Don’t Worry (Matt. 6:24-34): Jesus identifies the great obstacle to serving God (6:24) as our worries. We worry that we won’t have enough to procure our future, for our security, comfort, control, or status. Our worries divert our attention from serving God to amassing earthly wealth (Luke 12:15). Jesus knows this about us. Thus, He quiets our anxieties (6:24).[1] He points us to the giant safety net of the living God and assures us that we need not worry if we have Him as our Father. This confidence in God frees us from our worries so that we can advance God’s works on earth. We can only pedal when we’re sure our Father’s hand is on the back of the bike. Jesus speaks to enable us to ride.

Wisely Confront (Matt. 7:1-6): What God wants on earth is saved souls. He wants more disciples for His Son (Matt. 28:19-20; Luke 16:9). The only thing on earth that will last unto eternity in heaven is saved souls. But in our zeal to lead people to Christ, we can grow impatient and manifest qualities that betray our Lord. Therefore, Jesus corrects us. We must not take the Judge’s seat and lay down the law as if we were seated on that throne.[2] We must not confront sin while overlooking our own sins (double standards). We must not become careless and undiscerning about what we are saying or to whom we are saying it. We desperately need wisdom to win souls. It’s no wonder that Jesus prescribes prayer to His disciples. We need our Father’s intervention if we are to advance His works on earth (Matt. 7:7-11).[3]

[1] Like 6:19, this is a present imperative which calls for a cessation of an action in progress. The Lord knows that we have a propensity to worry (Phil. 4:6-7; 1 Pet. 5:7).

[2] The command “Do not judge” has as its subject the hearer. Jesus is telling us not to take the seat of the Judge. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge (James 4:12; cf. also John 5:22; Acts 17:31; Rev. 20:11).

[3] For wisdom to win souls, cf. Prov. 11:30. For the need of prayer, cf. also John 14:12-14.