For all these things are what the nations of the world eagerly seek; and your Father knows that you need 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.
- KJV For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of 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.
- 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 6:32For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
- Matt 6:8Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him.
- Eph 4:17This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,
- Luke 12:32Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.
- 1 Pet 4:2–4that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
- Matt 18:14Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
- 1 Th 4:5not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who don’t know God;
- Matt 10:20For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
- Matt 5:47If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?
- John 20:17Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold me, for I haven’t yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brothers, and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
- Matt 6:1“Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.