Sermon on the Mount · New Testament
Take No Thought — When Tomorrow Roars and Today Feels Too Small
“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.”
Jesus does not scold anxious hearts—He points to the Father who feeds birds, clothes lilies, and holds your tomorrow.
Anchor verse
Gospel teaching: turn on Red letters to see the Lord Jesus’s words in red on your device.
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? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 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 6:25-34 (KJV)
Context
The Lord Jesus spoke these words on a hillside to people who carried real burdens—food for families, clothes for children, fear of tomorrow. He had just taught about treasure in heaven, the eye as lamp, and serving God or mammon. Worry is not only an emotion; it is often a misplaced master.
“Take no thought” in the King James does not mean never plan or never work. The same Teacher expects faithfulness in daily labor. He forbids the anxious, divided heart that acts as if God is absent from next month’s rent, the diagnosis, or the child’s future.
The passage ends with today’s enough: sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Jesus is not denying that some days are hard. He is refusing to let tomorrow’s imagined catastrophes steal today’s obedience and today’s mercy.
Deep unfolding
Birds and lilies are not arguments against medicine, budgets, or wise planning. They are reminders of care: the Father who sustains fragile life is not surprised by your need.
Worry cannot add a cubit to your stature—it cannot control outcomes by spinning in your mind. It can, however, steal sleep, sour parenting, and shrink your capacity to love the person in front of you.
Seek ye first the kingdom is the pivot: not “ignore bills,” but “order your heart so God’s reign comes first in how you respond today.” Righteousness here is practical—truthful conversations, honest work, generosity without parade.
Little faith is gentle diagnosis, not a curse. Jesus names fear honestly so He can meet it. Many of His people carry “little faith” and still belong to Him—learning, day by day, to transfer weight from tomorrow to the Father.
This deep dive pairs with the shorter porch lesson God Provides in the Worry; return to either when anxiety cycles. Same Scripture, room to sit longer on hard weeks.
When it meets real battles
Honest places where this teaching lands on hard days—no performance, only Scripture and small steps.
Bills, jobs, and provision fear
When the account balance shrinks, worry shouts loudest. Do the wise work you can do today—one call, one budget line, one meal planned—then entrust tomorrow. The Gentiles seek after these things; you are invited to seek the kingdom while you handle real paper and real numbers.
Parenting the future
Parents often borrow trouble from years that have not arrived—college, health, faith, safety. Plan where wisdom requires planning; refuse to parent today’s child with tomorrow’s terror. One present kindness to your actual child is kingdom work.
Health anxiety
A symptom or a test result can colonize the mind. Thank God for doctors and still preach to your heart: the Father who numbers hairs is not careless. Pray, act wisely, and release the outcome you cannot hold.
Grief and unpredictable tomorrows
After loss, the future feels unsafe by reason, not only by imagination. Jesus does not mock that pain. He offers today’s portion of grace—enough manna for this mile, not a demand that you feel brave about every year ahead.
Spiritual shame about worry
Some hear “O ye of little faith” as rejection. Hear invitation instead: bring the worry to the Teacher who already knows. Confession without condemnation is a path back to trust.
Cross-references
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Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV) -
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1 Peter 5:7 (KJV) -
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 55:22 (KJV) -
And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
Luke 12:22-24 (KJV) -
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:33 (KJV) -
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)
One small step today
On one index card, write today’s single need—not next year’s list. Pray Matthew 6:34 aloud. Do one faithful action for today only, then stop rehearsing tomorrow for ten minutes.
A simple prayer
Heavenly Father, Thou feedest the birds and clothest the lilies. Teach me to seek Thy kingdom first while I handle real needs with honest hands. Carry tomorrow; give me grace for today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Quiet reflection (optional)
- What tomorrow am I trying to control that belongs to God?
- Where has worry stolen presence from the people I love?
- What one kingdom-seeking action is possible before sundown?
For little ones
Watch birds or look at flowers. Say: “God takes care of them; He takes care of us.” Read The lilies of the field on the porch.
Keep this verse
Private on your device—the same saved list as Search, Bible Tool, and My Study. Optional spaced review in Memorize.
On the Möbius ribbon
This teaching walks on the Möbius ribbon—return here for the slow breath when the truth loops back.