“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus isn't just telling us not to worry; he's highlighting a profound truth: the gift of life itself is infinitely more valuable than the food we eat or the clothes we wear. If God saw fit to give us the far greater gift of life and a body, it's a powerful implication that He will surely provide the lesser things needed to sustain them. This isn't a license for irresponsibility, but an invitation to trust the One who has already given us everything by giving us ourselves.
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is teaching about the proper attitude toward material possessions, warning against greed and the enslavement of serving both God and money. He has just explained that this dual service is impossible, and now he directly addresses the disciples' potential anxieties about their daily needs. Following this instruction, he will encourage them to seek God's kingdom first, trusting that their needs will be met.
Jesus cuts straight to the heart of our worries. He asks us to consider something fundamental about ourselves: are we defined only by what we eat and wear?
Jesus isn't just telling us not to worry; he's challenging our perspective on what truly matters. He says, 'Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?'
The Greater Gift
Think about it. God gave you life itself, the very spark that animates you. He formed your body, a complex and incredible vessel. These are infinitely greater gifts than the food that sustains life or the clothes that cover the body.
A Trust Exercise
Jesus uses this as a powerful argument for trusting God's provision. If God has already given the vastly greater gift of life and body, can we not trust Him to provide the lesser necessities of food and clothing? It's like trusting a master craftsman with a delicate sculpture, while simultaneously worrying if they'll remember to provide the pedestal it needs.
The phrase 'take no thought' can sound like a command to be reckless or irresponsible. But Jesus means something much deeper and more nuanced.
The original Greek word Jesus uses, 'merimnate,' doesn't mean to simply not think about things. It's about a specific kind of thinking – an anxious, distracting, dividing worry.
Divided Hearts
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This anxious care pulls your heart in multiple directions. It distracts you from God, from worship, and from living fully in the present moment. Jesus had just said in verse 24 that you cannot serve two masters; this anxious care is a prime example of trying to serve both God and material security.
What's Forbidden vs. What's Encouraged
Jesus isn't forbidding:
What Jesus is forbidding is:
Understand the original words
merimnate · Greek Verb
A state of distress, worry, or being pulled in different directions; it implies a lack of trust in God's providence and care for His creation.
This passage directly echoes Jesus' command, urging believers to replace anxiety with prayer and thanksgiving, underscoring the spiritual dimension of trusting God with our needs.
1 Timothy 6:8This verse offers a practical counterpoint to anxiety, suggesting that contentment with basic necessities like food and clothing is a path to godliness and peace.
Psalm 55:22This verse provides a powerful ancient prayer that mirrors Jesus' teaching, encouraging us to cast our burdens upon the Lord, trusting in His provision and support.
Luke 12:24This parallel passage from Luke uses the same argument – God's care for the birds – to emphasize that we, as His children, are of far greater value and thus worthy of His provision.
Genesis 1:26This foundational verse highlights God creating humanity in His image, giving us life and a body, setting up the 'greater gift' argument Jesus employs to build faith in His Father's willingness to provide lesser needs.
barnesMatthew 6:25: "Therefore 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?"
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought ... - The general design of this paragraph, which closes the chapter, is to warn his disciples against avarice, and, at the same time, against anxiety about the supply of their needs. This he does by four arguments or considerations, exp…
meyerMatthew 6:25: "Therefore 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?"
Matthew 6:25 . Διὰ τοῦτο ] because this double service is impossible. οὐχὶ ἡ ψυχὴ , κ . τ . λ .] Chrysostom: ὁ τοίνυν τὸ μεῖζον (life and body) δοὺς πῶς τὸ ἔλαττον (food and clothing) οὐ δώσει ; The care has been unwarrantably limited to anxious care, a meaning which is no less…
Jesus isn't just telling us not to worry; he's highlighting a profound truth: the gift of life itself is infinitely more valuable than the food we eat or the clothes we wear. If God saw fit to give us the far greater gift of life and a body, it's a powerful implication that He will surely provide the lesser things needed to sustain them. This isn't a license for irresponsibility, but an invitation to trust the One who has already given us everything by giving us ourselves.
Jesus is teaching about the proper attitude toward material possessions, warning against greed and the enslavement of serving both God and money. He has just explained that this dual service is impossible, and now he directly addresses the disciples' potential anxieties about their daily needs. Following this instruction, he will encourage them to seek God's kingdom first, trusting that their needs will be met.
Jesus is teaching about the proper attitude toward material possessions, warning against greed and the enslavement of serving both God and money. He has just explained that this dual service is impossible, and now he directly addresses the disciples' potential anxieties about their daily needs. Following this instruction, he will encourage them to seek God's kingdom first, trusting that their needs will be met.
"“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?" — Jesus isn't just telling us not to worry; he's highlighting a profound truth: the gift of life itself is infinitely more valuable than the food we eat or the clothes we wear. If God saw fit to give u…
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Last reviewed October 2026