Matthew 6:25
What does Matthew 6:25 mean?
A plain-English look at Matthew 6:25 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Matthew 6:25 means
Following the command to serve only God, Jesus urges His disciples to stop being anxious about their physical lives. He specifically addresses worries about what they will eat, drink, or wear. He provides a foundational reason for this: "Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment?" This rhetorical question emphasizes that God, who has given the greater gift of life and the body itself, can certainly be trusted to provide for the lesser needs associated with sustaining them.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment?
KJV
King James Version · 1611Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949So I say to you, Take no thought for your life, about food or drink, or about clothing for your body. Is not life more than food, and the body more than its clothing?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`Because of this I say to you, be not anxious for your life, what ye may eat, and what ye may drink, nor for your body, what ye may put on. Is not the life more than the nourishment, and the body than the clothing?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Therefore I say to you, be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat, nor for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than the meat: and the body more than the raiment?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For this cause I say unto you, Do not be careful about your life, what ye should eat and what ye should drink; nor for your body what ye should put on. Is not the life more than food, and the body than raiment?
Context
This verse initiates a new major section of Matthew 6, moving from the warning against serving mammon (verse 24) to a compassionate exhortation to trust God and overcome anxiety. It sets the theme for the remainder of the chapter by directly addressing common human worries about basic necessities. This introduction frames the detailed arguments and illustrations that follow, all designed to build faith and eliminate worry.
v.24No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
v.25This passage
v.26Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value than they?
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Hebrews 13:5
Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee.
- Matthew 10:19
But when they deliver you up, be not anxious how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that hour what ye shall speak.
- Matthew 6:27
And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life?
- Luke 8:14
And that which fell among the thorns, these are they that have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
- 1 Peter 5:7
casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you.
- Mark 4:19
and the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
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