In this passage, Christ continues to teach on the Kingdom and how saints live on the earth by the power of the Holy Spirit. The earth was made as a training place for saints. John the Baptist started his ministry before Christ. He gathered people who were thirsty in spirit to tell them about the light, Christ (John 1:6-8). Although the Jews had the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law, many were not taught truths of God. Instead, they were oppressed by the system. While the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law emphasize the Law, they did not keep the Law. They thought they kept the Law and were righteous before God. But Christ denied they kept the Law. They did not know God. From their point of view, Christ was a Law breaker.

“Did Moses not give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why are you seeking to kill Me?” (John 7:19)

So they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.” (John 8:19)

It is important to understand what the Law indicates. God will judge people by their actions (Psalm 62:12). But it is not the actions that matter but the heart where the actions come from. Therefore, the new covenant promises the change of the heart (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

In this passage, Christ warns His people of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law, who loved money and reputation. Others also served money instead of God. They were enslaved by sins. The people were living the life of a slave again just as their ancestors did in Egypt. God looks after even the reprobate people. In fact, the Bible talks about the evil people living a prosperous life. Although they receive wealth from God, they do not seek God or thank God. They serve money. God does not want His people to follow their ways. Our future is in the coming Kingdom.

Christ mentions two creatures in v.26 and 27 – birds and lilies. Many people boast that we are made in the image of God. But we are secondary products. The soil was made first. Then first man was created from the soil. But men were given authority to rule other creatures by God. This is God’s divine power. God gives the weakest and the least important in the world the authority to rule by His Spirit. Christ also lived as a poor man who was considered uneducated by the Pharisee and the teachers of the Law.

For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground; He has no stately form or majesty that we would look at Him, nor an appearance that we would take pleasure in Him. He was despised and abandoned by men, a man of great pain and familiar with sickness; And like one from whom people hide their faces, He was despised, and we had no regard for Him. (Isaiah 1:1-2)

Adam’s authority in the garden of Eden was only a shadow of the real authority that saint will have in the coming Kingdom. The distinctive feature of humans is that we constantly need to change our clothes. Any earthly garments wear out. We need to wear garments to keep ourselves warm and protected. Garments remind of Adam’s sin in the garden. No earthly garments can hide us from his sin and our sins. Christ came to give us the eternal garment – Himself. Garments also represent a status of a person who wears them. We are clothed with Christ.

For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (Galatians 3:27)

Because Christ knew all plans of the Father and came to fulfill all His righteousness, He assures His people that there is nothing to worry about. He warns us not to be like the Pharisees who boast about their position in the society and wealth and yet, are afraid of losing their authority (John 11:48). The position of saints is guaranteed by Christ’s death and resurrection. Saints all die someday but our real life begins when the end comes. Therefore, Christ emphasized on the Kingdom and God’s will.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (v.33)

It is not that food and clothing will be provided if I do God’s works. The Kingdom is not conditional but unconditional. Christ shows here what is the most important in the life of saints. Saints must seek to understand God’s will and pray. It is God who does all good works for His Kingdom. God uses His people at proper time for specific tasks. The Lord’s prayer summarizes all God’s will in saints. Firstly, we praise God for everything that He has done and will do. We praise Him for giving us the right to call Him our Father. Secondly, we understand God’s ultimate aim of creation is the Kingdom. We pray all His divine will to be fulfilled by the power of the Spirit. Thirdly, we thank God for providing us food for our physical and spiritual needs. We also devote ourselves to reading and studying God’s words by the Holy Spirit. We confess our idleness and stupidity and pray for God’s mercy and wisdom. Fourthly, we pray God to make us forgive those who sin against us by His power and wisdom. We confess we ourselves do not have the heart to forgive anyone. We pray that those who oppose our message may come to know God in future. Fifthly, we pray God to save us from temptations and trials. We confess our pride makes us go astray. We thank God for putting us in humble circumstances. Lastly, we confess that everything God planned before time began will come true for His glory, power, and His Kingdom. Saints will serve Him forever and ever.

Seeking God’s Kingdom and His righteousness is not doing something grand in the eyes of the world. Knowing and understanding God and His plans, and praising God for His righteousness is the most important work of saints. All God’s righteousness is summed up in Christ.

Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” (John 6:29)