What’s the annual verse of 2021 and what does it mean?

As the year of 2021 has just passed, are you curious about what was the most read verse of 2021? Youversion community just revealed the answer of the verse of the year, which was the verse most highlighted, shared and bookmarked through the whole year. The annual verse of 2021 is 

Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

The meaning of Matthew 6:33

When Jesus said to his disciples to “seek first the Kingdom of God”, it’s in the context of his teaching on worry, particularly regarding life basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, and the like. This part belongs to the Sermon on the Mount, as the most powerful teaching, because Jesus clearly demonstrated the difference between living in the old covenant and the new covenant; He was referring to His later work on the cross.

Life was most about striving, being hardworking, and striving to survive because sin had separated all human beings from the abundant provision of God. It was cursed with painful working. People were also required to live under the law of Moses. And no one was able to perfectly execute. This was the situation before Jesus came with a new world, the Kingdom of God.

Jesus reconciled humanity to God through His death on the cross and resurrection. In this part of Scripture, Jesus was trying to teach them how this new Kingdom would work. He compared life in the Kingdom and the life they were living at that moment in Matthew 6:25-32:

 “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, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?  And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”

“Seek first his kingdom” is an invitation to a new life. Instead of earning everything in their lives, Jesus invited his disciples to live a life by faith and grace not because of what they’ve done. So what we can learn from this verse now is that you look to God and His Kingdom first for everything you in your life, not just your daily provision but also your family, work, minds, and literally everything. As you correct the order and keep God in the center of your life, “all these things will be added to you.”

What Is the Context of Matthew 6:33?

To understand this Bible verse, it’s important to explore further the larger context of this part in the book of Matthew. Actually, this verse situates itself in the middle of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount,” which is in the book of Matthew between chapters 5-7. There Jesus shared a variety of his teachings on topics regarding divorce, prayer, revenge, swearing oaths, adultery, murder, giving to the needy, the Law, and so on. 

Among all of these vivid subjects, he showed a difference between life in the Kingdom of God and the life of this world. He told people there was a new reality available to them in the Kingdom of God. Sooner they are no longer their own and live a life focusing only on themselves, but they can enter the Kingdom of God and have every need. It is truly a good news for people 2000 years ago and for us today.

Any danger for being too heavenly-minded for me?

Some people may ask about when it comes to seeking first the Kingdom of God as if doing so encourages people to take their minds off of earthly things and care only about the spiritual life. In fact, these kinds of doubts reveal a fundamental misunderstanding of his Kingdom.

The Kingdom of God which Jesus talked about on the Mount of Sermons is a Kingdom that lives inside of every believer. Putting God first and in the center of life is the real way to live an abundant life, as we know He created everything. And God doesn’t call all Christians to be pastors or missionaries. Most of His disciples on this Earth follow him while working in all kinds of positions. So God’s will for each of us is to honor him in everything we do and trust him no matter in what kinds of situations and stages of life.

God is greater than the highs and lows. 

Hymn