Have you ever noticed that worry never travels alone? It drags tomorrow into today and brings a whole list of what-ifs along for the ride. The opening lines of Matt Maher’s “Gonna Be Alright” come almost straight from the mouth of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. But when we read those words in context, we discover Jesus wasn’t just telling us to stop worrying. He was talking about something underneath the worry: a divided heart.
We read the envelope on the Gospel of Matthew, then read Matthew 6 in context and find four pairs Jesus sets before His listeners before He ever says “do not be anxious.” Then we take the BITE of a word study on the Greek word for anxious and trace it from the Sermon on the Mount to Martha’s kitchen to Paul’s letters, where it shows up right beside the word “divided.” Grab your free Episode Guide to take these same BITEs this week.
Key Points
- Matthew 6:25 begins with “therefore.” Jesus’ teaching on anxiety is the culmination of everything before it, not an isolated lesson about managing an emotion.
- Matthew 6 moves through two audiences (vv. 1–18), two storehouses (vv. 19–21), two perspectives (vv. 22–23), and two masters (v. 24), and only then to worry. None of these pairs can coexist.
- We tend to look to money for security, peace, freedom, and fulfillment. Jesus teaches that our Father is the source of all of them.
- The Greek word for anxious (merimnaō) means to be concerned. Concern for the right things can be good (1 Corinthians 7:32; Philippians 2:20). Concern paired with unbelief and divided allegiance becomes anxiety.
- In 1 Corinthians 7:33–35, Paul places the word for anxious concern right beside the word “divided,” and calls believers to undivided devotion to the Lord.
- The Father who sees in secret is the same Father who knows what you need (Matthew 6:32). The answer to a divided heart isn’t trying harder; it’s trusting the One already paying attention to you.
- Jesus never promises there won’t be trouble (Matthew 6:34). “Gonna be alright” means God is with us, and peace in the midst of it is possible.
Scriptures Referenced
- Matthew 6:1–34
- Matthew 7:28
- Matthew 10:19
- Luke 10:41
- 1 Corinthians 7:32–35
- Philippians 4:6
- 1 Peter 5:7
- Psalm 86:11
BITEs (Bible Interaction Tool Exercises)
- Read in context: read Matthew 6:25–34, then the verses that come before it. Bonus: read Matthew 5–7 in one sitting.
- Read the envelope: who wrote Matthew, to whom, when, and where? Notice the five blocks of teaching that structure the book.
- Find the pattern: list the pairs in Matthew 6:1–24. What is each one asking you to choose between?
- Ask what “therefore” is there for: connect Matthew 6:24 to 6:25.
- Complete a word study: trace merimnaō through Matthew 6, Matthew 10:19, Luke 10:41, 1 Corinthians 7:32–35, Philippians 4:6, and 1 Peter 5:7.
“The answer to a divided heart isn’t trying harder to be undivided. It’s trusting the One who is already paying attention to you.”
Enjoy the official lyric video below.
More Than a Song Playlist
Additional Resources
- Free Episode Guide: https://michellenezat.com/547download
- How to Read the Bible Book by Book by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart (in my recommended resources on Logos)
- Holman New Testament Commentary: Matthew by Stuart K. Weber – Amazon Paid Link
- BibleProject Matthew 1–13 overview video: https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/matthew-1-13/
- BibleProject Podcast, “What Does Jesus Say About Anxiety?”: https://bibleproject.com/podcasts/what-does-jesus-say-about-anxiety/
- Bible Interaction Roadmap Bible Study – videos and assignments that will equip you with habits you can use over and over in your own Bible Study – Learn More
- Learn more about my favorite Bible Study Software with a 30-day free trial and links to my favorite Bible resources – Logos Bible Software Affiliate Link
This Week’s Challenge
First, sit down with Matthew 5–7 and read the whole Sermon on the Mount in one sitting. Watch for the pairs. Then have the money conversation with yourself. Pick the thing you worry about most and ask, “What’s important about that to me?” Keep asking until you hit the bottom. Then ask one more question: “Who or what am I trusting to give me that?” Whatever you find, bring it to the Father who already knows what you need, and pray David’s words from Psalm 86:11: “Unite my heart to fear your name.”
