WHAT IT MEANS
Seek First the Kingdom
Jesus directs anxious people to make God’s kingdom and righteousness their first priority.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
CONTEXT
What is happening here?
The verse comes in the Sermon on the Mount during Jesus’ teaching about worry over food, clothing, and tomorrow.
APPLY IT
For today
Put God’s priorities first today and handle practical responsibilities without letting worry become your master.
Read it in 5 translations
KJV King James Version
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
BSB Berean Standard Bible
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
WEB World English Bible
But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
ASV American Standard Version
But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
but seek ye first the reign of God and His righteousness, and all these shall be added to you.
Surrounding context — Matthew 6
30 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?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 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.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
ζητεῖτεG2212 · zēteōto seekδὲG1161 · dethenπρῶτονG4413 · prōtosfirstτὴνG3588 · hothe/this/whoβασιλείανG932 · basileiakingdomκαὶG2532 · kaiandτὴνG3588 · hothe/this/whoδικαιοσύνηνG1343 · dikaiosunērighteousnessαὐτοῦ,G846 · autosit/s/heκαὶG2532 · kaiandταῦταG3778 · ohutosthis/he/she/itπάνταG3956 · pasallπροστεθήσεταιG4369 · prostithēmito add (to)ὑμῖν.G4771 · suyou
Cross-references
Luke 12:31But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.Matthew 5:6Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.John 6:27Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.Psalm 34:9-10O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for [there is] no want to them that fear him.Psalm 84:11-12For the LORD God [is] a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good [thing] will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.Mark 10:29-30And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,Romans 14:17For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.Proverbs 3:9-10Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:Proverbs 2:1-9My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;Psalm 37:25I have been young, and [now] am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.Psalm 37:3Trust in the LORD, and do good; [so] shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.2 Chronicles 31:20-21And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought [that which was] good and right and truth before the LORD his God.Matthew 19:29And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.Romans 8:31What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?Psalm 37:18-19The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.Colossians 1:13-14Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son:1 Timothy 4:8For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.Luke 18:29-30And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake,
CLASSIC COMMENTARY & PREACHING
Spurgeon on Matthew 6:33
Read Charles H. Spurgeon material whose primary Scripture is this verse or passage.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
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