What Jesus says about worry

Jesus asks questions about how we operate. 

Jesus asked questions about how we think.

I once saw a church sign that said “worry is there  world’s alternative to prayer” This passage is one of only 3 in the Bible when Jesus mentioned the word worry and can be referred to as the “worry” discourse of Jesus.  R. Mounce says, “Worry is practical atheism and an affront to God.”80 [1]

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? 26 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.

Are you not much more valuable than they?

27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his lifea?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

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, O you of little faith?

31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

THE GRAND CONTRAST BETWEEN CHRISTIAN AND NON-CHRISTIAN….

32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

[2]33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.[3]

John 16:33 (NIV)
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Matthew 6:31 (ESV)
31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

Matthew 6:34 (ESV)
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 10:19 (ESV)
19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.

Luke 12:11 (ESV)
11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say,

[4]

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80 Mounce, Matthew, 58. Cf. M. Green, Matthew, 85–86.

[1]Craig Blomberg, vol. 22, Matthew, electronic ed., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1992), 126.

a Or single cubit to his height

[2]  The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984.

[3]The Holy Bible : New International Version, electronic ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984), Mt 6:25-34.

[4]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001.