Sermon on Mount, law and fulfillment, visible and hidden, temporary and permanent, worry and trust
Matthew 6:32 For after all these things do the Gentiles seek: for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Matthew 6:32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
Because all those things the foreigners pursue. Because He knows, that Father of yours, the sky one, that you folks lack these all the same.
The Divine knows what we need better than we do.
This verse is another example of how Jesus's words are understood as spoken answers to questions than a monologue (see this article). In this case, he seems to be answering two different but related questions. Each answer begins with a "for" or "because." One is about the value of things and the other about what the Father knows.
Jesus begins the verse with the common word for "all" and ends it with an unusual adjective (used only four times) translated again simply as "all, " which means "all the same." The ending word clearly refers to the word that begins the sentence, but the beginning of the verse is especially tricky because the "all these" could refer to "the nations" as well as the things sought. The beginning phrase "all these things" is reverse at the end of the verbs, "these things, all the same."
In Matthew 6:8, Jesus reminds us that God knows what we "want" or "desire" before we ask for it in prayer. In this verse, he uses a different Greek word, an uncommon one, that describes what we "need" or more precisely "lack."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "heavenly" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "Father" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "all" is not the same word "all" that starts the sentence.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "pagans" should be something more like "nations."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "heavenly" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "Father" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "all" is not the same word "all" that starts the sentence.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "them" should be something more like "these."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "all the same things" is not shown in the English translation.
For - The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or an explanation, "since" or "because."
after -- This is from the prefix of the verb, which means "on," "over," "upon," "against," "before," "after," "during," or "by."
all - The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all," "the whole," "every," and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything." It is in the form to modify "these things."
these things - The "these things" is a pronoun that can mean "this" or "that," the nearer or the further depending on usage. It is not typically used as an adjective. Since it is plural, neutral, "these things" captures it.
do -- This helping verb is used to create commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in English, but the Greek could be either a question or a statement.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
Gentiles -- The word translated as "Gentiles" means "a group of people living together," a nation, a tribe, or a cast of people. Later it came to mean "barbarous nations" similar to our idea of ethnic people. Jesus uses it to refer to nations other than Judea, that is the non-Jewish people. However, more broadly, it means those who do not concern themselves with God. This verse is the first use of this Greek term in the Gospel.
seek: - The Greek term translated as "seek after" means "seek after," "wish for," and "miss." The latter two meanings overlap with the verb at the end of this verse that the KJV translates as "need." This verb is in the present tense. In the following verse, the Greek root of this word is translated as "seek" in the KJV but Christ uses it more like we use "aim." This version of that word has the prefix that means "on," "at," or "upon," so "aim at" or "focus on" is the closest in English. This version of the word is used only negatively by Jesus.
for --The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause."
your -- The word translated as "your" is a plural, second-person pronoun in the genitive case. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
heavenly -- "Heavenly" is not the noun form but the adjective, "heavenly" \introduced by an article, "the heavenly" or "the heavenly one." This is one of two times Jesus uses this adjective instead of the noun usually in the plural, "heavens." The word translated as "heaven" was the word used by the Greeks to refer to the universe outside of the planet. See this article for more perspective on the word and how Jesus uses it.
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
Father -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers." It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.
knoweth - The verb translated as "knoweth" means "to see" but it is used like we use the word "see" to mean "to know" or "to perceive." It is not, however, in the present tense but in form of an action completed in the past, "has seen."
that - The word translated as "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause.
ye -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
have need - The verb translated as "have need" means "want," "lack," "have need of," and "desire." Again, it is in the present tense. Notice how its meaning overlaps with the earlier verb translated as "seek after." The KJV doesn't reflect this, but it seems important. Both "need" and "want" combine its sense of a lack and a desire.
of -- This word "of" comes from the genitive case of the following word that required the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession.
all -- (CW) The term translated as "all" includes several senses of "everything," "all possible," and "everything." It is the common word for "all," preceded by a prefix means "the same." Jesus only uses it four times,
these things. - "These things" is a demonstrative pronoun that means "this," "here," "the nearer," and "the familiar." It is the possessive form of the word that starts the verse. It comes before the "all."
For - The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or an explanation, "since" or "because."
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
pagans -- (WW) The word translated as "pagans " means "a group of people living together," a nation, a tribe, or a cast of people. Later it came to mean "barbarous nations" similar to our idea of ethnic people. Jesus uses it to refer to nations other than Judea, that is the non-Jewish people. However, more broadly, it means those who do not concern themselves with God. This verse is the first use of this Greek term in the Gospel
run - (WW) The Greek term translated as "run after" means "seek after," "wish for," and "miss." The latter two meanings overlap with the verb at the end of this verse that the KJV translates as "need." This verb is in the present tense. In the following verse, the Greek root of this word is translated as "seek" in the KJV but Christ uses it more like we use "aim." This version of that word has the prefix that means "on," "at," or "upon," so "aim at" or "focus on" is the closest in English. This version of the word is used only negatively by Jesus.
after -- This is from the prefix of the verb, which means "on," "over," "upon," "against," "before," "after," "during," or "by."
all - The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all," "the whole," "every," and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything." It is in the form to modify "these things."
these things - The "these things" is a pronoun that can mean "this" or "that," the nearer or the further depending on usage. It is not typically used as an adjective. Since it is plural, neutral, "these things" captures it.
and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
and -- (WW) The word translated as "and" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause."
your -- The word translated as "your" is a plural, second-person pronoun in the genitive case. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
heavenly -- "Heavenly" is not the noun form but the adjective, "heavenly" \introduced by an article, "the heavenly" or "the heavenly one." This is one of two times Jesus uses this adjective instead of the noun usually in the plural, "heavens." The word translated as "heaven" was the word used by the Greeks to refer to the universe outside of the planet. See this article for more perspective on the word and how Jesus uses it.
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
Father -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers." It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.
knows - The verb translated as "knows" means "to see" but it is used like we use the word "see" to mean "to know" or "to perceive." It is not, however, in the present tense but in form of an action completed in the past, "has seen."
that - The word translated as "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause.
you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
need - The verb translated as "have need" means "want," "lack," "have need of," and "desire." Again, it is in the present tense. Notice how its meaning overlaps with the earlier verb translated as "seek after." The KJV doesn't reflect this, but it seems important. Both "need" and "want" combine its sense of a lack and a desire.
them. - (WW) "Them" is a demonstrative pronoun that means "this," "here," "the nearer," and "the familiar." It is the possessive form of the word that starts the verse. It comes before the "all."
missing "all the same things"-- (MW) The untranslated word "all the same things" includes several senses of "everything," "all possible," and "everything." It is the common word for "all," preceded by a prefix means "the same." Jesus only uses it four times,
πάντα (adj pl neut acc ) "All" is from pas, which means "all," "the whole," "every," "anyone," "all kinds," and "anything."
γὰρ (adv) "For" comes from gar which is the introduction of a clause explaining a reason or explanation: "for," "since," and "as." In an abrupt question it means "why" and "what."
ταῦτα (adj pl neut acc) "These things" is from tauta, which is a referring pronoun meaning "these," "this," "that," and "here." It can mean the nearer or the further depending on usage. As an adverb it can mean "therefore" and "that is why."
τὰ (article pl neut nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
ἔθνη (noun pl neut nom) "Gentiles" is from ethnos, which means "a number of people living together," "company," "body of men," "tribe," "a people," "nation," and (later) "foreign, barbarous nations."
ἐπιζητοῦσιν: [4 verses](3rd pl pres ind act) "Seek after" is from epizeteo, which means "seek after," "wish for," "miss," "request," desire" and "demand" as well as searching for something.
οἶδεν (3rd sg perf ind act) "Seeth is from eido which means "to see," "to examine," "to perceive," "to behold," "to know how to do," "to see with the mind's eye," and "to know."
γὰρ (adv) "For" comes from gar which is the introduction of a clause explaining a reason or explanation: "for," "since," and "as." In an abrupt question it means "why" and "what."
ὁ (article g masc nom) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). --
πατὴρ (noun sg masc nom) "The Father" is from pater, which means "father," "grandfather," "author," "parent," and "forefathers."
ὑμῶν (pron 2nd pl gen) "Your" is from humon, which is a plural form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you."
ὁ (article g masc nom) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
ὁοὐράνιος [7 verses](adj sg masc nom) "Heavenly" is ouranios, which is the adjective form of heaven meaning means "heavenly," dwelling in heaven " and as a metaphor, "colossal."
ὅτι (pron sg neut acc) "That" is from hoti, which introduces a statement of fact "with regard to the fact that," "seeing that," and acts as a causal adverb meaning "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."
χρῄζετε [3 verses](verb 2nd pl pres ind act) "Have need" is from chrezo, which means "want," "lack," "have need of," "desire," "long for," "crave," "if one will," "if one chooses," and, as an adjective, "needy," and "poor."
τούτων (adj pl neut gen) "These things" is from touto, which means "from here," "from there," "this [thing]," or "that [thing]."
ἁπάντων. [4 verses]](adj pl neut gen) "Of all" is from hapas, which means "quite all," "the whole," "all together," "all possible," "absolute," "every one," "everything," "every," "in any cause whatever," "in every matter," and (as an adverb) "altogether." It is the common word for "all," pas, preceded by a prefix ha- that means "same,"
The word "seek" and "need" have many overlapping meanings in Greek.
Christ uses contrasting tense to emphasize that we feel our needs now but that God has seen them all before.
“How can we know that the Divine doesn’t want us to seek after these things?” Rivquah challenged.
“Because all those things?” the Teacher responded happily. “The foreigners seek after!”
For very different reasons, both the Judeans and non-Judeans applauded the Master’s answer. The Judeans were proud of being more spiritual than the foreigners. The foreigners proud of being more practical than Judeans.
“But if we depend on Him, why shouldn’t we tell your sky Father everything we want?”the woman asked.
“Because He has seen, that Father of yours,” the Teacher answered talking to all of us, “the sky one, that you all lack these things, all of them.”