attention to your life in continual purpose in God!
God,our God- our Lord and Saviour knows our intentions, and the root of how we maintain focus, or not in Him. This amazing passage is not new from the Voice of God; it, frankly, is a reminder of His Word, to us, His people, centuries ago:
Deuteronomy4: 28-31- And there you will serve gods of wood and stone, the work of human hands, that neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the LORD your God and obey his voice. For the LORD your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.
The Message version of verse 29 really gets at what God desires from all His Creation; the “Whole Heart” who Seeks God.
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“But even there, if you seek God, your God, you’ll be able to find him, if you’re serious looking for him, with your whole heart and soul.”
Is this a description of you? Um… Let us all pray that this becomes us, and our heart and character in whom we regard, First!
