Matthew (Written)

Saturday, 25 January 2025

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And you, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and these all – it will be added to you” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that the heavenly Father knows all the things we need. Therefore, He next says, “And you, seek first the kingdom of God.”

It should be noted that some manuscripts do not include the words tou theou (the God, indicating “of God”). Whether they are original or not, they are to be understood because of the surrounding context of what Jesus is explaining.

To understand what “kingdom” Jesus is speaking of, refer to the comments on Matthew 6:10 where Jesus said, “Your kingdom come.” The term kingdom is used to apply to different things within the dispensations God has set forth in the plan of redemption. What He is speaking of is sufficiently explained in that commentary. Along with seeking the kingdom of God, Jesus next says, “and His righteousness.”

This would correspond to the next words of Jesus in Matthew 6:10, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Seeking God’s righteousness is to seek that His will is done at all times in our lives before Him.

The disciples were instructed on prayer. Jesus then explained the things His prayer detailed. For example, saying, “And do not lead us into temptation,” is explained through Jesus’ examples concerning treasures on earth. If our treasures are in heaven, we will not be led into temptation over earthly things.

As such, what Jesus is now saying is a summary of everything He has explained since the giving of the Lord’s prayer. Praying for the will of God to be done and for the coming of His kingdom was noted in Matthew 6:10. It was then plainly expressed in the closing words, “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.”

The intervening words since then have not been a lot of new and disconnected thoughts. Rather, they have been helping us understand what it means when the Lord’s Prayer is spoken. Therefore, in seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, Jesus next says, “and these all – it will be added to you.”

Notice how Jesus’ words speak of the plural, these all, and then are summed up in the singular, it. It is an indication that the plural/singular words of the previous verse are probably the correct textual rendering. Jesus is taking plural concepts and then referring to them as a single unit.

Jesus assures His disciples that the things they need will not be kept out of reach when they put God first. Rather, the things they need will find their proper place in their lives.

Life application: Notice how the words of Jesus here actually dispel the notion that having wealth is somehow inappropriate. How often has it been seen that people focus too heavily on certain words while ignoring the greater context.

By telling His disciples to not worry about their lives in regard to food, drink, and clothing, people assume that Jesus is saying that we should not possess such things. This seems bolstered by His words that say, “For after all these, the Gentiles seek.” If the Gentiles seeking them is stated in a negative way, then it must be that Jesus is saying, “Get rid of all your stuff!”

With that, they quit their jobs and join a monastery, or they promise themselves to give away everything they have earned, dying without a penny left in the bank, as if they are only responsible with each week’s paycheck by doing this.

Such an attitude is dispelled throughout the Bible where godly people are seen to have great wealth, such as Job and David. Good men are also noted as saving even for their grandchildren (Proverbs 13:33). But the attitude is also dispelled by Jesus’s word of this verse.

Jesus doesn’t tell them to not have these things. Rather, He is speaking of priorities. Put God first, and God will still give them these things. A person will not be without them, but the possessions will be in the right place in one’s life.

Be sure to take the entire context of what is being said into consideration. Who is speaking, when and where is the person speaking, who is being spoken to, etc. From there, consider the rest of the words as they are presented without over-fixating on a single thought that will then result in a faulty conclusion about the overall presentation. This is the responsible way of looking at all things in Scripture.

Lord God, help us to always put You first in our lives. It is easy to get misdirected with the things of life that crop up and distract us. We know that it is right to seek You, Your kingdom, and Your righteousness first. May we do so, to Your glory. Amen.

Friday, 24 January 2025

For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. Matthew 6:32

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“For all these the Gentiles, it seeks upon. For your Father, the heavenly, He has known that you need all these” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus instructed His disciples not to worry. They should not anxiously ask about what they would eat, drink, or wear. Such things should not be points of concern, realizing that God is in complete control and has provided sufficiently for His people. Jesus next says, “For all these the Gentiles, it seeks upon.”

Jesus uses the term ethnos, Gentiles, or nations. It is a word associated with the people of the non-Jewish nations of the earth. It is derived from ethō, the forming of a custom or culture.

He notes that the nations who do not know the Lord as God don’t possess sufficient knowledge to understand that He is there tending to them and taking care of them, just as He has been doing thus far. Therefore they “seek upon” the things of the world. As they cannot trust in God beyond this world, their trust must be placed in what is derived from this world.

The word translated as “seek upon” is introduced here, epizéteó. It is derived from epi, upon, and zéteó, to seek, search for, etc. By adding epi, it intensifies the word. They don’t just look for food and clothing, they do so diligently. They hungrily look for what will satisfy them in this life.

It should be noted that, in some texts, this word is singular, thus the translation “it seeks.” New translations use another source text where the verb is in the plural form, “they seek.” One would think that the plural is correct, but it may be that Jesus was considering the entirety of the nations and making a point by lumping them into one unit by using the singular.

Either way, He next continues with, “For your Father, the heavenly, He has known that you need all these.”

Jesus uses the verb in the perfect tense. The Father has known the state of His people. His knowledge of this is, and it will not change even into the future. As this is so, Jesus’ words are to be taken as such. “Don’t worry and don’t fret. Your heavenly Father has it all under control, and that isn’t changing, even as you go forward into the unknown.”

The point of Jesus’ words is that when one knows the true God and how He has set things in motion, there should be no reason to worry about what lies ahead. He has a plan that has been in the works since the very beginning. We are living in the unfolding of that plan as the future continuously meets with the present.

We don’t know what the future holds, but He does. Therefore, in not worrying about the future, His people are acknowledging that He is already there, tending to what is ahead so that the plan He initiated will come to pass. This is what trust is. It is also the source of our faith –

“And faith, it is confidence of hoping, conviction of matters not seeing” Hebrews 11:1 (CG).

Life application: By using the term ethnos, Jesus has clearly and without any contestation, demonstrated that His words here are not inclusive of Gentiles. He has set an absolute distinction between His audience and the Gentiles by using this word.

It is true that the word is used to describe Israel several times, such as in John 18:35 –

“Pilate answered, ‘Am I a Jew? Your own nation [ethnos] and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?’”

However, what Pilate has done is to note the distinction between Israel and other nations. If a Chinese were to speak of other nations, he would do the same. Thus, he would be indicating they are not Chinese. The reason why this is important is that it tells us that at this time, Jesus’ words are not being spoken to the church, an entity that will eventually be Gentile led.

Rather, He is directing His words to those of Israel. Some of the truths of what He says will apply later to the church, when they possess the knowledge of the true God, but that is not the context here in Matthew.

Therefore, to shove the church into the words of Jesus here is wholly inappropriate. We are to evaluate what He is saying, consider it in light of the context, and understand the truths as presented. When the time comes, and Jesus has fulfilled the law and set it aside by introducing a New Covenant, Jesus’ words can then be properly evaluated from this new context.

Those matters that deal with law, or which are specifically addressed to Israel as points of doctrine, are to be left in that context. Greater truths, such as those presented in Matthew 6:26, can then be considered general rules of conduct at any given time. What He is saying in this verse is not so much a matter of law as it is a matter of the expected interaction of God’s people with their heavenly Father.

Heavenly Father, help us to consider the context of Jesus’ words as we evaluate His ministry. At what point do we directly apply them to our lives and doctrine, and when do we stand back and note that they are directed to Israel for a different purpose? Help us to think clearly in this lest we get misdirected. His work under the law is complete. May we rest in that and live our lives accordingly. Amen.

Thursday, 23 January 2025

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ Matthew 6:31

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Therefore, not you shall be disquieted, saying, ‘What we shall eat?’ or ‘What we shall drink?’ or ‘What we shall don?’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of how God enrobes man. Because of what He does, Jesus next says, “Therefore, not you shall be disquieted.”

God has ordained how things are. He has invested man with ability, and He has provided the earth with abundance. Taking these things together, man can feel confident that he has what he needs to have sufficiency. Fretting about what might be is pointless.

Those things that we cannot change are not going to change through anxiety attacks. Therefore, there should be no reason to get disquieted, and there is no reason for us to be “saying, ‘What we shall eat?’ or ‘What we shall drink?’ or ‘What we shall don?’”

This takes the reader right back to verse 6:25 –

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”

Rather than focusing on these earthly, temporary things, man should consider the Source and Giver of these things first. Having faith in His provision and how He has orchestrated things should be where our trust lies. The birds go out each day and find what they need. When they find it, they use what He has provided, a beak, for example, to obtain it.

Flowers are sown into the earth. They come up according to His plan and adorn it with beauty. The flower doesn’t consider what is coming tomorrow. It simply exists as a beautiful adornment of the earth.

As God has placed man on the earth, based on how He has orchestrated everything else, surely He must have given man what he needs to exist as well. As we are a part of this ongoing cycle, we should accept that this is so, trust Him to continue to provide, and not fret about what lies ahead.

Life application: There are people all over the world. Man is found in the hottest, driest places, the most barren and cold areas, sweaty heated sauna-like places, along coasts, and in the mountains.

Wherever man has gone, someone in the traveling party has said, “This would be a great place to live!” And so, he settled in and became accustomed to the area and what it provides. Others said, “No way, Jose! I am moving on. Who would ever want to live here?” And so, onward he went until he found a place suitable to his desires.

From there, the earth was fully inhabited. But everywhere people have settled, they have adapted to the location because God set up the earth to give them what they need. Some things are more abundant in one place but lacking in another. However, the things that are necessary for man to survive have been found and exploited.

This is how God has provided and continues to provide. We adapt because God has given us the ability to do so. When a place is too inhospitable, man moves on. In this manner, the earth is filled with humanity.

There is always one thing that is truly necessary but which is initially lacking except when it is brought into man’s various places of dwelling. Shouldn’t we be willing to get it out to others. What is this thing? It is the gospel of Jesus found in the word of God.

Man exists around the globe because God has made it possible for him to do so. But man exists without salvation unless we are willing to share what God has done. Let us help turn the temporary existence of each man on earth into an eternal existence in the presence of God. May we be a part of filling this otherwise unfilled necessity.

Glorious God, You have provided life and abundance for us to dwell in Your presence. You have also provided the way that we can do so for all eternity. However, that way will not be available to others unless we are willing to make it happen. Help us, Lord, to share the message of Jesus to those who so desperately need it. Amen.

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Matthew 6:30

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And if the herbage of the field, today being and tomorrow throwing into the furnace, God thus enrobes, not much more you – little-faithed?” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus made the comparison between the lilies and Solomon, stating that the lilies exceed Solomon in how they are arrayed. Now, to explain why that is important to consider, He next says, “And if the herbage of the field.”

The word is new, chortos. It literally signifies a court, garden, field, etc. where grass grows. Thus, by implication, it refers to that which grows in such a place. This would be inclusive of grass, but not limited to it.

In this case, saying grass is insufficient because Jesus has just been speaking of lilies. Switching to grass confuses the analogy. Rather, using herbage allows for the inclusion of whatever has grown in the field, including any lilies that pop up to adorn it. Understanding this, He continues with, “today being and tomorrow throwing into the furnace.”

Here is another new word, klibanos. It refers to an earthen pot which is used for baking. As such, it is a furnace or oven. It corresponds to the Hebrew word tanur. Today, because of the popular nature of Indian food, many people know of their tandoor which is quite similar.

Depending on the style of pot, it is either heated from the inside and then bread is slapped onto the outside to be baked, or it is heated from the outside and bread is slapped onto the inside to be baked. Either way, the flat bread adheres to the side until removed by the baker when it is turned and heated on the other side.

In the case of Jesus’ words, it would be one heated from the inside. This is because the herbage is thrown into it. The point so far is that Jesus has spoken of the immensely intricate and beautiful nature of the lily, outshining the beauty of Solomon.

And yet, in a day, it is dried up and dead, becoming stubble, useful only for burning in an oven. Understanding this, how the next words are applied varies based on the translation, “God thus enrobes, not much more you.”

Most translations apply these words to the lilies –

“Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven” (NKJV).

However, some apply them to the hearer in the final clause –

“…God so clothes much rather you, ye of little faith!” (SLT).

Without the dogmatic nature of other translations, the ambiguous nature of the CG translation allows the reader to come to his own conclusion –

“And if the herbage of the field, … God thus enrobes,” or “God thus enrobes, not much more you?”

Either way, if God has ordained it to be this way, the point is understandable because of what Jesus has already said previously about the lilies. However, another complication arises because of how translations are rendered.

There are different ways of interpreting what Jesus is saying concerning being clothed. One is that man is more important than the lily, and so God will tend to our needs in a way that is commensurate with the honor and dignity that man has been bestowed as the pinnacle of His creation.

This is how most translations express the thought. They do this by either shuffling the words around and/or inserting words to fit this presupposition, such as “will He not much more clothe you” (NKJV, et al). The SLT omits the negation (not) and comes to the same general thought, “God so clothes much rather you.”

The word amphiennumi, to clothe or enrobe, is used. It signifies to put on clothes or to enrobe. In this case, God is the One who is performing the action. The way the words are structured it seems more likely to point to the state of the clothing, not a later granting of it, “God thus enrobes, not much more you.”

The verb is present tense, not future, as the NKJV and others imply. As such, Jesus is not saying God is going to give us garments to enrobe us, but that He has given us garments that enrobe us – meaning the dignity and honor of being a human.

The comparison is to the beauty of the lily, which didn’t labor or spin. It was simply enrobed with beauty. Unlike the lily, man is enrobed with intelligence and ability. Therefore, he has the necessary basics to provide himself with garments.

Therefore, why should we worry about what we will wear? When the time for garments is needed, we will obtain what we need because we have already been enrobed with the garments of humanity by God. Understanding this, Jesus next uses an adjective to describe those who are anxious about such things, calling them “little-faithed?”

The word is also new, oligopistos, coming from two separate words that indicate little in number or low in quantity and faith. He is saying that humans who worry about such things are little-faithed. They walk around constantly worried about what might be. Instead, they should trust that God has given them the wisdom and ability to take care of themselves. In turn, they should be grateful to Him for such blessings.

Life application: The basic intent of Jesus’ words, regardless of some of the pointless or obscuring changes in translations, is that man has importance to God. He is the highest point of God’s creation, and we should conduct our lives in a manner that demonstrates that we believe it is so. Not in arrogance or boasting, but in humility that God has given us such wisdom and ability.

We should provide for our needs as humans because we are human. We shouldn’t fret about what lies ahead when we are fully capable of using what God has given us to provide for ourselves because He has and continues to provide for us.

Let us do so at all times. And as we do, may we remember to thank and praise Him for allowing us the honor of existing in His presence for all eternity because of what He has done to reconcile us to Himself through Jesus Christ – the One enrobed in humanity and yet fully God. Thank God for Jesus Christ our Lord.

Glorious God, because of Jesus, we are granted greater and eternal garments of righteousness so that we can stand in Your presence for all eternity. Why You have so favored us is hard to imagine, but we accept that it is so. We have faith that what Jesus has done is sufficient to carry us through to behold Your glory forever. Amen.

Tuesday, 21 January 2025

and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Matthew 6:29

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And I say to you that neither Solomon in all his glory, he was arrayed like one of these” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus told His disciples that the lilies of the field neither toil nor spin. These are the things man does to obtain clothing. He may labor growing and harvesting flax, he may labor in the shearing of his flocks, and so forth.

From there, the material is processed and eventually ready for spinning into useable strands that can be woven into garments. The lilies don’t do this, but Jesus says, “And I say to you that neither Solomon in all his glory.”

He begins a comparative statement using Solomon as His point of comparison. Solomon was the richest king ever –

“And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. ¹⁴ So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” 1 Kings 3:13, 14

Along with kingly wealth, there will obviously come kingly garments, the finest that can be obtained. He would have stood out among all who came into his presence because of them. And yet, Jesus next says, “he was arrayed like one of these.”

Having said “neither” in the previous clause, Jesus is saying that despite the amazingly beautiful garments worn by Solomon, garments that took an immense amount of skill and effort to make, Solomon was not arrayed as beautifully as the lilies of the field.

Jesus uses the word periballó, to clothe, enrobe, etc. It comes from two words signifying around and to throw. It is that which covers around a person, and thus his garments. In this case, because of the beauty of the subject, the lilies, using the word arrayed conveys the idea. They are radiantly beautiful in their time of blooming.

Life application: If you pick up a common lily or other flower and start studying it, the more you look, the more intricate and beautiful it is. We normally just take in flowers from a distance or in a setting with other things. But taken alone, it is hard to understand how anyone cannot see God’s handiwork in the construction of the flower.

Each is unique and yet recognizable within the type. They carry smells that are a part of their makeup, something Solomon’s garments wouldn’t have. Rather, he had to get his perfumes elsewhere and apply them.

The lily will have sweetness for insects to come and enjoy. In the process, they will then be pollinated by the insects as they travel to other lilies. There is an entire system of wonder and intricate beauty found in them.

The people that fashioned Solomon’s garments probably did an amazing job. But compared to the work that God placed into the creation of the flowers, their work doesn’t even compare. Take time to think about the wisdom and beauty of what God has done. And then, be sure to give Him the praise that He is due for having provided us with such wonder.

Heavenly Father, nothing compares to You. You are the Source of all wisdom, goodness, wonder, and delight. Thus, You far excel those things. How can we not adore and praise You for who You are. Help us, O God, to remember You in every step we take along this path of life. Amen.