“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus isn't just telling us to not worry; he's essentially saying that each day has enough trouble on its own and we should focus on dealing with that today. Borrowing anxiety from tomorrow is like trying to carry two days' worth of burden at once, which is unnecessary and unhelpful.
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is wrapping up his sermon on the mount, specifically addressing worries about material needs. Having just told his followers not to store up treasures on earth or worry about food and clothing, he concludes this section by urging them not to fret about the future. He explains that each day's troubles are sufficient on their own, implying that we should trust God to provide for tomorrow when it arrives.
Ever feel weighed down by worries about what might happen? Jesus offers a powerful perspective shift.
Jesus says, "Tomorrow will be anxious for itself." This isn't about ignoring the future, but about not carrying its potential burdens today. Think of it like this:
Separate Burdens
Each day has its own set of challenges, joys, and responsibilities. Trying to solve tomorrow's problems today is like trying to eat your dinner before breakfast – it doesn't work and can leave you feeling overwhelmed. The future will bring its own unique circumstances and, importantly, its own unique provisions from God.
Trusting God's Timing
God is wise and provides for us in His time. When we try to carry tomorrow's anxieties, we're essentially saying we don't trust Him to handle what's coming. He calls us to focus on the present, do our best today, and trust Him for what tomorrow holds.
Jesus points out that the present moment already has all it can handle. So why add to it?
Jesus' statement, 'Sufficient for the day is its own trouble,' is a profound insight into human experience.
The Weight of Today
Every day presents its own unique difficulties, demands, and sorrows. Trying to manage those, plus the imagined troubles of future days, is an impossible and unnecessary burden. Jesus isn't saying today's troubles are easy, but that they are for the day.
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Releasing the Unnecessary Load
By releasing the anxiety for tomorrow, we free up our energy and mental space to deal with the realities of today. This allows us to be more present, more effective, and more peaceful, trusting that when tomorrow comes, God will provide the strength and wisdom needed for that day's challenges.
Understand the original words
kakia · Greek Noun
Pain, suffering, or hardship. In this context, it refers to the inevitable difficulties or distresses that occur within the fallen human experience, which believers are encouraged to face with trust in God rather than self-generated anxiety.
This proverb warns against boasting about tomorrow, which directly relates to Jesus' teaching against anxious planning for the future, highlighting a shared wisdom about not getting ahead of ourselves.
Philippians 4:6Paul echoes Jesus' command by instructing believers not to be anxious about anything, but to bring their requests to God, showing the continuity of this teaching from Jesus to the early church.
1 Peter 5:7Peter directly instructs believers to 'cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you,' reinforcing Jesus' message to entrust the future to God's care.
Psalm 37:5This psalm encourages trusting in the Lord and committing one's way to Him, which is the underlying principle of not being anxious about tomorrow – knowing God is in control.
Luke 12:22-31This passage in Luke parallels Matthew's teaching, with Jesus urging his followers not to worry about their lives and explicitly pointing to God's provision for the birds and lilies as proof of His care for them.
barnesMatthew 6:34: "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."
Take therefore no thought ... - That is, no anxiety. Commit your way to God. The evil, the trouble, the anxiety of each day as it comes, is sufficient without perplexing the mind with restless cares about another day. It is wholly uncertain whether you live to see another day. If you do, it will bring its own trouble, and it will also…
pulpitMatthew 6:34: "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."
Verse 34. - Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matthew only. Luke's conclusion to this section ("Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom") is perhaps more closely connected with…
Jesus isn't just telling us to not worry; he's essentially saying that each day has enough trouble on its own and we should focus on dealing with that today. Borrowing anxiety from tomorrow is like trying to carry two days' worth of burden at once, which is unnecessary and unhelpful.
Jesus is wrapping up his sermon on the mount, specifically addressing worries about material needs. Having just told his followers not to store up treasures on earth or worry about food and clothing, he concludes this section by urging them not to fret about the future. He explains that each day's troubles are sufficient on their own, implying that we should trust God to provide for tomorrow when it arrives.
Jesus is wrapping up his sermon on the mount, specifically addressing worries about material needs. Having just told his followers not to store up treasures on earth or worry about food and clothing, he concludes this section by urging them not to fret about the future. He explains that each day's troubles are sufficient on their own, implying that we should trust God to provide for tomorrow when it arrives.
"“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." — Jesus isn't just telling us to not worry; he's essentially saying that each day has enough trouble on its own and we should focus on dealing with that today. Borrowing anxiety from tomorrow is like…
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Last reviewed October 2026