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WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN TO SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
Understanding Matthew 6:33 in the Light of the New Covenant and the Finished Work of Christ
In Matthew 6:33, Jesus said:
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
Brothers and sisters, have you ever stopped to ask yourself this important question:
WHAT EXACTLY IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD THAT JESUS WAS REFERRING TO?
Understanding the answer to this question is important because it helps us understand what Jesus was actually asking His listeners to seek first.
More importantly, it helps us understand why Jesus gave this instruction in the first place and how it applies to us as New Creations under the New Covenant.
Many believers quote Matthew 6:33 without taking time to examine its context. Some interpret it as an instruction to pursue religious activities, attend church more frequently, or perform certain religious duties in order to receive God's blessings.
Others understand it as a promise that if they put God first, they will automatically become wealthy and never experience financial difficulties.
But is that what Jesus was teaching?
Let us examine the Scriptures.
WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
The Kingdom of God refers to the reign, rule, authority and government of God.
It is not primarily a geographical location, a church building, a denomination, or a religious organization. It speaks of God's sovereign authority and rule being expressed.
Where God's authority is acknowledged and His will is carried out, His Kingdom is being manifested.
Jesus demonstrated the Kingdom through His teaching, miracles, healing, deliverance and, ultimately, His death and resurrection.
Consider what Jesus said in Luke 17:20β21 (KJV):
Luke 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luke 17:20 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."
Jesus was explaining that the Kingdom of God would not arrive as an ordinary political territory with geographical boundaries that people could identify.
The Kingdom was already being demonstrated through His presence and ministry among them.
In other words, the King was among them, demonstrating the authority and power of God's Kingdom.
This is an important truth: the Kingdom of God is about God's reign, not merely a physical location.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE AND JOY IN THE HOLY GHOST
One of the clearest descriptions of the Kingdom of God is found in Romans 14:17.
Romans 14:17 (KJV) For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."
Notice three important expressions:
A. RIGHTEOUSNESS
Righteousness speaks of right standing with God.
Under the New Covenant, the believer's righteousness is not something earned through religious performance or personal efforts. It is received as a gift through faith in Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:17 explains that those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by Jesus Christ.
B. PEACE
This speaks of the peace that comes through our reconciliation with God.
Romans 5:1 says:
Romans 5:1 (KJV) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Through Jesus Christ, we are no longer enemies of God. We have been reconciled to Him.
C. JOY IN THE HOLY GHOST
The Kingdom is also characterized by joy that comes through the Holy Spirit.
This is not merely happiness that depends on favourable circumstances.
It is a spiritual reality that comes from our relationship with God.
Paul was explaining that the Kingdom of God is not about external religious observances, food regulations or ceremonial practices. It concerns the spiritual realities associated with God's reign.
WE ENTER THE KINGDOM THROUGH THE NEW BIRTH
Jesus told Nicodemus:
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." β John 3:3 (KJV).
The New Birth is essential to understanding the Kingdom of God.
When a person believes in Jesus Christ, he receives eternal life and becomes a New Creation.
Notice what Paul tells us in Colossians 1:13:
"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son."
Pay attention to the words HATH DELIVERED and HATH TRANSLATED.
Paul was not describing something believers must struggle to achieve through religious activities.
He was describing what God had already accomplished for us through Christ.
We have been delivered from the authority of darkness and transferred into the Kingdom of God's dear Son.
This is our present spiritual reality in Christ.
We are not trying to earn our way into the Kingdom. Through the New Birth, we have become partakers of this Kingdom.
WHAT THEN DOES IT MEAN TO SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
Now let us return to Matthew 6:33.
To understand what Jesus meant, we must examine the surrounding verses.
Study Matthew 6:25β34 carefully.
You will discover that Jesus was addressing people's anxieties about the necessities of life, including food, drink and clothing.
He spoke about the birds of the air and how the Father feeds them. He also spoke about the lilies of the field and how God clothes them.
His message was clear: His listeners should not allow anxiety about their daily needs to dominate their lives.
Jesus was directing their attention to the Father's care and the priority of God's Kingdom.
Therefore, when He said, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness," He was teaching them to prioritize God's rule and righteousness rather than allowing material needs and worldly pursuits to become the governing priorities of their lives.
In practical terms, seeking God's Kingdom first means:
Giving priority to God's will and purposes.
Allowing God's Word to govern our thinking and conduct.
Living with an understanding of our righteousness in Christ.
Reflecting the values and character of God's Kingdom in our daily lives.
Refusing to allow anxiety about material things to control our decisions.
There is something particularly important here:
Jesus did not tell His listeners to make the pursuit of material things their highest priority. He directed them to seek God's Kingdom first and trust the Father's care for their needs.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SEEK HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS?
This is another important part of Matthew 6:33 that we must not overlook.
Jesus said:
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness."
Under the New Covenant, we must understand righteousness in the light of what Jesus Christ accomplished.
We are not trying to manufacture our own righteousness through religious activities, good works, fasting, or personal efforts.
Romans 5:17 tells us that righteousness is a gift received through Jesus Christ.
Furthermore, 2 Corinthians 5:21 says:
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Think about this carefully.
Jesus took our place so that we could receive His righteousness.
Therefore, our relationship with God is no longer based on our ability to establish our own righteousness. It is based on what Christ has accomplished on our behalf.
As New Creations, we must learn to live with the consciousness of the righteousness we have received through faith in Christ.
This does not mean that righteous living is unimportant. Rather, our righteous conduct should flow from the righteousness we have received as a gift, not from an attempt to earn acceptance from God.
WHAT DID JESUS MEAN BY "ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU"?
This is where we must be careful not to misinterpret the promise.
Some people use Matthew 6:33 to suggest that believers who seek God first will automatically become wealthy, own expensive properties, or never experience financial difficulties.
But when you examine Matthew 6:25β34, you will discover that Jesus was specifically addressing the necessities of life: food, drink and clothing.
He was teaching His listeners to trust the Father's provision rather than live in constant anxiety about these necessities.
He was not giving them a formula for becoming wealthy.
Neither was He promising that believers would never experience hardship, financial challenges, or difficult circumstances.
The emphasis was on the Father's knowledge of their needs and His care for them.
This understanding is consistent with Philippians 4:6β7, where Paul teaches believers not to be anxious but to bring their requests to God through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.
The result is that the peace of God will guard their hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Notice the principle:
We are not called to live under the control of fear and anxiety. We are called to trust our Father, remember His promises, pray, and take responsible steps in faith.
HOW SHOULD WE APPLY THIS TEACHING AS NEW CREATIONS?
As believers under the New Covenant, we must understand the difference between trying to enter the Kingdom and living according to the realities of the Kingdom.
Colossians 1:13 tells us that God has already translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son.
Therefore, we are not seeking the Kingdom as though we are outsiders trying to gain admission.
Rather, we are called to give priority to the King, His purposes, His Word and the values of His Kingdom.
Our daily lives should reflect the reality of who we have become in Christ.
We should not allow the pursuit of money, possessions, business, career, or other material interests to take the place of our relationship with God and our commitment to His purposes.
Material things have their place, but they should never become our master.
CONCLUSION: ARE YOU SEEKING THE KINGDOM OR ARE YOU
CONSUMED BY THE PURSUIT OF MATERIAL THINGS?
My dear brothers and sisters, let us return to the words of Jesus:
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
The Kingdom of God speaks of God's reign and authority.
Through Jesus Christ, we have been given access to this Kingdom.
Through the New Birth, we have become partakers of its spiritual realities.
Therefore, seeking the Kingdom first means giving priority to God's rule, purposes and righteousness rather than allowing the pursuit of material things to govern our lives.
Jesus was teaching His listeners to trust the Father's care rather than allow worry to dominate their thinking.
We must understand that trusting God does not mean abandoning our responsibilities. It means refusing to allow fear to become the driving force behind our lives.
We may not know everything about tomorrow, but we know the God who holds our future.
OUR SECURITY IS NOT IN HOW MUCH WE POSSESS, BUT IN THE FATHER WHO CARES FOR US.
SOMETHING TO REFLECT ON
If God has already translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, as Colossians 1:13 declares, should we continue to live as though we are trying to earn our place in that Kingdom?
And if Jesus instructed His listeners to seek the Kingdom first rather than become consumed by material needs, are we truly applying His teaching when the pursuit of money, possessions and worldly achievements takes priority over God's purposes?
These are questions every believer should take time to consider.
Let us understand the finished work of Christ, embrace our identity in Him, and learn to live according to the realities of His Kingdom.
Amos Iguma
Salvation Ground Ministry Int'l