King James Version · read & reflect
Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:33
What Matthew 6:33 means
Matthew 6:33 is the hinge of a long passage about worry. Jesus has just pointed at birds that do not sow and lilies that do not spin, and asked why people who are worth more than either spend their days anxious about food and clothing. Then comes the instruction: 'But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.' It is not a promise of wealth in exchange for devotion. It is a reordering — put God's rule and God's character first, and the ordinary needs you were frantic about get handled in their proper place, by someone other than you.
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Frequently asked questions
What does Matthew 6:33 mean?
Jesus tells anxious people to make God's kingdom and righteousness their first priority, and to trust that their ordinary needs — food, clothing, provision — will be supplied as a result. The point is the order of priorities, not a transaction where devotion buys prosperity.
What does it mean to 'seek first the kingdom of God'?
To let God's rule and God's character set the agenda for your life before anything else does. In context it is the opposite of the anxious striving Jesus has just described — a shift from managing your own security to living under God's.
What are 'all these things' that shall be added?
The everyday necessities Jesus names in the verses just before it: what you will eat, what you will drink, and what you will wear. He is answering worry about basic provision, not promising riches.