A command of Jesus

Do Not Be Anxious

Read the Scripture

Scripture passages for Do Not Be Anxious

Primary passage

Matthew 6:25–34

25 Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they? 27 “Which of you by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan? 28 Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin, 29 yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of little faith? 31 “Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.

World English Bible

Luke

Luke 12:22–31

22 He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they don’t sow, they don’t reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! 25 Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height? 26 If then you aren’t able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith? 29 “Don’t seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. 30 For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But seek God’s Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.

World English Bible

The command

Do not be anxious; seek God’s kingdom.

In context

Hear the whole passage.

Jesus speaks in the Sermon on the Mount about food, clothing, tomorrow, birds, and flowers—the ordinary needs that can dominate the heart.

What This Reveals About Jesus

Jesus redirects worry toward the Father’s care and the priority of His kingdom.

The Father knows what His children need and attends even to birds and flowers; His care makes faithful obedience possible today.

Practice this command

Take one concrete step.

Name one worry about tomorrow. Bring it to the Father, then take one responsible action you can complete today without rehearsing every possible outcome.

Use with someone

Discuss it

How does seeking God’s kingdom first reshape practical responsibility rather than replace it?

Pray

Father, you know what I need. Give me daily trust and freedom to seek your kingdom first.

Teach it

Use Jesus’ images of birds and flowers to explain the difference between faithful planning and anxious control.

Continue in the original collection

This command is source position 19 in the complete sequence.