Matthew 6:34

Analysis & Commentary

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. This verse concludes Jesus' extended teaching on anxiety and trust in God's provision (6:25-34). The command me oun merimnesete (μὴ οὖν μεριμνήσητε, "do not be anxious") is a strong prohibition against the divided mind and distracted heart that worry produces. Merimna (μέριμνα) literally means "to be pulled in different directions," describing the mental fragmentation anxiety creates.

"The morrow" (ten aurion, τὴν αὔριον) represents future uncertainties beyond our control. Jesus personifies tomorrow as having its own concerns—a rabbinic-style expression acknowledging that each day brings sufficient challenges. "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" uses kakia (κακία), which can mean "trouble" or "hardship" rather than moral evil. Jesus acknowledges life's real difficulties while prohibiting debilitating worry about future ones.

This teaching flows from the Father's proven faithfulness (6:26-30) and the priority of seeking God's kingdom (6:33). It's not advocating irresponsibility or lack of planning—prudence and preparation differ from anxiety. Rather, Jesus addresses the sinful tendency to live in imagined futures, rehearsing disasters, and attempting to control what only God controls. Trust in divine providence liberates believers from tomorrow's tyranny to faithfully serve today. The "therefore" (oun, οὖν) connects this command to the preceding argument: because God knows, cares, and provides, anxiety is both unnecessary and inappropriate for His children.

Historical Context

Jesus spoke these words to an audience living in agrarian subsistence economy where tomorrow's provision was genuinely uncertain. Unlike modern societies with food security and social safety nets, first-century Galilean peasants faced real daily uncertainty about food, clothing, and shelter. Roman taxation, tenant farming arrangements, debt slavery, and periodic famines made economic anxiety a constant companion. When Jesus said "do not worry about tomorrow," He addressed people whose tomorrows held legitimate cause for concern.

Jewish wisdom literature acknowledged anxiety while promoting trust in God (Psalms 37:25; Proverbs 3:5-6). However, by Jesus' time, religious leaders had created an elaborate system of laws and traditions ostensibly to secure God's blessing through proper observance. This could subtly promote anxiety—am I righteous enough? Have I fulfilled all requirements? Jesus liberates His followers from this religious performance anxiety as well as economic worry.

The early church receiving Matthew's Gospel faced persecution, economic marginalization, and social ostracism. Christians were often excluded from trade guilds, making economic survival precarious. Jesus' words provided not naive optimism but robust theological grounding for trust amid genuine hardship. The command to seek first God's kingdom (6:33) reminded believers that their ultimate security lay not in earthly circumstances but in their heavenly Father's sovereign care and eternal purposes.

Questions for Reflection

• What specific future anxieties currently consume your mental and emotional energy instead of trusting God?
• How does worrying about tomorrow prevent you from faithfully serving God and loving others today?
• In what ways do you attempt to control future outcomes that only God can control, revealing lack of trust?
• How can you distinguish between wise planning and prudence versus the sinful anxiety Jesus prohibits?
• What does your pattern of worry reveal about whether you truly believe God knows your needs and will provide?