Seek First: The Disciples Priorities

Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 6:31–33

As a child of God, know that it is your Father’s pleasure to meet all your needs. Jesus Himself tells us, “For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” But God does not want you to seek after things. He wants you to seek first His kingdom. And when you do that, all the things that you need will be added to you!

So your first priority every day is to seek His kingdom. The word “first” in verse 33 is the Greek word proton, which means “first in order or importance, holding the highest place in all our affections.” My friend, God wants us to seek first His kingdom, and all things will fall gloriously in place.

We are not to seek after things the way Gentiles do. The word “seek” in “the Gentiles seek” (verse 32) is the Greek word epizeteo. It means “to seek with all their might with much sweat or with much stress”. However, the way God wants us to “seek” in “seek first the kingdom of God” is the Greek word zeteo, which means “to hunger, to desire to worship.” It is simply a hungering, a desiring for the kingdom of God, without any labor or toil.

But what is the kingdom of God? Romans 14:17 tells us that it is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. And the kingdom of God dwells within you because the Holy Spirit indwells you. So the kingdom of God is His righteousness, peace and joy in you.

Beloved, if you want to have peace and joy in the Holy Spirit flowing inside you, then seek every day to be conscious of your righteousness in Christ, not your own righteousness, but His righteousness given to you as a gift. Pursue Jesus first. Spend time with Him and listen to His Word. And when you do these things, you are seeking His kingdom and His righteousness, and all the things that you need will be added to you!

Kingdom Greatness

After commanding us not to think that He had come to destroy the Law, Jesus gave the following instruction: “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:18–19).

Why would Jesus issue such strong penalties or rewards for breaking or obeying the least of the commandments? To understand this command, we must remember Jesus’ response to the lawyer who asked, “Which is the greatest commandment?” Jesus declared:

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength … . And … Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Mark 12:30–31).

If this is the greatest commandment, then why is so much importance placed on the least commandments? Jesus explained the relationship between the two when He stated, “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:40).

Therefore, every law, great or small, is a practical expression of how to love God and how to love others. Failing in any area and teaching others to fail in that same area is a major concern to God.

Jesus gave further warning about this matter in the next verse: “… Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20).

The scribes and the Pharisees focused on the letter of the Law and missed the spirit of the Law. Because they missed the point of loving others, they actually negated the laws of God. For example, the Law tells us to honor our parents. However, the Pharisees worked out a clever plan whereby they could dedicate their money to the Temple, while still using it, but tell their parents they had no money to give them. Jesus condemned this by saying:

“… Ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition” (Matthew 15:6).

So, to be great in God’s kingdom, let’s begin to look at the Law through the eyes of Jesus. Let’s meditate on each command until we understand how it teaches us to love God and love others.