Quick Devotional from Matthew 6:31 (Observation from the Greek)

This is from my daily Greek exercise of sight reading some time ago, courtesy of Vincent S Artale Jr.

Our text is from the Greek translation of Matthew 6:31.  Here is my translation:

“μὴ οὖν μεριμνήσητε λέγοντες· Τί φάγωμεν; ἤ· Τί πίωμεν; ἤ· Τί περιβαλώμεθα; ”
Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?

Here are some observations:

 

1. In the context this is Jesus is speaking.  The context of the chapter is Jesus addressing the issue of anxiety.
2. Jesus here tackle the problem of worry by telling us what not to do.  Not this verse begin with “μὴ the Greek word which is a negative particle (“Do not“)
3. What we are not to do is worry.  Let’s look at the verb for that= μεριμνήσητε.
   1. It is a second person plural form.  The crowd Jesus address, this is applicable to them.  It is applicable to us as readers.  It should also remind us that others too struggle with worries, not just us.
   2. The verb can mean care and at times it can be a positive thing such as in Philippians 2:20.  But in context this refers to excess worry.  What we can gleam from this is that often our anxiety is from legitimate concerns we should care about, but it has carried away too far.
   3. The subjunctive with the negative particle shows this is a prohibition.
   4. The active voice shows this is something the subjects are doing; sometimes we can think of anxiety is happening to us in a passive sense; but there’s times we must be aware that we are doing the worrying.  This helps me at times to realize I’m not just a slave to my fears, but that by God’s grace (let me say again, God’s grace) I can in Christ responsibly say no to anxiety.  This is liberating.
4. How do our anxiety manifest?  Jesus gave three examples with three rhetorical questions.
   1.  First question is about: “What will we eat?’”  Again there’s a legitimate role of wondering about and caring for our next meal.  Still we need to trust in God.
   2. Second question is “or ‘What will we drink?’”  Drinking like eating involves survival.  It is fascinating to think that Jesus is talking about issues of survival and to not worry about it; yet in our time for many of the readers surviving and hoping to eat another meal is not in doubt.  How much more should we not be anxious then if Jesus said not to be anxious of things related to life and survival.
   3. Third question is “or ‘What will we wear for clothing?”  Clothing is not only about survival but at times its social marker of what class, caste, or status we have.  Yet do not worry about these things.
5. I want to note the three questions uses first person plural verbs.  Sometimes our anxieties feed others to be worry; or we share collectively worries that makes others worry more.  We ought to be careful with that. 
6. Jesus didn’t just give this prohibition in a vacuum.  The second word in the verse has οὖν which means “therefore.”  Therefore is there for a reason: Telling us that this prohibition in verse 31 is based upon the truth in the previous verse; and the earlier verse says “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!”  Verse 30 tells us God cares and provide; and if this is true with plants how much more so with us who are made in the image of God!

Application:

• I can easily worry.  I need this.  Sometimes an important application is to realize others too struggle with anxiety; therefore we know that all of us struggle together and need God’s grace collectively.
• Remember sometimes the things we worry about are legitimate issues we should care about; but what makes anxiety difficult is that it is imbalance concern.  Keep this in mind.  Beware of thinking the solution to worry is to not care about things at all and neglect everything.  That’s not the solution.
• Recall we said sometimes our anxieties feed others to be worry; or we share collectively worries that makes others worry more.  We ought to be careful with that. Think about praying with others to address anxieties.
• Look to God’s grace to combat anxiety; study the Bible and pray to Him to see how He cares and how He provides!  Grace kills anxiety like nothing else can!