Matthew 6:25-34

Greek Key Terms:

• G3309 μεριμνάω (merimnao) - to be anxious, worry
• G5315 φαγεῖν (phagein) - to eat
• G2068 ἐσθίω (esthio) - to eat
• G932 βασιλεία (basileia) - kingdom
• G1343 δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosyne) - righteousness

Context: Matthew 6:25-26, 31-33: "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious (μὴ μεριμνᾶτε) about your life, what you will eat (φάγητε)... Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them... Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?'... But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

OT-to-OT Development:

• Jesus echoes Leviticus 25:20: "What shall we eat in the seventh year?"
• Same question, same divine answer: trust and provision
• Sabbatical year faith extended to daily discipleship

Connections:

• TO: Leviticus 25:20-22 - "What shall we eat?" with divine promise
• TO: Exodus 16:4-5 - Daily manna provision
• TO: Deuteronomy 8:3 - Man lives by every word from God
• FROM NT: Philippians 4:6-7 - Be anxious for nothing
• FROM NT: 1 Peter 5:7 - Cast all anxieties on him

Christological Connection: Jesus answers the sabbatical year question ("What shall we eat?") with Himself. As God promised supernatural provision in the sixth year, Jesus promises that the Father "knows you need" all these things. The sabbatical year required faith for one year in seven; Christ calls disciples to perpetual faith. "Seek first the kingdom" is the sabbatical year principle made permanent - trust God's provision, obey His commands, receive His blessing.

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Trajectory: Sabbatical Year

Connection Method(s): Typology (Direct, Backward-Looking), Analogy — Christ answers the sabbatical year question "What shall we eat?" (Lev 25:20) by making the trust principle permanent: seek first the kingdom and the Father will provide.

Trajectory Table: 135 - Sabbatical Year (Land Rest and Trust)