Why are we told, “Do not worry about your life” in Matthew 6:25?

Answer  
  

In Matthew 6:25–34, part of the great [Sermon on the Mount](sermon-on-the-mount.html), Jesus speaks to His followers about trusting their heavenly Father’s provision. Jesus has just spoken on the necessity for kingdom servants to offer their total devotion to God, their Master (Matthew 6:19–24\). Those who make an undivided commitment to the King, placing their absolute trust in Him, receive His unreserved care, protection, and provision in return. That is why Jesus told them, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear” (verse 25\).  
  

Jesus gives several reasons why we don’t need to be [anxious](Bible-anxiety.html) or worry about the daily needs of this life. In Luke’s account of a similar sermon, Jesus states, “For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing” (Luke 12:23, NLT). The essence of life is so much more than temporal concerns. Food and clothing may be high on our priority list, but there are higher priorities. The primary concerns of the believer’s life are loving the Lord (Matthew 22:34–38\), loving others (Matthew 22:39–40; 1 Corinthians 13:13; 1 John 4:21\), and seeking first God’s kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33\).  
  

Next, Jesus impresses on His followers how important they are to God: “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:26\). Our heavenly Father certainly treasures us—the only creatures He made in His image (Genesis 1:26–27; see also Genesis 5:1; 9:6; James 3:9\)—much more than birds and [flowers](consider-the-lillies.html), which He feeds and waters and cares for so lovingly (see Matthew 6:26, 28–30\).  
  

Jesus comes to the crux of His teaching when He asks, “Why do you have so little faith?” (Matthew 6:30, NLT). Anxiousness and worry are the opposite of faith and trust. God’s Word to us as believers is this: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7, NLT). Peter encourages, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7, NLT). Jesus tells His disciples, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me” (John 14:1, NLT).  
  

The cares of this life dominate the thoughts of unsaved people, but Jesus reassures His followers that their heavenly Father already knows what they need (Matthew 6:32\). We can have confidence in His care if we are wholly devoted to Him. If we “seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously,” God will provide for our needs (Matthew 6:33, NLT). What is more, He “will keep in [perfect peace](keep-in-perfect-peace.html) all who trust in \[Him], all whose thoughts are fixed on \[Him]!” (Isaiah 26:3, NLT).  
  

Finally, Jesus says, “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Matthew 6:34, NLT). Jesus keeps hammering the point because He understands our human weakness and tendency to concentrate on the problems of this world rather than trust in God, the sovereign ruler of this world. “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit” (Jeremiah 17:7–8, NLT).  
  

We are told, “Do not worry about your life,” because this world is not our home, and this life is not our ultimate destination (John 18:36; 2 Corinthians 4:17–18; 5:1–15; Romans 8:18–23; Colossians 1:4–5\). We can stop stressing about tomorrow because God holds the rest of our days in His hands (Jeremiah 29:11; Psalm 23\). In everything, He is working out His good plan for our lives (Romans 8:28–34\). We are secure in the Father’s loving grip (Psalm 55:22; 94:18–19; Romans 8:35–39\).  
  

