You asked
Matthew 6:33
“But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.”
This verse comes from Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, a collection of his teachings. Here, Jesus is instructing his disciples and a larger crowd on how to live, encouraging them not to worry about basic needs like food, drink, or clothing, but to trust God instead.
What does 'seeking first God's Kingdom and his righteousness' look like in the practicalities of your daily life?
Then — the setting
This teaching was given by Jesus in 1st century Galilee, likely around 30 CE, to his Jewish disciples and a broader audience who lived under Roman occupation. For many, daily survival was a significant concern. The 'Kingdom of God' for a 1st-century Jewish audience would have carried rich meaning, encompassing God's sovereign rule, the restoration of Israel, and a time of justice and peace, not purely as a political kingdom but also a spiritual reality. This teaching was a radical reorientation of priorities for a people often focused on physical needs and national liberation.
Across the Testaments
This passage is from the New Testament, presenting Jesus's central teaching on God's active rule. In the Old Testament, the concept of God's 'kingdom' or 'kingship' is present (e.g., Psalm 145:11-13; Isaiah 52:7) often tied to justice, deliverance, and a future hope for Israel. While the Old Testament prophets looked forward to a time when God's rule would be fully established on earth, Jesus declares that this kingdom is both present in his person and teaching, and still future. He redefines 'seeking' it not through military or political means, but through a transformed inner life and adherence to God's 'righteousness,' which encompasses ethical living, justice, and right relationship with God.
Keep thinking
Read alongside it
A parallel passage emphasizing seeking God's kingdom and receiving what is needed.
Encourages prayer over worry, echoing the trust in God's provision.
Part of the Beatitudes, stating that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled.
Ask your own follow-up