Matthew 6:33 Does Not Mean What This ‘Prophet’ Claims – A Biblical Response
I read a very disturbing interpretation of Matthew 6:33 today on FB.
This article addresses a public teaching that has been shared under the label “Prophetic Word.” The focus is on correcting the doctrine, not attacking the individual personally. As believers, we are called to test all teachings against Scripture (1 John 4:1) and to expose false interpretations that lead others astray — especially when they are presented as coming from God (Deuteronomy 18:20–22; Jeremiah 23:16). The aim here is truth in love, not debate or division.
A man who calls himself a prophet publicly claimed that “seek first the Kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33) refers to the national Kingdom of Israel, and that this “kingdom” is founded on the baptism formula found in Acts 2:38, specifically, baptism in the Name of Jesus only. He goes on to argue that baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is false, and not part of true salvation. He ties these ideas to various verses, misusing them as confirmation for his interpretation. (You can read the true Biblical meaning of Baptism here)
According to his Facebook profile, he claims to be a prophet. By placing his interpretations under the label “Profetiese Woord” (Afrikaans for “Prophetic Word”), he claims divine insight, presenting his interpretations as divinely inspired. He implies that his words carry divine authority, and positions himself as a mouthpiece for God, and promoting his teachings as prophetic revelation. This meets the biblical definition of someone claiming to speak in God’s Name (see Deuteronomy 18:20–22; Jeremiah 23:16).
Such claims must be tested, not accepted blindly. Especially when the teaching contradicts the clear meaning of Scripture.
Therefore, I am rightfully justified in referring to him as someone claiming to be a prophet, and in publicly testing his words according to Scripture, as 1 John 4:1 commands:
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
📖 The true message and meaning of Matthew 6:33
Now that we have seen how this so-called prophetic interpretation distorts the meaning of Jesus’ words, let’s return to the true context and message of Matthew 6:33, as Jesus Himself intended.
📖 What Did Jesus Really Mean by “Seek First the Kingdom of God”?
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
— Matthew 6:33
To understand this verse properly, we must read it in context, and not rip it from the middle of Jesus’ teaching and force another doctrine onto it.
Matthew 6 is part of the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5–7), where Jesus addresses the heart of obedience, the danger of hypocrisy, and the call to live with full trust in God, not like the Pharisees who loved outward religion but lacked inward righteousness.
🛑 What Jesus Was Not Saying:
- He was not speaking about the nation of Israel.
- He was not teaching about baptism formulas.
- He was not laying out a ritual or doctrinal checklist.
- He was certainly not implying that seeking God’s Kingdom meant joining a group with the “correct” baptism wording.
✅ What Jesus Was Teaching:
Jesus was telling His followers not to be anxious about daily needs (Matthew 6:25–32). Instead of chasing food, clothing, and security like the world does, we are called to pursue God’s reign and righteousness above all.
🔹 “Seek first the Kingdom of God” means:
- Submit to God’s rule in your life.
- Desire His will over your own.
- Live for His purposes, not worldly comfort.
(See Luke 17:20–21, “The Kingdom of God is within you.”)
🔹 “And His righteousness” means:
- Living in right standing with God.
- Practicing righteousness from the heart, not just external rules.
- Walking in obedience out of love and trust.
As Jesus said earlier in the sermon:
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)
And:
“Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom.” (Matthew 5:20)
This is not about baptism formulas.
It is about your heart, your obedience, and your relationship with God.
📌 The Promise:
If you seek God’s reign and righteousness first, everything else you need will be added — not everything you want, but everything your Father knows you truly need (Matthew 6:32).
❌ Why His Interpretation Is Completely Unbiblical and Misleading
The interpretation of the self-proclaimed ‘prophet’ we examined earlier does exactly what Scripture warns against: twisting God’s Word to promote man-made doctrine. It is not only taken out of context, it is dangerous.
Here are the reasons why:
1. 🚫 Matthew 6:33 Has Nothing to Do With Baptism
There is no mention of baptism in Matthew 6, and certainly no mention of Acts 2:38. Jesus is teaching about trusting God, rejecting anxiety, and pursuing God’s reign and righteousness above material needs. To force a completely unrelated doctrine, of baptism in Jesus’ Name only, into this passage is spiritual dishonesty and doctrinal abuse.
2. ⚠️ Linking the “Kingdom of God” to National Israel Is False
The author tries to connect Matthew 6:33 to Acts 1:6–8, where the disciples ask if Jesus will now restore the kingdom to Israel. But Jesus corrects them, saying “It is not for you to know the times…” and then redirects them to spiritual mission, not political restoration.
Jesus was not establishing a political or national kingdom. His Kingdom is spiritual, not of this world (John 18:36).
“The Kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed… the Kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20–21)
3. 🔁 Rejecting the Trinitarian Formula Is a Rejection of Jesus’ Own Words
The claim that baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is invalid directly contradicts Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:19:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (read the true Biblical meaning of Baptism here)
To elevate Acts 2:38 above Jesus’ own words is not submission to Scripture. It is rebellion disguised as revelation. The early church did baptize “in the name of Jesus,” but this meant under His authority, not excluding the fullness of the Triune God.
4. 🧩 Scripture Should Interpret Scripture — Not Be Pulled Apart
He strings together random verses (Isaiah 1, Mark 16, John 10) to prop up his argument. But none of these passages are about Matthew 6:33. This approach is a classic tactic of false teachers: cherry-picking disconnected verses to sound authoritative while ignoring context.
5. 🛑 Claiming Prophetic Authority While Teaching Error Is Serious
By calling his posts “Prophetic Word,” he puts himself in the position of speaking for God, but what he speaks completely contradicts what God has already said.
“Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with false hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord.”
— Jeremiah 23:16
Such individuals are not harmless!
They lead people away from truth, confuse new believers, and place human doctrine above divine revelation.
Final Call: Return to the Truth of Jesus’ Words
The words of Jesus in Matthew 6:33 are not mysterious or hidden. His words are a clear call to put God’s will, His reign, and His righteousness first in our lives, above worry, ritual, or man-made religion.
They are not about political Israel or baptismal formulas. They are about obedient trust in a holy God.
This is why we must test every so-called prophetic word, every teaching, and every interpretation. Not everyone who quotes Scripture speaks for God. And not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” will enter the Kingdom (Matthew 7:21–23).
“If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
— John 8:31–32
Let us cling to what Jesus actually said, in its proper context, and reject every distortion that leads us away from Him.
Closing Blessing
May your heart be anchored in the Word of God.
May your discernment be sharpened by the Spirit of Truth.
And may your walk reflect true righteousness. Not by ritual, but by repentance, faith, and obedience to Christ alone.
Grace and peace to you in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
May your heart be circumcised, your life buried with Christ, and your walk reflect His truth, in repentance, in the Spirit, and in love.
-Prof. Francois –