Jesus isn't just telling us not to be anxious; he's warning us against a specific kind of mental agitation. The original Greek paints a picture of minds being tossed about, like boats adrift without an anchor, unsure and unstable because of useless, distracting thoughts about what we need. This isn't about ignoring practical needs, but about refusing to let worry destabilize our inner peace.
And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse comes after a man interrupts Jesus’ teaching to ask for help dividing an inheritance, revealing a spirit of greed that Jesus addresses with the parable of the rich fool. Jesus then turns to His disciples, urging them not to be consumed by anxieties about daily needs like food and drink, warning them to avoid the unsettled, tossed-about state of mind that such worries create. He contrasts this with the trust and readiness His followers should cultivate for His eventual return.
Jesus tells us not to be 'of doubtful mind.' What does that really mean? It's more than just feeling a little worried.
The Greek word Jesus uses here, 'meteōrizesthe,' is fascinating. It's not found anywhere else in the New Testament. Think of it like a boat tossed about on the waves, lifted high and then plunged down, never settling. It describes a mind that's not just concerned, but unsettled, agitated, and fluctuating with anxious thoughts. It's a state of being buoyed up by false hopes or pulled down by constant uncertainty about the future, especially concerning basic needs like food and drink.
This isn't about ignoring practical needs; Jesus elsewhere tells us to work! But it's about refusing to let anxious speculation dominate our thinking and steal our peace. It’s the difference between planning responsibly and being consumed by 'what ifs.'
Jesus calls for a different way of living, one marked by trust. Does this mean we shouldn't care about having enough?
When Jesus instructs his followers not to 'seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink,' he's not advocating for a life of deliberate scarcity or irresponsibility. Instead, the emphasis is on the attitude of seeking. It's a call away from the grasping, consuming anxiety that often drives people.
Think about the context: Jesus had just warned against greed with the parable of the rich fool. The intrusion of the man demanding his inheritance shows how worldly concerns can overshadow spiritual truth. Jesus is calling his disciples to a higher standard, one of trust and simplicity. This doesn't mean rejecting all planning, but it does mean detaching our core security from our earthly provisions. It's about recognizing that God's provision is not just about , but about trusting Him for in a spirit of contentment.
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Understand the original words
zēteite · Greek Verb
A verb meaning to strive for, hunt for, or set one's heart upon. It denotes a directional focus of life, whether that focus is on worldly security or the kingdom of God.
patēr · Greek Noun
The personal, relational title for God as revealed through Jesus. It emphasizes God's role as the benevolent provider, protector, and authority who cares for His children with deep, intimate knowledge.
zēteō · Greek Verb
To pursue, strive for, or aim at something with earnestness and diligence. In a biblical context, it implies setting one's life priorities around God's sovereign rule.
basileia · Greek Noun
The sovereign reign, rule, and authority of God. It refers to both the present spiritual reality of God's rule in the lives of believers and the future manifestation of His kingdom in glory.
Jesus' words about not being anxious about food or drink, and not being of a 'doubtful mind,' were spoken into a world where economic hardship and social instability were common. His listeners, like the man demanding his inheritance, were often preoccupied with earthly security, and Jesus reminds them that true security is found in God's care, not in worldly possessions or anxious planning.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus Teaches and Ministers
Jesus travels throughout Galilee and Judea, gathering disciples and teaching about the Kingdom of God. His ministry is marked by miracles, parables, and challenging religious and political authorities.
c. AD 30-33
Tension with Religious Leaders
Jesus' teachings and actions often conflict with the Pharisees and Sadducees, leading to increasing opposition and attempts to trap Him.
c. AD 30-33
The Incident with the Inheritance Request
A man interrupts Jesus' teaching to ask Him to intervene in a dispute over family inheritance, highlighting the worldly concerns that preoccupied some listeners.
c. AD 30-33
Teaching on Wealth and Worry
In response to the inheritance request and the crowd's general concerns, Jesus delivers teachings emphasizing the dangers of greed and the futility of anxious worry.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ascension and the Promise of the Spirit
Jesus speaks of His own return to heaven and the eventual coming judgment, encouraging His followers to live in readiness and trust in God's provision.
This passage directly echoes Jesus' instruction not to worry about physical needs, instead urging us to prioritize God's kingdom and righteousness, trusting Him to provide.
Philippians 4:6This verse provides the solution to the anxiety Jesus warns against, calling us to present our requests to God in prayer instead of letting worries consume us.
1 Peter 5:7This passage offers a powerful parallel, explicitly telling us to cast all our anxieties on God because He cares for us, directly addressing the 'doubtful mind' Jesus speaks against.
Psalm 37:5This psalm encourages committing our way to the Lord and trusting in Him, which is the very posture of heart that prevents the anxious, 'tossed about' state Jesus describes.
vincentLuke 12:29: "And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind."
Be ye of doubtful mind (μετεωρίζεσθε)Only here in New Testament. The verb primarily means to raise to a height; buoy up, as with false hopes; and so to unsettle, or excite, or keep in fluctuation. Thus Thucydides says of the war between Athens and Sparta: "All Hellas was excited (μετέωρος) by the coming conflict between the two chief cities" (ii., 8).
jfbLuke 12:13-53: "And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me."
Lu 12:13-53. Covetousness—Watchfulness—Superiority to Earthly Ties.13. Master, &c.—that is, "Great Preacher of righteousness, help; there is need of Thee in this rapacious world; here am I the victim of injustice, and that from my own brother, who withholds from me my rightful share of the inheritance that has fallen to us." In this most inopportune intrusion upon the sole…
Jesus isn't just telling us not to be anxious; he's warning us against a specific kind of mental agitation. The original Greek paints a picture of minds being tossed about, like boats adrift without an anchor, unsure and unstable because of useless, distracting thoughts about what we need. This isn't about ignoring practical needs, but about refusing to let worry destabilize our inner peace.
This verse comes after a man interrupts Jesus’ teaching to ask for help dividing an inheritance, revealing a spirit of greed that Jesus addresses with the parable of the rich fool. Jesus then turns to His disciples, urging them not to be consumed by anxieties about daily needs like food and drink, warning them to avoid the unsettled, tossed-about state of mind that such worries create. He contrasts this with the trust and readiness His followers should cultivate for His eventual return.
This verse comes after a man interrupts Jesus’ teaching to ask for help dividing an inheritance, revealing a spirit of greed that Jesus addresses with the parable of the rich fool. Jesus then turns to His disciples, urging them not to be consumed by anxieties about daily needs like food and drink, warning them to avoid the unsettled, tossed-about state of mind that such worries create. He contrasts this with the trust and readiness His followers should cultivate for His eventual return.
"And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to…" — Jesus isn't just telling us not to be anxious; he's warning us against a specific kind of mental agitation. The original Greek paints a picture of minds being tossed about, like boats adrift without…
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Last reviewed October 2026
