Matthew 6:34

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Matthew 6:34 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Matthew 6:34 — American Standard Version

Context — Matthew 6

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
34Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Take therefore no thought for the morrow, etc.] Reference is had to (<202701>Proverbs 27:1). “Boast not of thyself tomorrow”: a man cannot promise or assure himself, that he shall have a morrow, and therefore it is great weakness and folly to be anxiously thoughtful about it. This is expressed in the Talmud f456, nearer the sense of Christ’s words, after this manner: “rjm trx rxt la, “do not distress thyself with tomorrow’s affliction, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth”; perhaps tomorrow may not be, and thou wilt be found distressing thyself, for the time which is nothing to thee.” And should it come, it is unnecessary to be thoughtful of it in a distressing manner before hand;…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Take therefore no thought--anxious care. for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself--(or, according to other authorities, "for itself")--shall have its own causes of anxiety. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof--An admirable practical maxim, and better rendered in our version than in almost any other, not excepting the preceding English ones. Every day brings its own cares; and to anticipate is only to double them. SERMON ON THE MOUNT--concluded. Next: Matthew Chapter 7”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Take therefore no thought ... - That is, no anxiety. Commit your way to God. The evil, the trouble, the anxiety of each day as it comes, is sufficient without perplexing the mind with restless cares about another day. It is wholly uncertain whether you live to see another day. If you do, it will bring its own trouble, and it will also bring the proper supply of your needs. God will be the same Father then as today, and will make then, as he does now, proper provision for your wants. The morrow shall take thought - The morrow will have anxieties and cares of its own, but it will also bring the proper provision for those cares. Though you will have needs, yet God will provide for them as they…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The morrow shall take thought for itself - That is, he careful for the morrow when it comes. The evil thereof - Speaking after the manner of men. But all trouble is, upon the whole, a real good. It is good physic which God dispenses daily to his children, according to the need and the strength of each. Next: Matthew Chapter 7”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“no: Mat 6:11, Mat 6:25; Exo 16:18-20; Lam 3:23 for: Deu 33:25; Kg1 17:4-6, Kg1 17:14-16; Kg2 7:1, Kg2 7:2; Luk 11:3; Heb 13:5, Heb 13:6 Sufficient: Joh 14:27, Joh 16:33; Act 14:22; Th1 3:3, Th1 3:4 Next: Matthew Chapter 7”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification