Life is more important than food VS. Body is more important than
clothes
Matthew
6:25-26: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, or the body more than clothes?
Look at the birds of the air; since they do not sow or reap or store away in
barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not more valuable than they?"
|
Category |
Life Is More Than Food |
The Body Is
More Than Clothing |
|
Meaning |
The Lord
reveals that life (the soul-life) is more important than food; God who
gives life will provide. |
The body is
more important than clothing; God who created the body will care
for its needs. |
|
Reason |
Food sustains
life,
but life itself comes from God and surpasses food in value. |
Clothing
protects the body, but the body itself is God’s creation, far more precious. |
|
Distinction |
Life → Inner being; desires for eating and drinking. |
Body → Outer being; the need for protection and covering. |
|
Explanation |
“Is not the
life more than food?” (Matt. 6:25) — Kingdom people should not
worry about food. |
“Is
not the body more than clothing?” (Matt. 6:25) — Kingdom people should not worry about clothing. |
|
Relationship |
If God gave
life (the greater), He will
certainly provide food (the lesser). |
If God gave the
body (the greater), He will
surely supply clothing (the lesser). |
|
Examples |
Jesus teaches
not to
worry about tomorrow (Matt. 6:25–34). Elijah and the
widow—flour and oil did not fail (1 Kings 17:14–16). |
Israel’s clothing
did not wear
out for forty years (Deut. 8:4). |
|
Application |
Do not focus life on food; seek first the kingdom (Matt. 6:33). Trust God in shortages. |
Do not worry about outward
appearance; live simply without comparison. |
|
Burden |
To turn
believers away from anxiety about material needs and toward the
Lord of life. |
To free
believers from the pursuit of outward appearance and rely on God’s provision. |
|
Prophetic Direction |
Life is greater
than
food; trust the One who gave life. Do not worry—believe. |
The body is
greater than clothing; God cares for the whole person. |
|
Related Scriptures |
Matt. 6:25 — Do not worry about
what to eat or drink. |
Matt. 6:25, 28 — Do not worry
about what to wear. |
Conclusion:
God, the source
of life, will supply the needs of life; kingdom people need not worry about food.
God, the
Creator of the body, will provide outward needs; kingdom people need not worry about clothing.
*Please refer to the May
2025 International Elders and Responsible Brothers Training, General Topic:
Matthew Chapters 5-7, Week 8: Seeking First the Kingdom of God and His
Righteousness.
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