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Matthew 6

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

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.

What does Matthew 6:26 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 6:26 focuses on the providence of God over His creation, specifically highlighting the care He takes of birds.

The verse contrasts the natural, instinctive behaviors of birds with human activities.

Birds do not engage in agricultural practices such as sowing seeds, reaping harvests, or storing food in barns, and yet they are fed and survive.

In doing so, Jesus points out that if God takes care of the birds, which are less significant than humans, He will certainly take care of human needs.

The verse emphasizes faith and trust in God's unwavering provision and encourages believers not to worry about their basic needs.

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Historical Context

The verse is from the Sermon on the Mount, presented by Jesus to His disciples and to a larger audience. This occurred in the early part of Jesus' ministry, in the region of Galilee, most likely on a hillside.

Historically, this was during the Roman occupation of Judea, a time when many people lived in relative poverty and subsistence farming was common. Roman taxation and the distribution of wealth could make daily survival quite tenuous for many.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, the verse communicates the sovereignty and care of God as a provider.

It underscores God’s omnipotence and omniscience, knowing the needs of His creation and having the power to meet them.

The Christian tradition sees this as an invitation to live a life based on faith rather than anxiety, underlining God’s paternal relationship with believers.

Different theological viewpoints might emphasize the contrast between the instinctive trust of animals in divine provision and the invitation for humans to exercise faith consciously.

Practical Applications

Practically, Matthew 6:26 serves as a reminder to prioritize spiritual pursuits over material concerns, trusting in divine provision.

It encourages individuals to focus on seeking God's kingdom and righteousness (as per Matthew 6:33), rather than being consumed by anxiety over material needs.

This verse can help people cope with stress and worry by encouraging reliance on God rather than solely on personal effort.

Cross-References

Matthew 6:25 – "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.

Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?"

Matthew 6:28-30 – "And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."
Luke 12:24 – "Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?"
Philippians 4:6 – "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

Language Study

Key words in this verse and their meanings in Greek include:

"fowls of the air" (πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, peteina tou ouranou): Literally birds of the sky, indicating birds in general.
"sow" (σπείρουσιν, speirousin): To scatter seed for growing crops.
"reap" (θερίζουσιν, therizousin): To harvest or gather ripe crops.
"gather" (συνάγουσιν, synagousin): To collect or assemble, often for storage.
"barns" (ἀποθήκας, apothēkas): Storage places for large quantities of food or goods.
"feedeth" (τρέφει, trephei): To nourish or sustain, in this case referring to God sustaining the birds.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various ancient cultures, including those surrounding ancient Israel, there was an emphasis on deities providing for their followers; however, such provision was often contingent on sacrifices or offerings.

In contrast, the message in Matthew 6:26 is one of grace where God provides out of His own goodness without prerequisite offerings.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific viewpoint, birds exhibit intricate behaviors regarding foraging and feeding, which are instinctual and evolved over time for survival.

Yet, this scientific understanding does not negate the theological perspective of Matthew 6:26 but could augment the wonder at the complexity and provision within creation that believers attribute to God.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians offer interpretations on this verse:

John Calvin comments on the providence of God as a comfort to believers, serving as a reminder of God's care and the insignificance of worldly anxieties.
William Barclay highlights the implicit trust that birds have in the natural world, which should be echoed by human trust in God.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges suggests that this teaching encourages a departure from worldly cares, highlighting the distinction between being careless and care-free.

Matthew 6

Matthew 6

What does Matthew 6:26 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 6:26 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?