Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

MATTHEW 6:34KJV
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Matthew 6:34 (KJV)

What does Matthew 6:34 mean?

Matthew 6:34 tells the reader not to worry about tomorrow, because each day has enough trouble of its own and tomorrow will bring its own concerns. Jesus is encouraging people to focus on today rather than being anxious about the future.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to a crowd during the Sermon on the Mount, teaching them about trusting God with their daily needs. The verse follows a section about not being anxious over material things, and it sums up the idea that worrying about what might happen in the future is unnecessary and unhelpful. Jesus points out that every day brings its own challenges, so it is better to deal with today’s issues rather than borrowing trouble from tomorrow.

The Greek behind Matthew 6:34

  • "Take...no thought" uses the Greek word μεριμνάω (merimnaō, G3309), which often means "to be anxious" or "to worry." Here, Jesus is not saying to ignore responsibilities, but rather not to let anxiety about the future control your mind.
  • "Sufficient" is from ἀρκετός (arketos, G713), meaning "enough" or "sufficient." This word emphasizes that each day already has enough challenges or "evil" (κακία, kakia, G2549) of its own, so adding tomorrow’s worries is unnecessary.
  • "The morrow" (αὔριον, aurion, G839) is simply "tomorrow," highlighting the focus on the future rather than the present.

Why Matthew 6:34 matters

  • Matthew 6:34 helps clear up the idea that Jesus is telling people to be careless; instead, he is addressing the problem of anxiety, not responsible planning.
  • This verse emphasizes the importance of living in the present and trusting God for daily needs, which ties into the larger theme of the Sermon on the Mount about faith and dependence on God.
  • The verse connects to the previous teachings about not worrying over food, drink, or clothing, showing that anxiety about the future is part of a bigger issue of trust.

Where else these words appear

“Sufficient” Greek G713 · used in 3 verses

  • Matthew 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
  • 1 Peter 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

“evil” Greek G2549 · used in 11 verses

  • Acts 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
  • 1 Corinthians 14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
  • Titus 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

“morrow” Greek G839 · used in 14 verses

  • Matthew 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
  • Luke 13:33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.
  • Acts 23:20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.

“Take” Greek G3309 · used in 17 verses

  • Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
  • Luke 10:41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
  • 1 Corinthians 7:32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: