And seek not you what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, neither be you of doubtful mind.
seek.
Luke 12:22 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.
Luke 10:7,8 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house…
Luke 22:35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.
neither, etc.
Do not worry about it.
The repetition of the command not to worry underscores the importance of faith over fear. Worry, in this context, is seen as a lack of trust in God's provision and care. Historically, the audience of Jesus' time faced uncertainties similar to those today, such as political instability and economic hardship. Jesus' message is timeless, encouraging believers to shift their focus from earthly concerns to spiritual priorities. This aligns with Philippians 4:6-7, where Paul advises believers to present their requests to God with thanksgiving, resulting in the peace of God guarding their hearts and minds. The call to avoid worry is a call to live in the present, trusting in God's plan and provision, and is a reflection of the peace that comes from a relationship with Christ, who is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
Jesus is addressing the basic fear of not having enough. His command is tender but firm: “And do not be concerned about what you will eat” (Luke 12:29).
• God has a track record of daily provision. In Exodus 16:4 He promises, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you.”
• David testifies in Psalm 37:25, “I have not seen the righteous abandoned or his children begging bread.”
• Jesus repeats the theme in Matthew 6:25: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink;” making clear that food security is ultimately God’s responsibility, not ours.
Practical take-away:
– Work hard, but refuse to let food concerns dominate your thoughts.
– View every meal as a fresh reminder that the Father keeps His word.
The second everyday need—water—points to both physical and spiritual sustenance.
• Isaiah 55:1 invites, “Come, all you who thirst, come to the waters,” highlighting God’s open-handed generosity.
• Jesus deepens the promise in John 4:14: “Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.”
• Together these verses assure us that the One who satisfies the soul will also meet bodily needs.
Practical take-away:
– When anxiety rises, rehearse God’s faithfulness instead of rehearsing worst-case scenarios.
– Let every sip of water remind you that the Lord’s care reaches the smallest details.
The closing line seals the command against anxiety: “Do not worry about it” (Luke 12:29).
• Philippians 4:6 counsels, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving.”
• 1 Peter 5:7 urges, “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”
• Jesus explains the logic in Matthew 6:32-33: “Your Father knows you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God.”
Practical take-away:
– Worry is barred because the Father’s care is already pledged.
– Replace anxious thoughts with active seeking of God’s kingdom—prayer, obedience, generosity.
Luke 12:29 calls believers to rest in the Father’s faithful provision. Food and drink are daily reminders that God sees, knows, and supplies. By trusting Him, we trade chronic worry for confident pursuit of His kingdom, assured that every genuine need will be met in His perfect timing.
Verse 29. - And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink. Again, after the moving, touching words we have been commenting on, does the Lord return to the pressing injunction with which he began his lessons to his disciples upon the parable of the "rich fool." Trouble not yourselves about your eating and drinking. This repeated insistence of the Master upon this point in the future lives of his disciples has evidently a deeper significance than a mere injunction to cast all their care on him, and not to be over-anxious about their poor earthly maintenance. This was, of course, the first lesson they had to learn from these words; but beneath all this they could, and no doubt often in later days did, read in the words a clear expression of their dear Lord's will in favor of the utmost simplicity in all matters of food and drink. His own must be marked men here, ever frugal and temperate even to abstemiousness. It is a grave question whether his Church has ever fully grasped the Master's meaning here. Neither be ye of doubtful mind; literally, do not toss about like boats in the offing (so Dr. Farrar very happily). The word is not found elsewhere in New Testament writers, but it is known in classic writers. Its use here is one of the many signs of St. Luke's high culture.