John Gill Commentary Matthew 6:34

John Gill Commentary

Matthew 6:34

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
John Gill
John Gill

John Gill Commentary

Matthew 6:34

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
SCRIPTURE

"Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." — Matthew 6:34 (ASV)

Take therefore no thought for the morrow
Reference is had to (Proverbs 27:1) . "Boast not of yourself tomorrow": a man cannot promise or assure himself, that he shall have a morrow, and therefore it is great weakness and folly to be anxiously thoughtful about it. This is expressed in the Talmud F19 , nearer the sense of Christ's words, after this manner:

``(rxm tru rut la) , "do not distress yourself with tomorrow's affliction, for you know not what a day may bring forth"; perhaps tomorrow may not be, and you will be found distressing yourself, for the time which is nothing to you.'' And should it come, it is unnecessary to be thoughtful of it in a distressing manner before hand;

for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself .
The morrow is here introduced by a "prosopopeia", as if it was a person sufficiently thoughtful and careful for the necessaries of it: every day brings along with it fresh care and thought, being attended with fresh wants and troubles; and therefore, it is very unadvisable, to bring the cares and troubles of two days upon one; as he does, who is anxiously concerned today, for the things of tomorrow;

sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof .
This proverb is thus expressed in the Talmud F20 , (htevb hrul hyd) , "sufficient for distress", or "vexation, is the present time"; which the gloss explains thus:

``sufficient for the vexation it is, that men should grieve for it, at the time that it comes upon them.'' It is very wrong to anticipate trouble, or meet it before hand; if it was for no other reason but this, that every day's trouble is enough, and should not be needlessly added to, by an over concern what shall be done for tomorrow; or how shall the necessities of it be answered, or the trials of it be endured.


FOOTNOTES:

  • F19: T. Bab. Sanhedrim, fol. 100. 2.
  • F20: T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 9. 2.