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1. Read verses 25-27. At the beginning of this passage what does Jesus command his disciples? What question does he ask? Why does he ask such a question? Which example does he give? What two other questions does he ask? What can we learn from this part? 2. Read verses 28-32. What comparison does he make about clothing? What simple truth does he draw from it? What is his repeated command? 3. Read verses 33-34. What is his alternative command that comes with a promise? Think about the meaning of this. What wisdom does Jesus give concerning worrying?

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Through last lesson we could learn that our Lord Jesus wanted us to store up our treasures in heaven, have good eyes to see by keeping the light within us bright, and serve one Master with the whole heart. And then the Lord Jesus says in today’s passage, “Therefore, do not worry about your life…” meaning that we have enough reason not to worry. However, in today’s passage, Jesus speaks of much more of why we should not worry. In this passage the word “worry” is written 6 times. Most people think “worry” is natural and we cannot avoid it. Some think they were born to worry with careful and cautious character. Others form the habit of worry. And worry begets worry. Worry or anxiety is injurious in our lives, probably as injurious as fear. At any reason, we should cope with worry and defeat any worry. Otherwise our life will be too pitiful to think of. Thank Jesus that in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus teaches why we should not worry and how we can do so. The Sermon on the Mount is the constitution of the kingdom of heaven, but it deals with our practical problems. May we listen to Jesus and have remedy for worry. First, look at the birds of the air (25-27). Look at verse 25. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear, Is not life more important than food, and the body, more important than clothes?” When we refer to Genesis, in the Garden of Eden there was no toil for food. All were freely given. But after the fall, men had to work to eat three meals a day. God said, “…through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life…By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground…” (Ge 3:17-18). So in this world man could not but worry about food: “What if I have no food.” No one in the world would say, “Do not worry about life.” Instead, it is right to say, “Work hard to earn bread and eat.” But Jesus said to his disciples in this Sermon on the Mount, “…I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink.” Only Jesus could say this in a strict sense, because in him paradise is restored. In fact this was a sensational command. Then Jesus asked a rhetorical question, “Is not life important than food?” What an obvious question! Everyone knows that life is more important than food. When one has no life, food is useless. A dead person cannot eat however delicious the food is. In some customs people offer food to their dead ancestors. But the dead cannot eat it. It is needless to say that life is more important than food. And the body is more important than clothes. If you have to choose between the two, having a disabled body with three pieces of suit or nice dress and having a health body with simple ordinary clothes, which one will you choose? I believe that you will choose the first one. Why did Jesus ask such an obvious question: “Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?” Jesus wanted them to be confirmed of this clear truth so that they might live by it. There are many people who live as if food is more important than life. They do not seem to care about how to live with one precious life but only how to feed themselves. As long as they can eat food and better food, they are not concerned about what kind of life they live. In extreme case they live like animals, greedy and devouring and brutal. It is a sorrowful thing to see that their lives become ignoble, even giving up heir healthy pride for food. The end of the history of Israel in 2 Kings was her king Jehoiachin being released from prison and eating regularly at the table of the Babylonian king, Evil-Merodach. (2 Kings 25:27-29) What a humiliation! People can live like that giving up God’s given dignity and pride. All men, especially Jesus’ disciples, should learn by heart that life is more important than food. Now Jesus teaches his disciples how they should live by telling a very simple but interesting and insightful story. Look at verse 27. “Look at the birds of the air! They do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” (Picture of a flying bird) Wow! What a beautiful scene to look at! A bird flying in the sky without worry about food! They are flying because God said, “Let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky” (Ge 1:20). They are flying in the sky according to God’s command. It is true that they do not sow, or reap or store away in barns, and yet the Father in heaven feeds them all. At the provision of God what the birds are to do is to go and catch the food at each time of hunger. They are peaceful, joyful and thankful, flying, eating and singing, of course hardworking. They are valuable creature in God’s sight. Then Jesus raises another rhetorical question, “Are you not much more valuable than they?” When God created men, he created each of them as the crown of his creation and said, “…rule over the birds of the air…” (Ge 1:28). To the Creator God men are much more valuable than the birds. In Jesus God became our Father in heaven and we, his children. Then in Christ Jesus we are doubly much more valuable than the birds. The Lord Jesus really wants us to know our value before our heavenly Father. At that time two sparrows were sold for a penny (Mt 10:29) and five sparrows, for two pennies (Lk 12:6). So the value of one sparrow was half-penny or less than that. Then how about our value? (the most expensive soccer player in the world, Lionel Messi & David Beckham) In Matthew 18, a king canceled the debt of his servant, 10000 talents, that is, 6 billion dollars in our currency, because the servant was more valuable than the money to the king. So let’s say that the value of each of God’s children is 6 billion dollars. Then if we try to compare the value of a bird and that of a child of God, it is comparing half-penny and 6 billion dollars. In truth it is incomparable. But Jesus used the expression of comparison so that we may really know our value before our heavenly Father. Then now Jesus asks one more rhetorical question consecutively, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Those who cherish their lives (or bodies) can worry. However, they cannot add even a single hour to the life by worrying, while God gave them the full life. It is the expression of how much God cherishes and loves them. Many people think no one cares for them, so they have to care for themselves worrying and worrying more. Worry can be an expression of the love of one’s self. But it cannot be compared with our heavenly Father’s love for us. Worry cannot affect the great love and care of our heavenly Father and it is useless. In this part our Lord Jesus wants us to know the value or our selves and believe in the perfect love and care and provision of our heavenly Father, and live as freely, thankfully and joyfully and happily as the birds of the air. (The story of Tauler and a beggar in German mystic) Second, see how the lilies of the field grow (28-32). Look at verse 28. “And why do you worry about clothes?” Clothes are also one of the basic necessities of life. Among all animals only human beings wear clothes (nowadays, dogs too). In the Bible God was concerned about poor people’s clothing. Clothes are also a way to present oneself to others. In the Old Testament priests wore dignified clothes. In Jesus’ time poor people wore shabby clothes, and rich people, fine clothes. Then, what did Jesus say? Look at verse 28b-29, “See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these.” (picture of the lilies of the filed) How can we describe the beauty of lilies? It shows its unique, natural and perfect beauty. Jesus compares this beauty of the lilies with that of Solomon’s clothes. God blessed King Solomon with riches so much so that there would be no equal among kings in his lifetime (1 Kings 3:13). So we can imagine Solomon’s splendorous and pompous clothes. But the clothing of Solomon could not be compared with that of lilies. The beauty of lilies represents the beauty of God’s creation, designed by God and coming out his riches. God’s clothing cannot be compared with man’s clothing, even the richest king’s clothing himself. Then Jesus says in verse 30. “If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you?” The answer is obviously “Yes, he will much more clothe us than lilies.” Then what does God’s clothing us mean? Does it mean that God supplies us with much money to buy necessary clothes, even more, fine clothes? (Some women changing their clothes everyday) Then we cannot be clothed more than Solomon. When God created us, God has given each person his or her inherent prefect beauty as a masterpiece (Ge 1:31). But people try to have artificial beauties with expensive clothes and various hair styles and diamond rings and perfumes, etc. But Apostle Peter said to all believing wives, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” (1 Pe 3:3-4) When we believe in our Father in heaven, we don’t need to worry about how we can present ourselves to others. We don’t need to try to impress others with distinguished clothes and accessories, although we should be responsible for how we dress. One’s inner beauty which the heavenly Father has given is revealed when the person lives by faith. Even if we wear ordinary clothes, we can be more beautiful because of God clothing us. Look at verses 30b-32: “O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” Here Jesus says again in summary, “So do not worry” including all three cases of worry, and wants God’s children to be different from the pagans. God’s children should keep their faith in the heavenly Father and should live a different life, that is, the life of faith believing God’s perfect provision to fill all their needs. If still worry comes, then they should pray. Prayer is an expression of faith. Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” There should be a distinction between God’s children and the pagans in their lives. The distinction is faith. Third, seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness first (31-34). The life of faith is a positive one. Now Jesus says in verse 33, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” This is one of the most beautiful verses in the Bible. When we refer to Genesis 1, God commissioned man, saying, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over…” Afterward he freely and abundantly provided food for the man. Now here since in Jesus Paradise is restored, he gives a promise in a clear statement that all the needs of those who live for God’s mission, seeking God’s kingdom and his righteousness first, will be met. Again, no one but Jesus can give such a command and a promise as this. In the Garden of Eden man’s mission was to name all the animals God created. God’s kingdom and righteousness were already there. But in this fallen world, God’s kingdom and his righteousness must be sought and newly established. In the Old Testament a beautiful seeking is seeking the Lord. Amos 5:6 says, “Seek the LORD and live.” But now Jesus’ disciples should go further to seek God’s kingdom. This is the reason Jesus asked his disciples to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” God’s kingdom and his righteousness cannot be separated. In order to keep righteousness in his kingdom God even sacrificed his one and only Son. God’s kingdom is the place where his righteous rule reigns through his Son Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus wants us to enjoy paradise in him by letting his rule come in our hearts and lives and then actively seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness with priority over all other things. Jesus said, “Seek God’s kingdom,” instead of, “Live for God’s kingdom” or “Work for God’s kingdom.” “Seek” puts more emphasis on one’s inner declination and attitude than outward actions. One seeks what is in his or her deepest heart. Seeking is a constant concern. Instead of letting out hearts be occupied with all kinds of worries of this world, the Lord Jesus wants our hearts and minds be occupied with the thought of God’s kingdom and his righteousness. Jesus came to this world to seek and to save what was lost (Lk 19:10). Seeking God’s kingdom starts with seeking one lost soul. Seeking God’s kingdom should the life purpose of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus said, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.” Even if one has a clear life direction and purpose, still he needs priority in his daily life. Without priority each day’s life can go everywhere and nowhere. Seeking God’s kingdom first is always to have in mind how to advance the gospel work at any human situations to expand his kingdom. When we think about Apostle Paul, he advanced the gospel even while he was in prison. He was not overcome by dark and sorrowful thinking in the Roman prison. Rather, he took it as God’s given opportunity to preach the gospel and thus advance the gospel work. So he said to his beloved spiritual son Timothy, “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearance and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season…” (2 Tim 4:1,2). As for our young people, studying hard to be useful and influential servants of God in this generation is also a part of seeking God’s kingdom. And learning musical instruments through hard training to serve God’s ministry is also an act of seeking God’s kingdom. While many young people just idle and go around here and there with their friends or play with computers in this summer, our young disciples may seek God’s kingdom first and positively in their personal way. And as for your young Bible students, keeping 1:1 Bible and attending Summer Bible Conference is also their way of seeking God’s kingdom. Thank God that M. Moses is going to establish his family this summer. In Christ even our marriage has a clear purpose, that is, to seek God’s kingdom. May God bless this family to seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness first at any circumstances so that this family of God be used greatly to expand God’s kingdom in U of T campus pioneering work and in this country Canada. Look at verse 33 again. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Our Lord Jesus wants us to believe that all these things will be given to us as we seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness first. Here we learn anew that Christians’ life is to live in God’s blessing through his every provision. Verse 33 can be the wonderful conclusion of this teaching of Jesus. However, Jesus said one more thing lastly in verse 34, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” What did Jesus mean by saying this? Jesus seemed to come back to the main theme, that is, “Do not worry.” But he said here, “Do not worry about tomorrow.” Does it mean that it is okay to worry about today? Then his teaching is not consistent. Surely it does not mean that. What Jesus said is a kind of wisdom how to overcome worry. As we studied, we should positively seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness first. Also, as a wisdom we should just tackle today’s life and present concerns, entrusting tomorrow and future into the hands of God. Meet today’s problems with today’s strength. Don’t start tackling tomorrow’s problems until tomorrow. You do not have tomorrow’s strength yet. And nobody knows what will happen tomorrow or even one hour later (a girl’s worry). We need both a clear direction and wisdom. Thank God for this beautiful teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we have his beautiful words in us, “Look at the birds of the air; see how the lilies of the filed grow; seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be give to you as well.” May we not allow any worry in our hearts but clearly know the value of ourselves and our lives in God’s sight and live with faith in God’s blessing of his perfect provision, seeking God’s kingdom and his righteousness first.

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