Matthew 6:33

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, &c.— That is, true religion; the advantages of the kingdom of God; righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, Romans 14:17 the treasures mentioned in Matthew 6:20. Compare 1 Kings 3:11. And his righteousness, that is to say, the image of God and all the fruits thereof, springingfromtheinfinitemeritofChrist,thefountainofallrighteousness,asillustrated by the Lord Jesus Christ, and not as understood by the Pharisees. See ch. Matthew 5:6. Dr. Sykes, here, by righteousness understands the Messiah; the righteous branch, who was to rule in righteousness, and in whose days the righteous were to flourish. See Sykes on Christianity, p. 35. But the former interpretation seems most agreeable to the context. The meaning of the original word προστεθησεται is, shall be added over and above; than which expression nothing could have been more proper; for these temporal blessings are by no means essential to the stipulations of the covenant of grace, but are entirely to be referred to the divine good pleasure, to add or withhold as God shall see fit. The goods of this world ought not to be looked upon by Christians as trueand essential advantages. They should make a good use of them, if God thinks proper to bless them therewith, 1 Timothy 4:8 but if not, their duty is, to be satisfied with their own portion, whatever it is, being possessed of spiritual goods, and hoping for those that are eternal. Hebrews 11:10; Hebrews 11:13; Hebrews 11:16.