Jesus addresses worrying directly: take no thought for food, drink, and clothing, because your Father knows what you need (Matthew 6:25-33; Luke 12:22-23). The Psalms counsel against fretting (Psalm 37:1, 7-8) and picture a heart fixed, not afraid of evil tidings (Psalm 112:7).
Worrying in Scripture is often the racing mind about tomorrow's food, status, and "what if." These twelve King James passages focus on fretting and "take no thought" teaching—distinct from anxiety pages on casting cares and receiving peace.
Jesus on taking no thought
1. Matthew 6:25
"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?"
Jesus asks not to take thought for life (food) or body (clothing). Life is more than meat, and the body than raiment.
2. Matthew 6:31-33
"Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
"Take no thought" about food, drink, or clothing: seekers of the kingdom find these things added.
3. Luke 12:22-23
"And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment."
Jesus tells His disciples not to take thought for life or body. Life is more than meat, and the body than raiment.
4. Luke 10:41-42
"And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
Martha is "careful and troubled about many things"; Jesus points her to the one needful thing.
Fret not yourself
5. Psalms 37:1
"Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity."
"Fret not thyself because of evildoers." Comparing your life to the wicked's success fuels restless fretting.
6. Psalms 37:7-8
"Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil."
Rest in the LORD and wait; cease from anger. Fretting "in any wise to do evil" shows how worry can harden into sin.
7. Psalms 112:7
"He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD."
A heart fixed, trusting in the LORD, is "not afraid of evil tidings."
8. Psalms 127:2
"It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep."
It is vain to rise early and sit up late for anxious bread; the LORD gives His beloved sleep.
Redirect the worried mind
9. John 14:1
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me."
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me."
10. Isaiah 35:4
"Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you."
Say to the fearful heart: be strong, fear not; God will come and save you.
11. Proverbs 3:24
"When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet."
When you lie down, you shall not be afraid; your sleep shall be sweet.
12. Matthew 13:22
"He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful."
In the parable of the sower, "the care of this world" chokes the word.
A short prayer
Father, You know what I need before I ask. Forgive my fretting over food, status, and tomorrow. Teach me to seek Your kingdom first, to rest instead of rising in vain, and to fix my heart so I am not afraid of evil tidings. In Jesus' name, amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
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Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about worrying?
Jesus says take no thought for food, drink, and clothing, and seek first the kingdom (Matthew 6:25-33). The Psalms warn against fretting over evildoers (Psalm 37:1, 7-8).
Where does Jesus say "take no thought"?
Matthew 6:25-34 and Luke 12:22-26. It means do not be preoccupied with provision the way those without a Father are.
How is worrying different from anxiety in these pages?
This page focuses on fretting about provision and tomorrow. Our anxiety page centers on casting cares and receiving peace.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses about anxiety · Bible verses about peace · Bible verses about trusting God · Bible verses about prayer · Bible verses for strength in hard times
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