“Seek first the Kingdom”
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33
Christians are encouraged to seek God’s Kingdom and righteousness, trusting God to provide for their needs. The message calls for a shift in focus from material concerns to faith and a deeper relationship with God.
Chapter Summary
The Sermon on the Mount continues in chapter 6, which is entirely composed of Christ’s words. Jesus teaches that God rewards deeds motivated by sincere devotion to Him, not by approval from other people. He teaches a simple and authentic model of prayer. Christ warns against stockpiling money and possessions. Instead, believers should make choices that store treasures in heaven. A person’s top priority can either be God or money, but not both. Jesus also said that believers should fight against anxiety about daily needs. The Heavenly Father knows what we need.
“Seek”
Seeking means intentionally giving attention to and pursuing something.
“Seek” is presented as an ongoing action. (Present Imperative, Continually, habitually follow this command! The Present Imperative is often a call to a long-term commitment and calls for the attitude or action to be one’s continual way of life.
Seeking can be viewed as a daily decision or habit of prioritizing goals or ideals.
Priority – “First”
“First” means first in time, place, order, or importance. “First” conveys ultimate allegiance rather than mere sequence: all legitimate human concerns are subordinated to the Father’s rule.”
The principle of “seeking first” the things of God affects a person’s motivations, priorities, and spiritual growth.
What should we seek first?
1. Seeking the kingdom
a. God’s kingdom is the reign of Jesus, the realm in which Jesus’ authority is acknowledged and obeyed. To seek God’s kingdom is to desire Jesus’ rule to be recognized and obeyed in three realms:
1) within our own lives, 2) in our circle of immediate influence, and 3) as far around the world as we can reach.
b. Present and Future:
1) While the Kingdom is already present in the lives of believers through the Holy Spirit, it will also be fully realized upon Christ’s return.
2. Seeking His righteousness
a. Righteousness is the character before God and the right action before men.
b. The righteousness of God can be succinctly stated as all that God is, commands, demands, approves, and provides through faith in Christ.
c. Righteousness is the antithesis of sin.
Therefore, seeking the kingdom and His righteousness
It requires the intentional alignment of our thoughts, decisions, and actions with God’s will. This means continually examining our lives to ensure that they reflect Christ’s teachings and embracing opportunities to demonstrate His love for others.
The Advantages Associated with Prioritizing the Kingdom of God
“These” is the plural form of the demonstrative pronoun “this” and refers to nearby people or things (e.g., “You can borrow one of these”). For items that are farther away, use “those” instead (e.g., “You can’t borrow those”).
“All these things shall be added unto you.”
“These things” refer to the essentials of life: food and clothing. Jesus instructs people not to worry about how these will be provided, urging them instead to trust that God will supply what is needed (Matthew 6:25-32). Rather than being anxious, He encourages us to focus on God’s kingdom and trust in His care.
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