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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 6:27 mean?

Explanation

The verse from Matthew 6:27, "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" is part of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus is teaching about the futility of excessive worrying.

The literal meaning refers to the concern about earthly needs such as food, clothes, and, in this particular instance, life's span or perhaps one’s height.

A cubit is an ancient measure of length, roughly equivalent to the distance from the elbow to the fingertips, about 18 inches (45 cm).

Jesus questions whether by simply worrying, anyone can add a moment to their lifespan or a measure to their height.

The deeper meaning speaks to the broader issue of human anxiety over things that are beyond their control and the trust in God to provide for the needs of His followers.

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Matthew was written in the context of a Jewish audience that had anxieties about the future, particularly the basics of daily survival.

The Sermon on the Mount contains a series of teachings aimed at reorienting the listeners' values and priorities towards the Kingdom of God and away from material concerns.

In the ancient world, a person's daily bread was not guaranteed, and one's stature or age was seen as a reflection of divine favor or disfavor, making Jesus’ words particularly impactful.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse underscores the sovereignty of God and encourages reliance on divine providence.

God is seen as the provider who knows what humans need before they ask.

The call is for faith in God's care and provision, and a repudiation of the belief that human effort alone can secure personal wellbeing.

Various Christian denominations may emphasize different aspects of this trust, with some focusing on the verse's call to spiritual focus and others on the promise of God's provision.

Practical Applications

Practically, this verse urges individuals to avoid excessive worry over things they cannot control. It can be applied to modern life by encouraging people to focus on the present and what can be managed, while trusting that one’s basic needs will be met.

It suggests that mental and spiritual energy is better invested in positive pursuits and faith practices rather than being consumed by worry.

Cross-References

Matthew 6:25-34: This broader passage directly relates to worrying about daily needs and God's provision.
Luke 12:25-26: "And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?"
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

The key words in this verse are found in the original Greek:

"Taking thought" ("μεριμνῶν," merimnōn): This word implies an anxious or distracted care for something.
"Add" ("προσθεῖναι," prosthinai): To place additionally, to increase or to prolong
"Cubit" ("πῆχυν," pēchyn): An ancient measurement from the elbow to the fingertips.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the ancient near east, the length of one's life and one's physical stature were often associated with divine favor.

The Bible's concept of reliance on divine providence contrasts with many ancient myths where humans have to appease or trick the gods into getting what they need.

Other religions also have traditions emphasizing the surrendering of worry and recognition of human limitations, such as the Islamic practice of Tawakkul (reliance on God).

Scientific Perspectives

While the Bible is not a scientific text, modern psychology supports the idea that excessive worry can have a negative impact on both mental and physical health.

Stress and anxiety, when chronic, can lead to a wide array of health problems, illustrating that attempting to add to one's life or stature through worry is indeed futile.

Commentaries

Traditional commentaries, such as those written by Matthew Henry or John Calvin, focus on this verse's call for trust in the provision of God and the fruitlessness of worry.

Contemporary scholars often note the rhetorical nature of Jesus' question, using the impossibility of adding a cubit to one's stature by worrying to make a larger point about faith and reliance on God.

They highlight the call to focus on God's kingdom and righteousness and not to be consumed by worldly concerns.

Matthew 6

Matthew 6

What does Matthew 6:27 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 6:27 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?