Seek First

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,

and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:33

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus delivers a radical blueprint for kingdom living. Amidst teachings on prayer, fasting, and anxiety, one verse stands as a luminous pinnacle: "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (Matthew 6:33, ESV). This is no mere suggestion; it's an invitation to reorient the soul. For the believer yearning to grow deeper in Christ, Matthew 6:33 offers a personal revelation: Jesus is calling us to a life of singular pursuit, where trust in God's rule supplants self-reliant striving. As we unpack this verse, may the Holy Spirit illuminate its truth, transforming our hearts from anxious seekers of provision to devoted sons and daughters enthroning King Jesus.

From Worry to Worship

To grasp Jesus' intent, we must see the verse's setting. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus addresses everyday anxieties—food, drink, clothing—the "things" pagans chase (v. 32). "Do not be anxious," He commands repeatedly, pointing to God's care for birds and lilies (vv. 26-30). These illustrations aren't platitudes; they reveal a Father who knows our needs intimately. Then comes the pivot: "But seek first..."

The Greek zēteite de prōton—"seek first"—carries urgency and priority. "First" (prōton) means not just initially, but supremely. Jesus isn't proposing a balanced portfolio of priorities; He's demanding a revolution. N.T. Wright, in his commentary on Matthew, explains: "The kingdom is not one item among many... It is the central, all-determining reality."[1] Wright emphasizes that for Jesus, God's kingdom is the active rule of heaven breaking into earth, reclaiming creation from sin's grasp. Seeking it first means aligning every thought, decision, and desire under Christ's lordship.

Imagine a compass needle: lesser concerns—career, relationships, security—are drawn to the true north of God's kingdom. This revelation dawns personally when we confess our idolatry: we've sought "all these things" first, treating God as a divine butler. Jesus flips the script, promising that kingdom pursuit paradoxically secures the rest.

Unpacking the Promise

What does it mean to "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness"?

The Kingdom of God: This is God's sovereign reign, inaugurated in Jesus (Matthew 4:17). It's not a distant realm but a present reality where God's will is done "on earth as it is in heaven" (6:10). Seeking it involves praying for its advance, living its ethics (mercy, purity, peacemaking from the Beatitudes), and joining Jesus' mission to heal, forgive, and proclaim good news. Tim Keller, in Prayer, reflects: "To seek God's kingdom is to pray and work for that day when he will fully and finally cast all evil out... and every knee will bow."[2] Keller urges us to personalize this: Ask, "Lord, how can I advance Your rule in my home, workplace, city today?"

His Righteousness: Not our earned status, but God's gift received by faith, imputed through Christ (Romans 3:21-26). Yet it demands pursuit—growing in holiness, justice, and Christlikeness. Augustine, in his Confessions, wrestled with divided affections: "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you."[3] Seeking God's righteousness quiets that restlessness, as we hunger for conformity to Jesus, the righteous one.

Together, they form a unified quest. C.S. Lewis captures this in Mere Christianity: "Aim at Heaven and you will get earth 'thrown in': aim at earth and you will get neither."[4] Lewis warns against "Christianity-and"—faith plus worldly ambition—which dilutes the pursuit. The personal revelation hits here: When kingdom and righteousness eclipse all else, we experience freedom from fear. God "adds" provision not as a vending machine reward, but as a Father's faithful supply to kingdom agents.

The Personal Revelation

This verse isn't abstract theology; it's a divine scalpel for the soul. Consider a young professional paralyzed by career fears. Seeking first means starting each day in prayer: "Your kingdom come in my work—use me to serve others." Righteousness follows: integrity over shortcuts, generosity over hoarding. Miraculously, opportunities arise, peace descends—not because of striving, but surrender.

Or a parent anxious about children's futures. Jesus says, "Seek first." Model kingdom living: family devotions, serving the needy together. God's righteousness shapes their hearts. "All these things"—wisdom, protection—are added.

N.T. Wright personalizes it further: "Jesus is saying... entrust yourself to the father who knows what you need."[5] This echoes the Lord's Prayer (6:9-13), framing 6:33 as its outworking. Keller adds depth: In prayer, we "rearrange our loves," dethroning idols.[6] Lewis illustrates with joy: True joy isn't grasping lesser goods but delighting in God, who lavishes the rest.

The revelation unfolds in seasons of trial. During my own "wilderness" of loss, Matthew 6:33 became lifeline. Seeking kingdom meant worship amid tears, serving others despite pain. Righteousness grew through repentance. God added healing, provision, deeper intimacy—proving Jesus' word.

Augustine prayed, "Command what you will, and give what you command."[7] Jesus does both in 6:33: He commands the seek, empowers by His Spirit, and guarantees the add.

The Joy of First Things

Matthew 6:33 is Jesus' master key to unshakable life. Seeking first His kingdom and righteousness doesn't diminish desires; it fulfills them in Him.

Dethrone rivals. Pursue Jesus' reign with abandon. Watch as the Father, delighted in your trust, adds all you need. Grow deeper, stronger—conformed to the image of the One who sought us first.

[1] N.T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone, Part 1 (London: SPCK, 2004), 73.

[2] Timothy Keller, Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God (New York: Viking, 2014), 89.

[3] Augustine, Confessions, trans. Henry Chadwick (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991), Book I, 3.

[4] C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: HarperOne, 2001), 119.

[5] N.T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone, Part 1, 74.

[6] Timothy Keller, Prayer, 92.

[7] Augustine, Confessions, Book X, 29.