Life is more important than food VS. Body is more important than clothes

 

Life is more important than food VS. Body is more important than clothes

Matthew 6:25-26: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, or the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; since they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more valuable than they?"

Category	Life Is More Than Food	The Body Is More Than Clothing
Meaning	The Lord reveals that life (the soul-life) is more important than food; God who gives life will provide.	The body is more important than clothing; God who created the body will care for its needs.
Reason	Food sustains life, but life itself comes from God and surpasses food in value.	Clothing protects the body, but the body itself is God’s creation, far more precious.
Distinction	Life → Inner being; desires for eating and drinking.	Body → Outer being; the need for protection and covering.
Explanation	“Is not the life more than food?” (Matt. 6:25) — Kingdom people should not worry about food.	“Is not the body more than clothing?” (Matt. 6:25) — Kingdom people should not worry about clothing.
Relationship	If God gave life (the greater), He will certainly provide food (the lesser).	If God gave the body (the greater), He will surely supply clothing (the lesser).
Examples	Jesus teaches not to worry about tomorrow (Matt. 6:25–34). Elijah and the widow—flour and oil did not fail (1 Kings 17:14–16).	Israel’s clothing did not wear out for forty years (Deut. 8:4).
Application	Do not focus life on food; seek first the kingdom (Matt. 6:33). Trust God in shortages.	Do not worry about outward appearance; live simply without comparison.
Burden	To turn believers away from anxiety about material needs and toward the Lord of life.	To free believers from the pursuit of outward appearance and rely on God’s provision.
Prophetic Direction	Life is greater than food; trust the One who gave life. Do not worry—believe.	The body is greater than clothing; God cares for the whole person.
Related Scriptures	Matt. 6:25 — Do not worry about what to eat or drink. Isa. 29:8 — Soul-life desires. Matt. 6:27–28, 31, 34 — Worry cannot add to life.	Matt. 6:25, 28 — Do not worry about what to wear. Deut. 8:4 — Israel’s clothing did not wear out. Matt. 6:30 — God clothes the grass.

 

Conclusion: 

God, the source of life, will supply the needs of life; kingdom people need not worry about food.

God, the Creator of the body, will provide outward needs; kingdom people need not worry about clothing.

  

*Please refer to the May 2025 International Elders and Responsible Brothers Training, General Topic: Matthew Chapters 5-7, Week 8: Seeking First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.