Verse
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 6:34
Meaning of Matthew 6:34
The meaning of the verse Matthew 6:34 means Christians must try not to worry about their needs. The verse ‘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’ also implies that a Christian must trust in God for providence. Christians must also be assured that their needs will be met by God. Additionally, Jesus also tells His followers that each day has its own challenges. Thus, it is important to take care of things and plan one day at a time.
Interpretations of Matthew 6:34
Matthew 6:34 is one of the most quoted verses in the church sermons. A few interpretations are given below.
Interpretation #1 Christians don’t have to secure future
In this interpretation, the church teaches that Christians must not worry about saving provisions for the future, such as disaster management and preparation. As the verse ‘for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself’ means that a person who follows and believes in Jesus will have everything they need through a miracle, or God may even use somebody who can unexpectedly take care of their needs.
Interpretation #2 Christians face evil every day
The phrase from Matthew 6:34 ‘Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof’ means that each day has its own evil. In this version, he or she has a skeptical personality and consistently believes that Christians are attacked by the devil. However, the attacks may come in from the devil or be allowed by God to be tested. The reader also believes that by handling the ‘evil of the day’, they have kept their faith in God and followed His commandments. Additionally, churches also warn the listeners as a part of sermons that every Christian will be facing temptations, including illness or simple disagreements with family or friends.
Interpretation #3 Preplanners don’t put faith in God
According to this version, the readers believe that planning ahead for home, career, or even relationships means the Christian doesn’t believe in God’s promises. Apart from the verse ‘Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself’ the promises also include ‘My God shall supply all your needs’. Also, a few denominations or Christian cults also teach their followers that God commanded them to live a life of humility though without worrying about their provisions. Here, the reader may believe that planning or worrying about food, home, and shelter may be a lack of faith.
Interpretation #4 Christians must avoid anxiety
In this interpretation, the verse ‘Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself’ implies that Christians must avoid feeling anxious. The verse is particularly encouraging and applicable to people who struggle with mental health issues and addictions. As per the following phrase from the verse ‘Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof’, the readers are also encouraged to take ‘one day at a time’ and resolve the issue of the day or get through the day by believing in God and staying strong. As the Bible also promises that God takes care of the birds and creatures, and He is also capable of taking care of Christians who pray and seek Him. It is also the most powerful ending to the chapter. However, the verse does not advocate or encourage Christians not to earn, work hard or save for the future. Through verse Matthew 6:34, Jesus instead asks the believers to have faith, be wise and not be anxious about the things they do not have.
Historical background of Matthew 6:34
Matthew Chapter 6 is the center or 2nd chapter that continues the Sermon on the Mount. While Chapter 5 and 7 remains prominent, the 6th Chapter has prominent lessons summarizing the Christian values and instruction on how to pray. The Gospel of Matthew was written around 80 – 90 A.D., and the Sermon on the Mount was probably set around 27 A.D. Similar to Matthew 6:33. Also, the verse Matthew 6:34 is the final verse in Chapter 6, and was written as an encouragement to the early Christians and Jesus’ listeners during His ministry, which is applicable even in modern times.
Literary Devices of Matthew 6:34
Matthew 6:34 is the closing verse of Matthew chapter 6 and has some notable literary devices. A few devices are given below.
Alliteration – The verse Matthew 6:34 has a rich use of repeated consonant sounds at the start of the word. However, they are not used in quick succession. For example, the sound of /th/ (θ) and the sound of /th/ (ð), the sound of /f/, and the sound of /m/ in ‘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.’
Assonance – The verse also has vowel sounds in repetition without quick successions. For example, the sound of /e/, the sound of /o/, the sound of /i/, and the sound of /uh/ in ‘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.’
Consonance – The verse also has a rich use of consonant sounds in repetition and a few without quick successions. For example, the sound of /r/, the sound of /f/, and the sound of /n/ in ‘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.’
Anaphora – The phrase ‘for the morrow’ and the word ‘thought’ is repeated twice in verse to emphasize the importance of today and positive thinking. Hence Matthew 6:34 is a good example of anaphora.
Theme – The major themes of Matthew 6:34 are sufficiency, courage, and faith. The minor themes include prayer, peace, and patience, also known as the 3 Ps.
