Matthew 6:34, commentary and pictures

Take therefore no thought for the morrow means refusing anxious care for tomorrow because tomorrow will bring its own concerns in its own time and today has trouble enough of its own without borrowing future burdens in advance. It closes the teaching about laying up treasure in heaven rather than on earth and about worry over food, drink, and clothing, directing hearers to seek God's kingdom and righteousness first and trust the Father to supply what is needed. No help is promised for carrying tomorrow's load today, for grace, strength, and wisdom are given day by day as needed, as manna was given to Israel in the wilderness. The best preparation for coming trials is to faithfully do today's duties, meet present responsibilities, and leave future liabilities until they become present. Taking outcomes that belong to God upon oneself and leaning on human wisdom brings anxiety and fear of loss, while trusting His love and good purpose brings rest of soul and strength for practical action in the present.

Words and Setting

Take therefore no thought for the morrow closes the teaching against laying up treasure on earth and for laying up lasting treasure in heaven, and against anxiety over food, drink, and clothing, directing hearers to seek God's kingdom and righteousness first and to trust the Father to provide what is needed. Each day brings its own troubles and today's concerns are enough to bear without adding tomorrow's liabilities in advance, for tomorrow's concerns will come in their own time and belong to tomorrow. Trust in the Father's care for daily needs comes before worry about temporal things, as shown by His care for birds and flowers and by His clothing the lilies, grass, and flowers. This trust also frees from fear about giving to God's work, since means entrusted are to be used for heaven rather than earthly wealth, and it exposes the dangers and unbelief of the present time by calling for walking by faith instead of anxious care. The better life taught alongside this trust is inward adornment, the meekness and righteousness of Christ, which is valuable in God's sight and prepares for immortality. The counsel not to worry about tomorrow supports directing the mind away from material concerns and receiving the Sabbath not as gloomy or uneasy but in a peaceful, trusting spirit, in which families can enjoy nature and learn from it about God's love and care.

The verse belongs to the Sermon on the Mount, the pure gospel given upon the mount that opposed the self-righteous doctrines and traditions of the scribes and Pharisees. That sermon revealed God as compassionate, merciful, and loving, presenting Him as a Father who cares for His people. It explains God's holy law and sets the holy standard of character, requiring loving God with the whole heart and loving neighbor as God requires. Those who have not learned this teaching mingle human wisdom with the divine, confuse other minds about right and holy methods in business, divert mission means to ambitious designs, and unjustly acquire means at another's expense to please lust for gain and power, proving gain to be their godliness until they repent, are converted, do works worthy of the Christian name, and undergo a cleansing purging of the soul temple.

The verse holds lessons not yet learned that must order life by the truth of God found in His Word. It teaches to recognize every gift received as coming from God, and when gratitude for the goodness of God fills the heart a heavenly atmosphere will surround the soul. It calls for more diligent study of the Scriptures, receiving them not as a make-believe story but as the truth of the living God, the foundation of faith and the assurance on which hope of eternal life in the kingdom of heaven is built.

Trust Without Anxiety

Anxious thought for tomorrow is forbidden because tomorrow will bring its own concerns in their own time, and sufficient unto the day is its trouble thereof. Today's concerns are enough to bear without adding tomorrow's liabilities, cares and burdens in advance, for each day brings its own troubles and needs to be met in the present rather than burdened with worry about the future. This is the application to the future of trust in God rather than anxiety about life's needs such as food, drink and clothing, calling for trust in the Father's care for daily needs and seeking God's kingdom and righteousness first rather than letting concern for temporal things take priority. Trust in daily life includes parents teaching children Christ's words instead of making food, drink and clothing their chief concern, and it frees from fear about giving to God's work, since means entrusted are to be used to lay up lasting treasure in heaven rather than earthly wealth. God knows human needs and cares for them, so the call is to trust His love, have faith and follow Christ through hardship, even as Christ Himself experienced poverty and hardship and God can provide for those in need through people who have means.

The future is hidden from human sight in God's wisdom, and people are given to do with the duties of today only. When Jesus said Follow Me the fishermen knew little to what they were called, not the trials, disappointments and sufferings that would afterward come, and had all been opened before them their hearts would have failed. The events of the future, though hidden, are all known to God who is omnipotent and who lovingly keeps the future in His care, so those who have given themselves to God's work need not take tomorrow's burdens upon themselves in advance. God gives help and guidance for the present rather than revealing the whole life journey at once so His children are not confused, giving the strength and wisdom needed for the present need as they follow Him one day at a time. The proper concern is to know and do God's requirements, trusting Him for temporal needs and for the redemption of the soul.

God sustains all creation and tenderly watches over every person in every circumstance, illustrated by His clothing the lilies, grass and flowers and His care for birds. Great and small concerns alike can be left in His hands, because everything is in His hands and He is not overwhelmed by their number or weight. Trust in the heavenly Father in this way frees from undue anxiety about the future and brings rest of soul.

Taking responsibility for outcomes that belong to God and relying on human wisdom brings anxiety and fear of danger or loss, while trusting that God loves and intends good allows leaving the future in His hands and accepting His will. God knows human cares and does not ask carrying burdens too heavy, so people are to give faithful service, do their best with the trust committed to them, and leave to their heavenly Father the work they cannot do or perform. Worry about the future weakens rather than helps, and strength is not gained by dwelling on self, brooding over the past, or worrying about what is to come, but by practical action in the present with God as helper.

Anxiety about future want and starvation is a satanic delusion that creates trouble beforehand by bringing tomorrow's imagined hardship into the present, and trust in God replaces this worry. To turn from truth because future livelihood and business success cannot be discerned, to be comfortless and imagine evil of the Lord as if He will not sustain, is unbelief to be rebuked. Those who seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, obey His commandments and serve Him fully will have all needed things added, for the Lord opens the way before them and sustains them in the trial of faith with astonishing providences. Such distrust loses precious revealings of His Spirit, wastes glorious opportunities to strengthen weak faith, and makes it impossible for God to multiply blessing and grace.

Grace and Strength Today

Christ gives no promise of help for carrying tomorrow's burdens today, for grace, strength and wisdom are supplied daily for the needs of each day when they arrive. Like the manna given to Israel in the wilderness, each morning brings provision for that day, and Jesus promises grace for the present day to bear its burdens and perform its duties, not provision for borrowing future burdens in advance. Much anticipated trouble is imaginary, so tomorrow's cares are not to be carried into today, but sorrows and perplexities are to be taken to Christ in prayer with trust that the One who gives strength for today will give strength for tomorrow. Faithfully doing today's duties without bringing tomorrow's cares and burdens into today is the best preparation for tomorrow's trials, because God gives strength for each day.

Faithfully discharging today's duties is the best preparation for tomorrow's trials, rather than gathering all tomorrow's liabilities and cares and adding them to the burden of today. The strain of present responsibilities is to be met and future liabilities left until they become present, while preparing now through education for the work God assigns. Trusting God and acknowledging His provision while putting His kingdom first frees from anxious care about tomorrow.

Duty has to do only with today: to overcome for today, deny self for today, watch and pray for today, fight the good fight of faith, believe God's blessing, gain victory over self, darkness and unbelief, and obtain victories in God for today. Life's work and difficulties are to be faced one day at a time, step by step, conquering from day to day with daily help from Christ who knows human weakness, without needing to gain strength a month ahead. Bringing the troubles of tomorrow into today by dwelling on gloomy things, gathering trials, borrowing troubles and manufacturing trials embitters the heart, brings burdens and a cloud upon others, wastes precious probationary time given to do good and become rich in good works, and blocks a sound, healthy, intelligent experience in the things of God and moral fitness for the better life. Circumstances and surroundings, the changes daily transpiring, and the written Word which discerns and proves all things are sufficient to teach duty day by day, so the mind should not run in unprofitable thought but search the Scriptures daily and do the duties of daily life, guard words and actions, praise and honor God, conquer the enemy through living faith, seek His presence, and live each day with the earnestness of a last day. By that daily victory believers meet the Master's requirements and become a blessing to those around them.

Taking no thought for tomorrow must not be turned into a rule against labor or responsible care for the temporal needs of self and family. Thoughts are not to be filled with anxiety about future needs such as food, drink or clothing, but people are to attend quietly to the duties of the present day, do what they can, give God faithful service and do their best with the trust committed to them. Trust does not excuse neglect, as shown by Sabbath preparations including putting clothing and boots in order beforehand. What cannot be done or performed without anxious care is to be left to the heavenly Father when tomorrow comes with its own duties, for God knows human cares and does not ask for burdens too heavy to carry.

Contentment and Priorities

The verse teaches contentment and yielding of the will to the control of the Holy Spirit instead of determining to be rich or striving for place, position, honor, and recognition. It forbids pushing others aside to advance personal plans and forbids trusting in anxiety or efforts to secure an easy position for future emergencies, for God Himself will prepare His people for whatever comes. Seeking honor in the right way means obedience to the word of truth and ambition to honor Christ at every step. The greatest desire becomes to work faithfully in just the place God has assigned, where He can look with approval.

Applied to daily conduct, this forbids hasty temper, cruel speech, unkind thought, exalting one and condemning another, complaining at one's lot, strife for place, and elbowing a fellow worker aside to make room for personal plans. It directs revealing the fruits of righteousness in right words that bless and encourage others. Every day brings troubles of its own, so difficulties are to be met without allowing them to overwhelm, and feelings, words, or looks are not to add to the temptations of others. Attention is to be kept on Jesus, speaking words of hope and courage.

Food, drink, and clothing must not dominate the mind, consume the time needed to serve God, or become the chief concern taught to children. The proper concern is to know and do God's requirements, to seek His kingdom and righteousness first, obey His commandments and serve Him fully, trusting Him for temporal needs and for redemption of the soul. Those who so trust have the promise that all needed things will be added, as shown by God's clothing the lilies, grass, and flowers and His care for the birds. Waiting upon Christ turns the mind from passing concerns toward the heavenly home and its promised riches and glory. This goes with living simply and dressing modestly, for the better life is inward adornment, the meekness and quiet spirit and righteousness of Christ, which is valuable in God's sight and prepares for immortality, while outward expense and jewelry give no lasting influence.

The verse warns against looking years into the future to provide for supposed needs while neglecting matters of eternal importance. Anxious, excessive provision and exhausting oneself in worldly business can make salvation secondary and leave no strength for God's service. Believers are to attend faithfully to the present day, for the day already has its own troubles and anxious planning for tomorrow cannot remove them and can turn the heart from God and eternal concerns. Its lesson belongs to Christ's plain instruction to put God's kingdom and righteousness first and trust the Father to provide what is needed, and it is accessible to sincere believers of every intellect, for faith, trust, and a heart set on heavenly things matter more than learning or talent.

Living the Teaching Daily

Parents stand as teachers in God's place to act out His mind and will in every detail, and the closing word about tomorrow is instruction for their enlightenment. They are therefore not to scold and fret at their children or punish them harshly in anger. They are to bring them up in habits of strict temperance, after the order of abstinence from wine and strong drink and unclean food commanded to Manoah's wife and confirmed to Manoah for the training of the promised son. Trust in the Lord rather than worry about tomorrow belongs in daily life, with parents teaching their children Christ's words instead of making food and drink and clothing the chief concern. Fathers and mothers are to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness as the very first thing in the morning by prayer, seeking His blessing when going out and when coming in, letting the Spirit of heaven come into the household in love and fear of God, with assurance that all needed things will be provided.

The Sabbath need not be gloomy or uneasy, but is to be received in a peaceful, trusting spirit with the mind directed away from material anxiety. Families can enjoy nature on that day and learn from it about God's love and care, since He clothes the lilies and grass as proof that He cares for human needs of food, drink, clothing, and tomorrow. Trust does not excuse neglect of responsibilities, and Sabbath preparation beforehand, including putting clothing and boots in order, shows quiet faithfulness to present duty. Seeking God's kingdom and righteousness first carries the promise that needs will be provided, and that counsel against anxiety supports Sabbath rest.

Freedom from anxiety about tomorrow frees from fear about giving to God's work, for means entrusted are to be used to lay up lasting treasure in heaven rather than earthly wealth. Each day already has enough trouble, and its concerns will come in their own time under the Father's care for daily needs. Believers must take no anxious thought for tomorrow, especially about business success and livelihood, but seek first the kingdom and righteousness, obey the commandments, and serve fully, and the Lord will open the way and sustain the trial of faith with astonishing providences. To turn from truth because future support cannot be discerned, to be comfortless and imagine evil of the Lord as if He will not sustain, is unbelief to be rebuked, for such distrust loses precious revealings of His Spirit, wastes opportunities to strengthen weak faith, and makes it impossible for God to multiply blessing and grace. When the time to advance has fully come, God's people must advance trusting God for means instead of holding back in worry over money and provision, since anxiety about the future must not be greater than faith.

Each day has enough trouble of its own and the future is in God's hands, so God's work and workers are not to be bound by contracts made to secure resources for an unknown future. The pure standard given upon the mount requires loving God with the whole heart and neighbor as required, and forbids mingling human wisdom with the divine, confusing minds about right and holy methods in business, diverting mission means to ambitious designs, and unjustly acquiring means at another's expense to please lust for gain and power. Those who practice gain as godliness prove they have not learned this teaching and must repent, be converted, do works worthy of the Christian name, and undergo a cleansing purging of the soul temple.

Each day has its own responsibilities and duties, and tomorrow's work must not be crowded into today. Duties and pressures of each day are to be borne without adding tomorrow's burdens in advance, meeting the strain of present responsibilities and leaving future liabilities until they become present, while preparing now through education for the work assigned. God's reasonable requirements do not call for pressure and strain continued until exhaustion that damages physical health or weakens mental powers. Present troubles should be brought to Jesus rather than carried alone, for He offers rest and takes the burdens laid upon Him. Troubles need not make the soul miserable over tomorrow, but today's burdens are to be carried bravely and cheerfully with today's trust, taking sorrows and perplexities to Christ in prayer and relying on Him to bear what is too heavy, with assurance that He who gives strength for today will give strength for tomorrow and answers with everlasting kindness and mercy. The quiet rule is to attend to the duties of the present day, do what can be done, leave what cannot be done without anxious care, meet tomorrow's duties when tomorrow comes, and trust God for help, wisdom, and clear understanding while continuing religious duties.

In days of peril and real trials the rule is trust in Jesus Christ, loyal bearing of trials, and no failure or discouragement. Unexpected troubles will arise, and attention must not be burdened with tomorrow's difficulties by binding to human-made obligations, but proceed cautiously leaving what lies ahead to God. Homesickness is to be set aside by giving self fully to the work at hand with cheerfulness, peace, and joy in the present. Plans are not to be made as if tomorrow and the end of the work were known, nor attention fixed on a predicted time, but God is to be sought daily to know and do present duty. Making a time of trouble beforehand is forbidden, and in fear of the coming time of trouble and of failing to stand in the great testing day, the call is to present faith, daily victory through prayer, and full-hearted present work rather than remaining moved by accusations.