A Trinitarian View of Matthew 6:33
New and revised (11/27/11)
New and revised (11/27/11)
And Exegetical Consideration
The scripture
We begin with the accepted translation of 6:33: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you."
A popular Fundamentalist interpretation (it is the problem)
Speaking from a traditional Evangelical/Fundamentalist perspective, Matt 6:33 is understood in this wise:
as a call to Kingdom membership and discipleship. Our chief concern is for the Kingdom of God ( His Church) and the demand on our lives to live righteously. If we put His Church and our obedience first, the problematic concerns of the world will take care of themselves. The Church and our obedience together generate God’s blessings. How could it be any other way?
But in fact, it could be otherwise. To the degree that salvation rests upon our actions and reactions, the eschatological consequences becomes problematic, do they not? And while we do not intend to deal, fully, with that problem in this report, it does need consideration.
Matthew 6:33 – an alternative understanding [to the more traditional view as stated above].
We begin with a requisite notation or two.
But in fact, it could be otherwise. To the degree that salvation rests upon our actions and reactions, the eschatological consequences becomes problematic, do they not? And while we do not intend to deal, fully, with that problem in this report, it does need consideration.
Matthew 6:33 – an alternative understanding [to the more traditional view as stated above].
We begin with a requisite notation or two.
Jeremiah 31:31-34: Understand that Karl Barth put up this Jeremiah passage as the first of some 80,000 biblical references used in his Church Dogmatics. If we approach the Matthew passage without making note of Jeremiah 31:31-34, or, at least, the truth that comes our way through these wonderfully prophetic words, I think we will miss the point of this gospel account.
This prophetic description of the New Covenant (Jere 31:31-34) is one that allows for a dynamic inwordness (and "no," that is not a misspelling) that provides for a new and controlling interest in our lives. I believe that Barth would insist that God uses this Jeremiah passage to refocus our being in the command of God, Himself, rather than in the commandments of God. While the Law is good and perfect, it was never intended to justify.
Philippians 2:12-13: it is my opinion that this Philippians passage is an exacting parallel to the Jeremiah description. We are driven by a very certain inwordness that bespeaks the source of our existence.
With these two passages as requisite considerations, we come back to the Matthew passage.
What if Matthew 6:33 is a parallel thought to Jeremiah 31: 31-34 and Philippians 2:12-13. I rather believe it is.
What if Matthew 6:33 is a parallel thought to Jeremiah 31: 31-34 and Philippians 2:12-13. I rather believe it is.
For what it is worth, here is how I read Matthew 6:33
An Alternative interpretation:
Assume that “Kingdom" as used in the Matthew passage , has more to do with “the authority and power and rule and majesty belonging to God, emanating from Him and shared with his creation” than it has to do with an entity called the Church. In brief and in this case, "kingdom" is used to imply the "sovereign rule and authority" of God. Jesus is telling all who listen to
“seek first (and foremost) the sovereign rule and authority” of God in your life.
But that is not the end of the matter. We are to seek his sovereign rule in our lives as we are to seek out his righteous activity. And here is where I may have a certain difficulty in making my point:
But that is not the end of the matter. We are to seek his sovereign rule in our lives as we are to seek out his righteous activity. And here is where I may have a certain difficulty in making my point:
The traditional phraseology reads, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness . . . ." What is righteousness if not “righteous activity?" Typically speaking, and without considering the need for grace, I am not righteous because I think myself righteous. I am considered righteous because I act righteously. Being righteous and acting righteously are concepts inextricably joined. True for mankind; true for God. When we speak of "righteousness," we include the notion of [righteous] function whether we put it in those words or not.
I see the phrase "the righteousness of God" as referencing His function - or to use the redundancy, "His righteous function or activity. "
Perhaps, then, Christ is asking us all to make the quest for God’s rule and His activity in, around and through our lives, as our highest priority. . I surrender to His sovereign rule in my life and look for His activity in my world. In other words, we submit to His will and come along side His action. All else will be provided us in the context of this search and partnership with our Creator.
Seek ye first and foremost, the sovereign rule and authority of God in your life as you look for His activity in your world, and life's blessings will be added unto you.
© J Smithson
Barth and the Boys
Originally written July 12.2009
See this related article: you will find a little repetition, but this "related article" is more the application of the above exegesis.
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