Matthew 6:19-34 ESV

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:32

Parallel passage: Luke 12:30 . Save in reading "but" instead of the second "for," Luke's seems the more original. ( For after all these things do the Gentiles seek ;) for your heavenly Father knoweth , etc. The Revised Version removes the marks of parenthesis. For...for; these are probably co-ordinate, and adduce two reasons for our not being for one moment anxious about earthly things: read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:33

Parallel passage: Luke 12:31 , which is shorter. But ; i.e. in contrast to such seeking as he has just spoken of. Our Lord at length gives a distinct promise that if God's cause is made the first aim, all the necessaries of life shall be provided. Seek ye first . The difference between ζητεῖν here and ἐπιζητεῖν in Luke 12:32 seems to be only that the latter points out more clearly the direction of the search. First. If the search for earthly things be put into a secondary... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:33

The first object of human pursuit. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness." In a former homily on this chapter it is shown that the kingdom of God is the dom , or rule, of God's will. There is a traditional sentence given by Origen, and by Clement of Alexandria, which our Lord might have uttered, for it is very like this authentic passage: "Ask great things, and little things shall be added to you; ask heavenly things, and earthly things shall be added to you." Man is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:34

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 . Matthew only. Luke's conclusion to this section ("Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom") is perhaps more closely connected with the preceding verse, and also grander as dwelling upon God's side; but Matthew's is more practical, dealing with the subject from man's side. Christ says, "Because... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 6:19

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth - Treasures, or wealth, among the ancients, consisted in clothes or changes of raiment, as well as in gold, silver, gems, wine, lands, and oil. It meant an abundance of “anything” that was held to be conducive to the ornament or comfort of life. As the Orientals delighted much in display, in splendid equipage, and costly garments, their treasures, in fact, consisted much in beautiful and richly-ornamented articles of apparel. See Genesis 45:22,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 6:20-21

Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven - That is, have provision made for your eternal felicity. Do not exhaust your strength and spend your days in providing for the life here, but let your chief anxiety be to be prepared for eternity. Compare the notes at Isaiah 55:2. In heaven nothing corrupts; nothing terminates; no enemies plunder or destroy. To have treasure in heaven is to possess evidence that its purity and joys will be ours. It is to be heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 6:22-23

The light of the body ... - The sentiment stated in the preceding verses - the duty of fixing the affections on heavenly things - Jesus proceeds to illustrate by a reference to the “eye.” When the eye is directed steadily toward an object, and is in health, or is single, everything is clear and plain. If it vibrates, flies to different objects, is fixed on no one singly, or is diseased, nothing is seen clearly. Everything is dim and confused. The man, therefore, is unsteady. The eye regulates... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 6:24

No man can serve two masters ... - Christ proceeds to illustrate the necessity of laying up treasures in heaven from a well-known fact, that a servant cannot serve two masters at the same time. His affections and obedience would be divided, and he would fail altogether in his duty to one or the other. One he would love, the other he would hate. To the interests of the one he would adhere, the interests of the other he would neglect. This is a law of human nature. The supreme affections can be... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 6:25

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought ... - The general design of this paragraph, which closes the chapter, is to warn his disciples against avarice, and, at the same time, against anxiety about the supply of their needs. This he does by four arguments or considerations, expressing by unequalled beauty and force the duty of depending for the things which we need on the providence of God. The “first” is stated in Matthew 6:25; “Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?” In... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 6:26

Behold the fowls of the air - The second argument for confidence in the providence of God is derived from a beautiful reference to the fowls or feathered tribes. See, said the Saviour, see the fowls of the air: they have no anxiety about the supply of their wants; they do not sow or reap; they fill the grove with music, and meet the coming light of the morning with their songs, and pour their notes on the zephyrs of the evening, unanxious about the supply of their needs; yet how few die with... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:32

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:33

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:33

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:34

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 6:19

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 6:20-21

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 6:22-23

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 6:24

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 6:25

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 6:26

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