Luke 12:31 (DRB)

Passage

But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his justice: and all these things shall be added unto you.

Nearby Context

Luke 12:29 And seek not what you shall eat or what you shall drink: and be not lifted up on high.

Luke 12:30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek. But your Father knoweth that you have need of these things.

Luke 12:31 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his justice: and all these things shall be added unto you.

Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock, for it hath pleased your Father to give you a kingdom.

Luke 12:33 Sell what you possess and give alms. Make to yourselves bags which grow not old, a treasure in heaven which faileth not: where no thief approacheth, nor moth corrupteth.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "seek", "first", "kingdom", "justice", "things", "shall", and "added". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "seek" and "first", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 30's "For all these things do the nations..." into verse 32's "Fear not little flock for it hath...", so "seek" and "first" belong inside that flow. In Luke context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "seek" and "first" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.