King James Bible
"(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things."
Jesus contrasts his followers with Gentiles (non-Jews), who anxiously pursue material necessities like food and clothing. In first-century Jewish thought, Gentiles represented those without knowledge of God's covenant care, thus their worry about provisions was expected. The phrase emphasizes God's intimate awareness and paternal relationship with believers. Unlike earthly fathers who might be ignorant of their children's needs, the heavenly Father possesses perfect knowledge. Jesus acknowledges that physical needs are real and legitimate, not dismissing them as unimportant. This validates human necessities while redirecting trust from anxious striving to confident dependence on God's provision.