Seek First the Kingdom of God: What Matthew 6:33 Means (and How to Live It)

Matthew 6:33 is one of the best-loved verses in the Bible, and one of the most quoted out of context. Jesus spoke it to ordinary people worried about food, rent and clothes. It is not a slogan for the super-spiritual — it is an invitation to stop carrying what was never yours to carry.

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

The verse in context

Matthew 6:33 sits in the Sermon on the Mount, in a passage about worry (Matthew 6:25–34). Jesus tells His listeners not to worry about what they will eat, drink or wear. He points to the birds, which God feeds, and the wild flowers, which God clothes more beautifully than Solomon. "Are you not much more valuable than they?" (6:26).

So "all these things" means the everyday necessities of life. Jesus is not dismissing them — "your heavenly Father knows that you need them" (6:32). He is putting them in their place.

What "seek first" means

Seek — keep on actively pursuing. The verb describes an ongoing direction, not a one-time decision.

First — priority, not exclusivity. You still work, plan and pay bills, but God's rule comes before them, not after.

His kingdom — God's rule and reign, made present in Jesus. Read more in What Is the Kingdom of God?

His righteousness — a life lined up with God's will: right with Him through Jesus, and living rightly toward others.

What the promise is — and isn't

The promise is that God, as a good Father, will provide what His children genuinely need. It is a promise about trust and care, not a formula for wealth. The same Jesus said His followers would face hardship (John 16:33), and Paul, who learned to be content "whether well fed or hungry" (Philippians 4:12), wrote that "my God will meet all your needs" (Philippians 4:19).

Not a transaction

Seeking the Kingdom first is not a trick to get things from God. It is choosing the one thing that lasts, and trusting Him with the rest.

Ways to put the Kingdom first

First thought, first words

Begin the day with God before the phone. Pray "Your kingdom come, your will be done" — the Lord's Prayer, line by line.

Your decisions

Before a big choice, ask: which option helps me love God and people more? Then take the step.

Your money

Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). Give first, not last.

Your work

Your job is part of His Kingdom, not a break from it. See Work as Worship.

Your people

The people already around you are your first mission field — your oikos.

Today, not someday

"Do not worry about tomorrow" (Matthew 6:34). Seeking first is something you do today.

A verse that started a movement

This verse is woven into the story of the wider Thy Kingdom Network. SIX33 began in Hamilton in 2014 as Seek First Brand, named after Matthew 6:33, and Seek First is built around helping people put God's Kingdom first in every part of life. Love on The World is the same call worked out on the street: loving people and sharing Jesus every week.

Questions people ask

What does 'seek first the kingdom of God' mean?

It means making God's rule and His will your first priority, above worry about food, clothes and money, and trusting Him as a good Father to provide what you need (Matthew 6:33).

What are 'all these things' in Matthew 6:33?

In context (Matthew 6:25–32) they are everyday necessities: food, drink and clothing. Jesus promises that the Father knows we need them and will provide.

Is Matthew 6:33 a promise of wealth?

No. It is a promise of God's care for our needs, not of riches. Jesus also warned against storing up treasure on earth (Matthew 6:19–21).

What is the righteousness Jesus mentions?

Being made right with God through Jesus, and living in line with His will: loving God and loving others in practical, everyday ways.

How do I seek God's kingdom first practically?

Pray before anything else, give generously, make decisions by asking what honours God and loves people, treat your work as worship, and share Jesus with the people around you.

Put the Kingdom first on your street

Weekly outreach groups pray for people, meet needs and share Jesus. Join one near you, or start one. Find a group

Next steps

Find a weekly outreach · What is the Kingdom of God?