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Anxiety · Trust · Provision

Do not worry

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus points to birds and wildflowers to help his listeners loosen the grip of worry.

Scripture: World English Bible (WEB)

Matthew 6:25–34

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Everything below the Scripture card is explanation and reflection prepared by A Little Closer, not the Bible text itself.

2

Context

Who wrote it
Early Christian tradition associates this Gospel with Matthew, also called Levi, a tax collector who became one of Jesus’ disciples (Matthew 9:9).
Where it sits
This passage is part of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), a long section of Jesus’ teaching about life in God’s kingdom.
The verses before
Just before, Jesus speaks about storing up treasure in heaven and the impossibility of serving both God and money (Matthew 6:19–24). The teaching on worry follows from this.
3

Understand

Jesus tells his listeners not to be consumed by worry about food, drink, and clothing. He points them to the birds, which God feeds, and to the wildflowers, which God clothes beautifully.

He asks a gentle but searching question: can worrying add a single hour to your life? Worry cannot change tomorrow.

Instead, Jesus invites his followers to make God’s kingdom and righteousness their first priority, trusting their heavenly Father who knows what they need. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Jesus is not saying that needs don’t matter or that work is unimportant. He is reshaping where his followers place their trust.

4

Observe

Notice what the passage actually says.

  • What everyday things does Jesus mention that people worry about?
  • What two examples from nature does he use?
  • How many times does the word ‘worry’ (or a similar word) appear?
  • What does Jesus say the Father already knows?
5

Interpret

Consider what it meant in its context.

  • What is the connection between this passage and Matthew 6:19–24 just before it?
  • What does it mean to seek God’s kingdom first?
  • How does knowing God as ‘Father’ change the way someone faces worry?

Philippians 4:6–7 and 1 Peter 5:7 also speak about bringing anxieties to God in prayer, and are helpful to read alongside this passage.

6

Apply

  • What are you most worried about this week? Write it down.
  • Is there a small part of tomorrow’s worry that you can set down today?
  • Go outside or look out a window. What in creation reminds you of God’s care?

prayer prompt

Bring God the worries you wrote down, one at a time. Ask him to help you trust him with today.

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Notes on Matthew 6:25–34

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