The short version
For 2026, the church has chosen Matthew 6:33 as its year text because it captures Jesus’ call to put God first in everyday life. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus urges his followers to seek God’s kingdom and righteous living rather than being consumed by anxiety about material needs.
The verse aligns with the church’s vision of joining God in his mission and reflects key themes in Matthew’s Gospel. “All these things” refers to the basic necessities of life, which Jesus says God knows and will provide. Throughout the year, this text will guide teaching and discipleship, encouraging trust in God and a re-ordering of priorities around what truly matters.
The long version
Our Year Text for 2026: Matthew 6:33
For 2026, our church has chosen Matthew 6:33 as our year text:
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
We have chosen this verse because it brings together a clear call from Jesus, a promise from God, and a focus that shapes how we live as disciples today.
Why This Verse?
Matthew 6:33 comes from the Sermon on the Mount, early in Jesus’ ministry, where he teaches about everyday life, worry, faith, and what truly matters. In this passage, Jesus challenges people not to be consumed by anxiety about food, drink, and clothing — the basic necessities of life — but instead to put God first.
This verse fits naturally with our church’s vision of joining God in his mission to save all people. To seek God’s kingdom and righteousness is to align ourselves with what God is already doing in the world: reconciling people to himself and bringing life, hope, and restoration.
It also reflects two major themes that run throughout Matthew’s Gospel: the kingdom of God and righteousness. As we spend the year working through Matthew together, this verse will guide our teaching, our worship, and our discipleship.
What Does It Mean to “Seek First”?
To seek is an active word. It means putting effort into discovering, pursuing, and prioritising what matters most. Jesus calls us to seek God’s kingdom — God at work in the world, his will being done on earth — and his righteousness, which is living rightly in relationship with God and with others.
This isn’t about escaping the world, but about allowing God’s will, love, and purposes to shape our lives, our church, and our community.
What Are “All These Things”?
The phrase “all these things” refers to the everyday needs Jesus has just been speaking about: food, drink, and clothing — the basic necessities of life. Jesus is not promising wealth or ease, nor is he saying that faithful people will never experience hardship. Rather, he is assuring us that God knows what we need and can be trusted to provide.
The call is not to ignore practical needs, but to stop being ruled by anxiety and fear. When we focus first on God’s kingdom and live faithfully before him, we learn to trust God with the rest.
A Year of Focus
This year text challenges us to re-order our priorities. It invites us to look beyond worry and self-preoccupation and instead to give our attention to what God is doing — in the world and in us. As we journey through Matthew’s Gospel together, we will keep returning to this call:
To seek first God’s kingdom.
To live in his righteousness.
And to trust him with everything else.