Neville Goddard on Matthew 6:33

Executive Summary

According to Neville Goddard's interpretation of Matthew 6:33, seeking the Kingdom of God is an internal act. The Kingdom is the whole of creation, which exists within your own consciousness, your 'I AM'. Righteousness is not a moral quality but the specific awareness or feeling that you already are the person you want to be and possess the thing you desire. By first establishing this inner state of the wish fulfilled, all external things will then be added to your experience.

Key Concepts

• The Kingdom of God is the entire creation, and it is located within you.
• God, in this context, is your own 'I AM' or consciousness.
• Righteousness is the consciousness or awareness that you already possess what you desire; it is the feeling of the wish fulfilled.
• Seeking this inner Kingdom is contrasted with the futile pursuit of external things, like money, which you cannot take with you.

Detailed Explanation

Neville Goddard interprets the biblical instruction to "Seek ye first the kingdom of God" as a directive to turn one's attention inward. He defines the 'Kingdom of God' as the entirety of creation, which is not an external place but a reality contained within your own consciousness. God is equated with your own fundamental being, your 'I AM'. Therefore, to seek the Kingdom is to explore the infinite creative power within yourself.

The second part of the command, to seek His 'righteousness', is also given a psychological meaning. For Neville, righteousness is not about moral uprightness or good deeds. Instead, it is the specific state of awareness, the feeling, of already being the person you want to be and already having the thing you desire. It is the consciousness of the wish already being a fulfilled fact.

By prioritizing this inner work—by first entering the Kingdom within and assuming the feeling of 'righteousness'—the promise is that "all these things shall be added unto you." The external things of life, which the Father knows you need, are the automatic result of successfully achieving the required inner state. This is presented as the proper order of creation, contrasting with the common error of chasing external goals that are temporary and cannot be retained.

Important Quotes

Righteousness is the awareness that you already possess it all.

— The Power Of Awareness

Righteousness is not the thing itself; it is the consciousness, the feeling of already being the person you want to be, of already having the thing you desire.

— The Power Of Awareness

“Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven, and all these things will be added”

— No Other Gods

Related Concepts

This interpretation is fundamentally connected to Neville's core teachings:

• I AM: The source material explicitly defines God as 'your I AM', making self-awareness the center of this creative act.
• Consciousness: The Kingdom is located within consciousness, and righteousness is a specific state of consciousness.
• Wish Fulfilled: The concept of righteousness is defined as the feeling of the wish fulfilled—the awareness of already having what you desire.
• Desire: Righteousness is directly linked to the feeling of already possessing the 'thing you desire'.

Common Misunderstandings

• The Kingdom is not an external place. It is not a future reward in an afterlife but the creative sphere of your own consciousness, accessible now.
• Righteousness is not moral piety. It is a psychological state—the specific feeling and awareness of already being and having what you desire.

Practical Applications

To apply this teaching, you must shift your focus from the external world to your inner state of being. Instead of striving for things, you are to 'seek first' the feeling that you already possess them. The primary action is to assume the consciousness of your wish fulfilled. Once you have successfully established this inner awareness of 'righteousness', no further action is required to bring it about, as 'all these things shall be added unto you' as a natural consequence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 'kingdom of God' according to Neville's interpretation?

The 'kingdom of God' is the entire creation, which is located within you, in your own consciousness or 'I AM'.

What does Neville mean by 'righteousness' in Matthew 6:33?

Righteousness is not a moral state, but the specific awareness or consciousness of already being the person you want to be and possessing the thing you desire.

Why should one seek the Kingdom 'first'?

Because establishing the inner state of the wish fulfilled (righteousness) is the cause of the external effect. The 'things' are added as a consequence of achieving the correct inner state first.