Do Not Worry
Matthew 6:25-34
Matt.6.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Δια: PREP
- τουτο: PRON,nom,sg,n
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν·μη: PRON,dat,pl,2+PART
- μεριμνατε: VERB,aor,act,subj,2,pl
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- ψυχη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- τι: PRON,acc,sg,n
- φαγητε: VERB,fut,act,ind,2,pl
- μηδε: CONJ
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- σωματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- τι: PRON,acc,sg,n
- ενδυσησθε·ουχι: VERB,fut,mid,ind,2,pl+PART
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- ψυχη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- πλειον: ADV
- εστι: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- τροφης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- σωμα: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,m
- ενδυματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
Parallels
- Luke 12:22-31 (verbal): Near-verbatim parallel of Jesus' teaching on not being anxious about food and clothing; shares same examples and logic about God's provision.
- Matthew 6:26 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same discourse; uses the example of birds to reinforce the argument that God provides, underscoring the point of verse 6:25.
- Philippians 4:6-7 (thematic): Paul exhorts believers not to be anxious but to present requests to God in prayer, promising God's peace—a New Testament echo of Jesus' teaching against anxiety.
- Psalm 23:1 (thematic): The LORD as shepherd who provides ('I shall not want') resonates with Jesus' assurance that God cares for basic needs, grounding trust in divine provision.
- Psalm 37:25 (thematic): David's testimony that the Lord does not abandon the righteous and provides for them parallels Jesus' claim that God supplies the needs of his people, discouraging anxiety.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life—what you will eat or what you will drink—or about your body—what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
- Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Matt.6.26 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εμβλεψατε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- εις: PREP
- τα: ART,acc,pl,neut
- πετεινα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,m
- ουρανου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- οτι: CONJ
- ου: PART,neg
- σπειρουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- ουδε: CONJ
- θεριζουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- ουδε: CONJ
- συναγουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- εις: PREP
- αποθηκας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ουρανιος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- τρεφει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτα·ουχ: PRON,acc,pl,n
- υμεις: PRON,nom,pl,2
- μαλλον: ADV
- διαφερετε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,c
Parallels
- Luke 12:24 (verbal): Near-verbatim parallel: Jesus uses the same example of birds that neither sow nor reap yet are fed, part of Luke’s version of the ‘do not worry’ teaching.
- Luke 12:22-31 (structural): Broader Lukan context of Jesus’ instruction not to be anxious about life, mirroring Matthew’s structure and emphasis on God’s provision.
- Matthew 10:29-31 (thematic): Similar theme and imagery (sparrows, God’s care, human value): Jesus reassures disciples that God cares for small creatures and values people even more.
- Psalm 147:9 (allusion): Old Testament background: Yahweh ‘gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens when they cry,’ providing precedent for Jesus’ claim that God feeds birds.
- Job 38:41 (allusion): God’s rhetorical question about providing for the raven parallels Jesus’ appeal to God’s care for birds as reason humans need not be anxious.
Alternative generated candidates
- Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of far greater value than they?
- Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet your Father in heaven feeds them. Are you not worth more than they?
Matt.6.27 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,3
- δε: CONJ
- εξ: PREP
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- μεριμνων: PART,pres,act,gen,pl,m
- δυναται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- προσθειναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- επι: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ηλικιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- πηχυν: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ενα: NUM,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Luke 12:25 (quotation): Nearly identical saying in Luke's version of the teaching—same question about who by worrying can add a single cubit/measure to his life (verbal parallel).
- Matthew 6:25 (structural): Immediate context of the Sermon on the Mount: Jesus' command not to be anxious about life provides the larger argument that leads into 6:27.
- Matthew 6:34 (structural): Direct continuation of the same discursive unit—Jesus concludes the argument against worry by forbidding anxiety about tomorrow.
- Philippians 4:6 (thematic): Paul's exhortation 'do not be anxious about anything' echoes the Matthean concern with anxiety and points to prayer as the proper response.
- 1 Peter 5:7 (thematic): Encourages believers to 'cast all your anxieties on him,' reflecting the Gospel's call to trust God rather than be consumed by worry.
Alternative generated candidates
- And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life?
- Which of you, by worrying, can add a single hour to his life?
Matt.6.28 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- περι: PREP
- ενδυματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- τι: PRON,acc,sg,n
- μεριμνατε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- καταμαθετε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- τα: ART,acc,pl,neut
- κρινα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,m
- αγρου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- πως: ADV
- αυξανουσιν·ου: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- κοπιωσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- ουδε: CONJ
- νηθουσιν·: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Luke 12:27 (verbal): Nearly identical saying about the lilies of the field; Luke preserves the same exhortation not to worry about clothing.
- Matthew 6:26 (structural): Immediate parallel earlier in the same discourse—Jesus uses the birds of the air as the first natural example to argue against anxiety.
- Matthew 6:33 (thematic): Continues the same teaching: seek God's kingdom first and trust that he will provide your needs, including clothing.
- Philippians 4:6 (thematic): Paul's admonition not to be anxious about anything echoes Jesus' commands against worry in the Sermon on the Mount.
- 1 Peter 5:7 (thematic): Calls believers to cast their anxieties on God, reflecting the same trust in God's care that underlies the lilies-of-the-field saying.
Alternative generated candidates
- And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field how they grow: they neither toil nor spin.
- And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin.
Matt.6.29 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- δε: CONJ
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- οτι: CONJ
- ουδε: CONJ
- Σολομων: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- παση: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- δοξη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- περιεβαλετο: VERB,impf,pas,ind,3,sg
- ως: ADV
- εν: PREP
- τουτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Matt.6.28 (structural): Immediate context in the Sermon on the Mount—verse 28 introduces the lily illustration that verse 29 completes ('Consider the lilies... not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these').
- Luke 12:27 (verbal): Synoptic parallel of the same saying about the lilies and Solomon; language and argument are closely similar, showing a shared tradition (’Consider the lilies... not even Solomon...’).
- 1 Kings 10:4-5 (allusion): OT depiction of Solomon’s wealth, court and splendour provides the background for Matthew’s claim that even Solomon’s glory does not match the lilies—Matthew alludes to Israel’s iconic image of Solomon’s magnificence.
- 2 Chronicles 9:3-4 (verbal): Parallel account to 1 Kings describing the queen of Sheba’s reaction to Solomon’s splendour; reinforces the Old Testament portrait of Solomon’s unmatched glory that Matthew invokes for contrast.
Alternative generated candidates
- Yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.
- Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these.
Matt.6.30 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- δε: CONJ
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- χορτον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,m
- αγρου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- σημερον: ADV
- οντα: PART,pres,act,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- αυριον: ADV
- εις: PREP
- κλιβανον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- βαλλομενον: PART,pres,pass,acc,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ουτως: ADV
- αμφιεννυσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- ου: PART,neg
- πολλω: ADV
- μαλλον: ADV
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- ολιγοπιστοι: ADJ,voc,pl,m
Parallels
- Luke 12:28 (verbal): Close Synoptic parallel: Jesus uses the same ‘grass of the field’ example and the same argument from lesser to greater to urge trust in God’s provision.
- Matthew 6:26 (structural): Immediate context within the Sermon on the Mount: earlier verse uses birds as an argument that God provides, forming part of the same anti-anxiety teaching.
- Matthew 6:31-34 (thematic): Continues the exhortation not to worry about food, drink, or clothing, and reinforces reliance on God’s provision—same theme and rhetorical thrust as v.30.
- Psalm 103:15-16 (allusion): Uses similar imagery of human life’s transience—'the days of man are like grass'—echoing the fleeting nature of the field’s grass in Jesus’ example.
- Isaiah 40:6-8 (allusion): Isaiah’s imagery of grass and flowers fading contrasts transient creation with God’s enduring word; Jesus’ use of grass highlights human dependence on God amid worldly transience.
Alternative generated candidates
- But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
- But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Matt.6.31 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- μη: PART
- ουν: PART
- μεριμνησητε: VERB,aor,act,subj,2,pl
- λεγοντες·Τι: PARTCP,pres,act,nom,pl,m
- φαγωμεν: VERB,aor,act,subj,1,pl
- η·Τι: CONJ,disj
- πιωμεν: VERB,aor,act,subj,1,pl
- η·Τι: CONJ,disj
- περιβαλωμεθα: VERB,aor,mid,subj,1,pl
Parallels
- Luke 12:29 (verbal): Direct Lukan parallel to Matthew's saying; Jesus uses the same questions about what to eat, drink, and wear in the Lukan version of the teaching.
- Matthew 6:25 (structural): Immediate context in the Sermon on the Mount that introduces the command 'do not be anxious' and frames the specific worries listed in v.31.
- Matthew 6:33 (structural): Follows vv.25–31 and supplies the teaching's remedy—seek first the kingdom and righteousness—promising that necessary provisions will be given.
- Philippians 4:6 (thematic): Paul's exhortation not to be anxious about anything and to present requests to God parallels Jesus' concern to overcome worry and trust God for needs.
- 1 Peter 5:7 (thematic): Encourages believers to cast their anxieties on God because he cares, reflecting the same trust in God's provision that underlies Matthew's warning against worry.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
- So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
Matt.6.32 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- παντα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- γαρ: PART
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,neut
- τα: ART,acc,pl,neut
- εθνη: NOUN,nom,pl,n
- επιζητουσιν·οιδεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl+VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- γαρ: PART
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ουρανιος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- οτι: CONJ
- χρηζετε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- τουτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- απαντων: ADJ,gen,pl,n
Parallels
- Luke 12:30 (verbal): Near-verbatim parallel in Luke’s account of Jesus’ teaching: the heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
- Matthew 6:26 (structural): Part of the same antithetical teaching against anxiety—Jesus points to God’s care for birds as evidence the Father knows and provides for human needs.
- Matthew 6:33 (thematic): Immediate continuation of the thought: seek God’s kingdom first and ‘all these things’ (needs) will be provided, linking trust in the Father to provision.
- Philippians 4:19 (thematic): Paul’s assurance that God will supply all your needs echoes Jesus’ promise that the Father knows and provides for our necessities.
- 1 Peter 5:7 (thematic): Encourages believers to cast anxieties on God because he cares for them, reflecting the same confidence in the Father’s knowledge and provision expressed in Matthew 6:32.
Alternative generated candidates
- For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
- For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your Father in heaven knows that you need them.
Matt.6.33 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ζητειτε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- δε: CONJ
- πρωτον: ADV
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- βασιλειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- δικαιοσυνην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,neut
- παντα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- προστεθησεται: VERB,fut,pass,ind,3,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
Parallels
- Luke 12:31 (verbal): Nearly identical saying in Luke — 'seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you,' a close verbal parallel to Matthew's command to seek the kingdom and its righteousness.
- Colossians 3:1-2 (thematic): Calls believers to 'seek the things above' and set minds on heavenly realities, echoing Matthew's priority of pursuing God's kingdom before earthly concerns.
- Romans 14:17 (thematic): Defines the kingdom of God in terms of 'righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,' linking Matthew's pairing of the kingdom with God's righteousness.
- Psalm 27:4 (thematic): 'One thing I have asked of the LORD... that I may dwell in the house of the LORD' — an Old Testament expression of single-minded devotion and prioritizing relationship with God, reflecting the call to seek God's reign first.
Alternative generated candidates
- But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
- But seek first the kingdom of heaven and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you.
Matt.6.34 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- μη: PART
- ουν: PART
- μεριμνησητε: VERB,pres,act,subj,2,pl
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- αυριον: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- γαρ: PART
- αυριον: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- μεριμνησει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτης·αρκετον: PRON,gen,3,sg,f+ADJ,nom,sg,n
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- ημερα: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- κακια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- αυτης: PRON,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Luke 12:22-31 (verbal): Very close parallel teaching in Luke's version of the Sermon on the Mount/Plain: commands not to be anxious about food or clothing and assurance that God knows our needs; the closing idea that tomorrow will take care of itself is reflected here.
- Matthew 6:25-33 (structural): Immediate literary context within the Sermon on the Mount: the fuller argument against anxiety about basic needs culminating in v.34's admonition.
- Philippians 4:6 (verbal): Paul's injunction 'do not be anxious about anything' (μην μεριμνατε) echoes Matthew's command against worry and redirects to prayer and thanksgiving.
- 1 Peter 5:7 (thematic): 'Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you' shares the theological assurance behind Matthew's admonition: trust God rather than be anxious about tomorrow.
- Proverbs 27:1 (thematic): 'Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth' parallels the sentiment about the unpredictability of the future and the injunction not to place confidence or worry in it.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow; for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day has trouble enough of its own.
- Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have enough anxieties of its own. Each day has trouble enough of its own.
Therefore I tell you: Do not be anxious about your life—what you will eat or what you will drink—or about your body—what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the air: they do not sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin.
Yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—O you of little faith?
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not be anxious about tomorrow; tomorrow will have its own anxieties. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.