Matthew 6:33 · Bible study
Matthew 6:33 Commentary: Seek First the Kingdom and His Righteousness
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
What does it mean to seek first God's kingdom and righteousness, and how does the promise of provision apply today?
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus commands his followers to make God’s reign and a right relationship with him their supreme priority, with the promise that material needs will be provided as an extra gift.
- Key words: ζητεῖτε (seek, present imperative, continual action), πρῶτον (first, in rank), βασιλεία (kingdom, God’s dynamic rule), δικαιοσύνη (righteousness, either imputed or imparted), προστεθήσεται (will be added, future passive, God as giver).
- Main debate: Whether “his righteousness” refers to Christ’s imputed righteousness received by faith (Gill) or the practical holiness God requires of his people (Clarke, Wesley).
- Theological theme: Divine provision for those who prioritize God’s rule, a reordering of human desire around the kingdom.
- Best use: A cure for anxiety, a call to reorder priorities, and a promise of the Father’s care for his children.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
WEB World English Bible 2000
But seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
KJV King James Version 1769
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
but seek ye first the reign of God and His righteousness, and all these shall be added to you.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Mas buscad primeramente el reino de Dios y su justicia, y todas estas cosas os serán añadidas.
Mas buscai primeiramente o seu Reino e a sua justiça, e todas estas coisas vos serão acrescentadas.
Cherchez premièrement le royaume et la justice de Dieu; et toutes ces choses vous seront données par-dessus.
Trachtet am ersten nach dem Reich Gottes und nach seiner Gerechtigkeit, so wird euch solches alles zufallen.
Maar zoekt eerst het Koninkrijk Gods en Zijn gerechtigheid, en al deze dingen zullen u toegeworpen worden.
Ma cercate prima il regno e la giustizia di Dio, e tutte queste cose vi saranno sopraggiunte.
Ale szukajcie naprzód królestwa Bożego, i sprawiedliwości jego, a to wszystko będzie wam przydano.
Ищите же прежде Царства Божия и правды Его, и это все приложится вам.
你們要先 求 他的 國 和 他的 義， 這些東西 都要 加給 你們了。
But let your first care be for his kingdom and his righteousness; and all these other things will be given to you in addition.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Matthew 6:33
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse serves as the capstone of Jesus' teaching on anxiety in Matthew 6. The imperative ζητεῖτε (present tense) calls for a continual, habitual seeking. Πρῶτον ('first') denotes not merely chronological priority but supreme value: the kingdom of God and its righteousness are to be the Christian's chief aim. The promise uses the future passive προστεθήσεται ('will be added'), underscoring that material provision is a gift God gives as an appendage, not the main prize. As Jamieson-Fausset-Brown put it, the seekers of the kingdom 'shall have these as their proper and primary portion' while necessities are 'added.' Calvin notes that 'other things are but favorable appendages.' There is broad agreement that this verse reorders human desires around God's reign and character. For the believer, this is not a transaction but an invitation to trust the Father who knows what we need.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Imputed righteousness (Reformed/Catholic): The righteousness of God is a gift received through faith in Christ, the ground of entrance into the kingdom (Gill; Rom 3:21-22). 'His righteousness' refers to the perfect righteousness of Christ credited to the believer.
- Imparted righteousness (Wesleyan/Holiness): The righteousness is the holiness of heart and life that God requires and enables in those who are subjects of his kingdom (Clarke, Wesley; 5:20, 5:48). It is a practical, lived-out righteousness.
- Kingdom righteousness as both gift and calling (many modern interpreters): The righteousness is both the gift of right standing with God and the character of life that flows from that gift. The kingdom consists in righteousness, peace, and joy (Rom 14:17), so the verse calls believers to seek the whole package.
What is clear: The verse commands a supreme, primary pursuit of God's reign and a right relationship with him, with the promise that God will provide the material necessities of life for those who do so.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The meaning of 'His righteousness' | Christians agree that the righteousness in view is central to entering and living in God's kingdom. It has to do with a right relationship with God and a life that reflects his character. | Some traditions (many Reformed, following Gill) see 'his righteousness' as the imputed righteousness of Christ, received by faith alone. Others (Wesleyan, following Clarke) see it as the practical holiness and purity that God requires of kingdom citizens. Many modern interpreters combine both: the gift of righteousness leads to a life of righteousness. |
| What it means to 'seek first' | All traditions affirm that seeking God's kingdom must be the Christian's top priority, taking precedence over material concerns and worldly ambitions. | Disagreement arises over how this priority operates in daily life. Some emphasize a radical renunciation of material security, while others stress faithful work and stewardship done with a kingdom mindset. The tension is between a focus on eternal priorities and the need to function within earthly responsibilities. |
| The promise that 'all these things will be added' | Christians agree that 'all these things' refers to the basic necessities of life (food, drink, clothing) that the Father knows his children need. The promise is one of God's faithful provision. | Debate exists over the scope of the promise. Does it guarantee that every believer will always have enough, or does it allow for seasons of scarcity and suffering? Prosperity-oriented interpretations expect material abundance, while others stress sufficiency and contentment in all circumstances. The cross-reference to 1 Kings 3:13 (Solomon receiving riches he did not ask for) is often cited to support a generous provision. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This verse sits within Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, immediately after a strong warning against anxiety over food, drink, and clothing (Matthew 6:25-32). Jesus contrasts his disciples with 'the Gentiles' (v.32) who pursue material security because they do not know the Father. The Jewish audience would have heard echoes of Old Testament stories of trusting God for provision, Elijah and the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:13), where a 'first' act of faith preceded God's provision, and Solomon's choice of wisdom over riches (1 Kings 3:11-13), where 'all these things' were added as a bonus.
The phrase 'kingdom of God' dominates the Sermon on the Mount (5:3, 5:10, 5:19-20, 6:10, 6:33, 7:21). It refers to God's dynamic rule, not a territory. 'Righteousness' had been introduced earlier (5:6, 5:10, 5:20, 6:1) as the character that belongs to kingdom citizens. Jesus' original hearers were mostly poor peasants, day laborers, and fishermen, people whose daily bread was genuinely uncertain. Into that anxiety, Jesus speaks a radical reordering: your Father knows your needs. Give your primary energy to his reign and the way of life it requires, and trust him for the rest. This context gives the verse its force: the same God who clothes the lilies and feeds the birds invites his children to set their hearts on what lasts.
Textual Notes
The Greek text of Matthew 6:33 is well established across the major manuscript families. The consulted sources note no significant textual variants that affect the meaning or interpretation of this verse. Some early scribes added 'of God' after 'kingdom' in a few later manuscripts, but the standard reading (τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ) is secure and appears in all critical editions.
Reception History
Matthew 6:33 has been a foundational text across Christian traditions. In the early church, Clement of Alexandria and Origen cited a version of the saying: 'Ask for the great things, and the small things will be added to you' (see Clarke's commentary). This shaped early Christian catechesis on priorities. During the Middle Ages, the verse was central to monastic spirituality, fleeing worldly anxieties to seek the kingdom through prayer and asceticism. The Reformers, especially Calvin and the Reformed tradition, used the verse to argue that justification by faith is the primary pursuit, with material needs falling under God's providential care. In the modern era, it has appeared in countless hymns and devotional writings as a call to simplicity and trust. Evangelical missionaries have long cited it as a promise of provision for those who put God's work first. Across all eras, the verse has been a touchstone for the Christian conviction that the Father does not forget his children.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Priority: “Seek first” (πρῶτον). The Greek word points to supreme rank, not just early in the day. Jesus reorders the heart’s hierarchy: the kingdom and its righteousness are to sit at the top.
- The Object: God’s kingdom and his righteousness. The kingdom is God’s active reign; the righteousness is either the gift of Christ’s righteousness (as Gill and others emphasize) or the practical holiness God requires (as Clarke and Wesley stress). Either way, both point to a life centered on God’s values.
- The Promise: “All these things will be added.” The verb is future passive, God is the giver. Material needs are not the main prize; they are thrown in as an overplus. As old Mr. Trapp said, like “paper and pack-thread are given where we buy spice and fruit.”
Five-point outline
- The Command, Seek (ζητεῖτε, present imperative): keep on seeking, not a one-time decision.
- The Order, First, not last or alongside. Priority in time, energy, and value.
- The Content, God’s kingdom and his righteousness. Two dimensions of a single pursuit.
- The Contrast, Not like the Gentiles (v.32) who chase material things because they do not know the Father.
- The Confidence, Added by God, not earned by human effort. The Father knows and provides.
Illustration hooks
- The Jewish parable from Horayoth (cited by Clarke): a king’s friend is told to ask anything. He asks for the king’s daughter in marriage, knowing that all the dignities of the kingdom would follow. Seeking the kingdom is like asking for the daughter, the rest comes with the relationship.
- Trapp’s merchant analogy: When you buy the main goods at a market, the merchant throws in the wrapping. Material provision is the packing material; the kingdom is the actual purchase.
- Solomon’s choice (2 Chronicles 1:7-12): God tells him to ask. He asks for wisdom to govern, and God adds wealth and honor he did not ask for.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If I seek first God’s kingdom, does that mean I quit my job and go into full-time ministry?
- What do I do when I am seeking first but still struggling to pay the bills?
- How do I practically “seek first” in a culture that constantly tells me to put my career, family, and comfort first?
Leading a Discussion
This verse is a compass for priorities in a world full of worry. Jesus does not deny that we need food and clothing, he simply insists they are not the main thing. As you discuss, try to move from what the text says to how it changes the way you live.
Discussion questions
- Read Matthew 6:25-34. What reasons does Jesus give for not worrying? How do those reasons build up to verse 33?
- The Greek word for “seek” (ζητεῖτε) is a present imperative, keep on seeking. How does that change the way you understand this command?
- What do you think “his righteousness” means? How might understanding it as a gift (imputed) versus a lifestyle (imparted) affect your daily decisions?
- Jesus says “all these things” will be added. What are the “these things” in your life right now? Are you trusting that promise, or is anxiety winning?
- Verse 32 says Gentiles seek after these things. What is the difference between a healthy concern and the kind of seeking Jesus forbids?
- How does knowing that your heavenly Father already knows your needs (v.32) change the way you pray about money, work, or the future?
- Think of one area where you are tempted to put material security ahead of kingdom priorities. What would it look like to “seek first” in that area this week?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Leviticus 25:20 | If you said, “What shall we eat the seventh year? Behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase;” |
| Leviticus 25:21 | then I will command my blessing on you in the sixth year, and it shall bear fruit for the three years. |
| I Kings 3:11 | God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have you asked for riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, |
| I Kings 3:13 | I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you for all your days. |
| I Kings 17:13 | Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go and do as you have said; but make me a little cake from it first, and bring it out to me, and afterward make some for you and for your son. |
| II Chronicles 1:7 | That night, God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for what you want me to give you.” |
| II Chronicles 1:12 | therefore wisdom and knowledge is granted to you. I will give you riches, wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had who have been before you, and none after you will have.” |
| II Chronicles 31:20 | Hezekiah did so throughout all Judah; and he did that which was good, right, and faithful before Yahweh his God. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke stresses that seeking God's kingdom and righteousness is the believer's main business, the one thing that should consume all attention. Earthly necessities are merely an overplus, like small extras thrown in with a major purchase. Holiness leads to happiness, and godliness secures both this life and the next.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes contrasts the anxious pursuit of food and clothing with the peaceful trust that comes from knowing God as Father. Those without true religious knowledge make earthly needs their chief concern, but believers who seek God's kingdom first can rely on his sovereign care to provide whatever is truly necessary.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin argues that fixating on food contradicts our calling to a heavenly life. He insists that deliberately meditating on the kingdom restrains excessive earthly worry. Those who put God's reign first treat material needs as mere secondary additions, never as the main concern.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The parallel passage ( Luk_12:22-31 ) follows immediately the parable of the “Rich Fool.”
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
But seeke ye first the kingdome of God, and his righteousnesse, and all these things shall be ministred vnto you.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that seeking the kingdom first means prioritizing the Gospel or the glory of heaven above all earthly needs, including food and clothing. He defines "His righteousness" as Christ's righteousness alone, which gives the right to enter that kingdom. All material necessities are then added by God's free bounty, not as the main goal.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB presents this verse as the great summary of the entire Sermon on the Mount, deliberately sounding its two keynotes: the kingdom and the righteousness of the kingdom. Seeking these first means making them the supreme object of choice and pursuit, with all earthly needs added as a gracious reward, implying the kingdom itself is the seekers' proper primary portion.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry sees anxious worry about life's needs as a serious sin that Jesus warns against with exceptional force and many arguments. Such distracting cares reveal that a person's heart and treasure are still tied to earth rather than to God's kingdom.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley stresses that seeking God's kingdom and righteousness means making it your single aim—letting God reign in your heart so it fills with the righteousness he describes. He notes that whoever seeks this first will soon come to seek it alone, making it the sole pursuit.