Matthew 6:26

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Cross-references

Matthew 6:32 concludes the argument: God knows your needs, so don't worry like the Gentiles.

Matthew 7:9 Related theme

Matthew 7:9 uses a father-son analogy for God's goodness — building on the trust in 6:26.

Matthew 10:29-31 uses sparrows to show God's care and our greater value — the same argument Jesus makes here against worry.

Matthew 10:31 echoes the same logic: God values sparrows, so humans are worth more — reinforcing the argument from this verse.

Matthew 12:12 uses the same 'how much more valuable' argument about a sheep compared to a person — parallel reasoning about God's care.

Luke 12:24-31 expands with ravens and lilies — the same teaching not to worry about material needs.

Job 38:41 Allusion

Job 38:41 asks who feeds ravens, showing God's provision for birds — the same point Jesus uses to argue against worry.

Luke 12:7 Parallel

Luke 12:7 adds that God numbers hairs — we are more valuable than sparrows, deepening the trust lesson.

Psalm 104:27 states all creatures look to God for food — exactly the truth Jesus uses: God feeds birds, so we need not worry.

Psalm 104:28 depicts God opening His hand to feed all creatures — the same provision Jesus points to with the birds.

Psalm 145:15 shows all creatures looking to God for food — reinforcing Jesus' teaching on trust for daily needs.

Psalm 145:16 continues: God satisfies every living thing — directly parallel to the Father feeding birds.

Psalm 147:9 Allusion

Psalm 147:9 specifically mentions God feeding ravens — an OT example of the same care Jesus describes.

Luke 12:6 Parallel

Luke 12:6 uses the sparrow example to show God's care for the small — the same logic as the birds in Matthew.

1 Peter 5:7 Allusion

In 1 Peter 5:7, believers are told to cast anxieties on God because He cares—directly echoing Jesus' point about God's provision for birds and people.

Proverbs 6:6 praises the ant's diligent storing — contrasting with Jesus' example of birds that do not store yet God provides.

Psalm 50:11 Related theme

Psalm 50:11 declares God's intimate knowledge of every bird — reinforcing that the Father who feeds birds knows them fully.

In 1 Corinthians 9:9, Paul uses God's care for oxen to argue He cares more for workers—parallel to birds illustrating God's greater care for people.

Genesis 1:29-31 establishes God's provision of food for all creatures at creation, grounding Jesus' point that God feeds birds.

Deuteronomy 28:8 promises blessing on barns and work — contrasting with Jesus' point that God provides without storing in barns.