But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
All Commentaries on Matthew 6:33 Go To Matthew 6
John Chrysostom
AD 407
Since their belief is that it is Fortune and not Providence that has place inhuman affairs, and think not that their lives are directed by God’s counsel, but follow the uncertain chance, they accordingly fear and despair, as having none to guide them. But he who believes that he is guided by God’s counsel, entrusts his provision of food to God’s hand; as it follows, “for your Fatherknoweth that ye have need of these things.”.
Thus then let him who believes himself to be under the rule of God’s counsel, commit his provision into God’s hand; but let him meditate of good and evil, which if he do not, he will neither shun the evil, nor lay hold of the good. Therefore it is added, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.” The kingdom of God is the reward of good works; His righteousness is the way of piety by which we go to that kingdom. If then you consider how great is the glory of the Saints, you will either through fear of punishment depart from evil, or through desire of glory hasten to good. And if you consider that is the righteousness of God, what Heloves, and what He hates, the righteousness itself will show you His ways, asit attends on those that love it. And the account we shall have to render isnot whether we have been poor or rich, but whether we have done well or ill, which is in our own power.
The earth for man’s sin is accursed that it should not put forth fruit, according to that in Genesis, “Cursed is the ground in thy works;” but when we do well, then it is blessed. Seek righteousness therefore, and thoushalt not lack food. Wherefore it follows, “and all these things shall be added unto you. "But since in order to attain this end weare militant in this life, which may not be lived without supply of these necessaries, He promises, “These things shall be added unto you.” That He says, "first,” implies that these are to be sought second not in time, but in value; the one is our good, the other necessary to us. For example, we ought not to preach that we may eat, for so we should hold the Gospel as of less value than our food; butwe should therefore eat that we may preach the Gospel. But if we “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,” that is, set this before all other things, and seek other things for the sake of this, we ought not to be anxious lest we should lack necessaries; and therefore He says, “All these things shall be added unto you;” that is, of course, without being an hindrance to you: that you may not in seeking them be turned away from the other, and thus set two ends before you.
And He said not, Shall be given, but, “Shall be added,” that you may learn that the things that are now, are nought to the greatness of the things that shall be.
