For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
Parallel translations
- WEB For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things.
- BSB For the Gentiles of the world strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.
- NKJV For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.
- NASB For all these things are what the nations of the world eagerly seek; and your Father knows that you need these things.
- NLT These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The unbelieving nations chase after these things, but your Father knows you need them. Anxious pursuit of provision befits those who do not know God as Father.
Overview
Jesus contrasts the worry-driven life of the pagan world with the trusting life of those who know God as Father. The key difference is relationship: believers have a Father who already knows and cares for their needs. This intimate knowledge of God is meant to dissolve anxiety and free His children to live by faith.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Matt 6:32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
- Matt 6:8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
- Eph 4:17This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
- Luke 12:32Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
- 1 Pet 4:2–4That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
- Matt 18:14Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
- 1 Th 4:5Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
- Matt 10:20For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
- Matt 5:47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
- John 20:17Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
- Matt 6:1Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 12:30 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.