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Interpreting Matthew 6:19-21 on Treasures and Riches

Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:19-21, part of the Sermon on the Mount, instructs his followers on the proper perspective toward material wealth: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21 ESV). This passage emphasizes a fundamental choice between earthly and heavenly priorities.

This teaching is situated within a larger section of Matthew's Gospel (Matthew 6:19-34) that illustrates the righteousness expected of those in God's kingdom, focusing on heavenly-mindedness and trust in God [8]. Jesus warns against worldly-mindedness, which he identifies as a common and dangerous form of hypocrisy [7]. The passage immediately precedes Jesus' warning against serving two masters, God and "money" (often translated from the Aramaic term "mammon," referring to profits or material possessions) [6].

The concept of "treasures on earth" refers to material possessions that are inherently temporary and vulnerable. Eastern treasures often included costly garments, which were susceptible to destruction by moths [8]. The term "rust" (Greek: brosis) can refer to any form of "eating into" or "consuming," suggesting general wear and tear or decay [8]. Earthly riches are described elsewhere in scripture as temporary, uncertain, unsatisfying, corruptible, fleeting, deceitful, and perishable [2]. They are also explicitly stated to be "liable to be stolen" [2].

In contrast, "treasures in heaven" are presented as secure and enduring. This concept was familiar in Jesus' day, with the idea that performing God's commands was akin to accumulating treasures with God [3]. The context suggests that Jesus primarily had acts of charity in mind when speaking of heavenly treasures [3]. John Gill notes that while gold, silver, and precious stones can be lawfully desired and stored, "riches of grace, a pearl of great price and treasure in heaven, [are] more desirable than these" [4]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary on 1 Timothy 6:19 connects laying up treasures in heaven with being "rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate," suggesting that scattering earthly riches in faith builds a "good foundation" for future heavenly inheritance [5, 9].

The core of Jesus' teaching in this passage is encapsulated in verse 21: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (YLT) [1]. This statement highlights the inseparable link between one's ultimate priorities and one's inner affections and devotion. If one's treasure is earthly, the heart will be fixed on earthly concerns; if one's treasure is heavenly, the heart will be directed toward God and eternal matters. The Tyndale House Commentary on Matthew notes that Jesus repeatedly warns about the danger of accumulating riches, which can become an idol, because God tolerates no rivals [6]. Instead, God promises to be the treasure of his people, enabling them to be rich even when possessing nothing [10].

This passage functions as a call to re-evaluate priorities, urging disciples to invest in eternal rather than temporal security. It underscores the idea that true wealth is not found in material accumulation but in a relationship with God and actions that align with his will, particularly acts of generosity and charity [3, 5].

Sources

  1. Matthew “Matthew 6:21 (YLT) — for where your treasure is, there will be also your heart.”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Riches — The true riches -- Eph 3:8; 1Co 1:30; Col 2:3; 1Pe 2:7. God gives -- 1Sa 2:7; Ec 5:19. To God belongs this world's riches -- Hag 2:8. God gives power to obtain -- De 8:18. The blessing of the Lord brings -- Pr 10:22. Give worldly power -- Pr 22:7. Described as Temporary. -- Pr 27:24. Uncertain. -- 1Ti 6:17. Unsatisfying. -- Ec 4:8; 5:10. Corruptible. -- Jas 5:2; 1Pe 1:18. Fleeting. -- Pr 23:5; Re 18:16,17. Deceitful. -- Mt 13:22. Liable to be stolen. -- Mt 6:19. Perishable. -- Jer 48:36. Thick clay. -- Hab 2:6. Often an obstruction to the reception of the go”
  3. Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 6:20: 6:20 treasures in heaven: This was a common image for Jews of Jesus’ day; doing God’s commands became virtually equivalent to accumulating treasures with God. The context (6:19; Luke 12:33) suggests that Jesus primarily had acts of charity in mind.”
  4. Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 21:20: There is a treasure to be desired,.... Gold, silver, jewels, and precious stones; all sorts food, as Aben Ezra explains it, and rich and costly, raiment; all which may be lawfully desired and sought after, and, when obtained, laid up for future use; which may be spared for their own service and that of posterity: but there are riches of grace, a pearl of great price and treasure in heaven, more desirable than these, Mat 6:19; and oil in the dwelling of the wise; which is particularly mentioned, because a principal blessing of the land of Canaan; much used for foo”
  5. 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 6:19: Laying up in store--"therefrom (that is, by this means [ALFORD]; but BENGEL makes the Greek "apo" mean laying apart against a future time), laying up for themselves as a treasure" [ALFORD] (Mat 6:19-20). This is a treasure which we act wisely in laying up in store, whereas the wisest thing we can do with earthly treasures is "to distribute" them and give others a share of them (Ti1 6:18). good foundation--(See on Ti1 3:13; Luk 6:48; Co1 3:11). The sure reversion of the future heavenly inheritance: earthly riches scattered in faith lay up in store ”
  6. Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 6:24: 6:24 The term for money (traditionally mammon) is an Aramaic term for profits or material possessions. Since God tolerates no rivals, Jesus repeatedly warns of the danger of accumulating riches (13:22; 19:16-30; 26:14-16; 27:3-10; 28:11-15), which can be an idol (see Eph 5:5; Col 3:5). We must trust God to meet our needs (Matt 4:3-4; 6:8, 11, 25-34; 7:7-11; 10:9-14; 14:15-21; 15:32-38), and the community of disciples is to be mutually supportive (6:2-4; 10:40-42; 19:21; 23:23-24; 25:31-46; 26:6-13; 27:57-61).”
  7. Matthew (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Matthew 6:19: Worldly-mindedness is as common and as fatal a symptom of hypocrisy as any other, for by no sin can Satan have a surer and faster hold of the soul, under the cloak of a visible and passable profession of religion, than by this; and therefore Christ, having warned us against coveting the praise of men, proceeds next to warn us against coveting the wealth of the world; in this also we must take heed, lest we be as the hypocrites are, and do as they do: the fundamental error that they are guilty of is, that they choose the world for their reward; we must therefore t”
  8. Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 6:19: CONCLUDING ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE KINGDOM--HEAVENLY-MINDEDNESS AND FILIAL CONFIDENCE. (Mat. 6:19-34) Lay not up for ourselves treasures upon earth--hoard not. where moth--a "clothes-moth." Eastern treasures, consisting partly in costly dresses stored up (Job 27:16), were liable to be consumed by moths (Job 13:28; Isa 50:9; Isa 51:8). In Jam 5:2 there is an evident reference to our Lord's words here. and rust--any "eating into" or "consuming"; here, probably, "wear and tear." doth corrupt--cause to disappear. By this reference”
  9. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 73: giveth us richly all things to enjoy: that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life,” ( 1 Tim. 6:17-19 ). For the good works which we enjoy in eternal blessedness are compared to riches. I answer, that we shall never attain to the true knowledge of these passages unless we attend to the scope of the Spirit in uttering them. If it is true, as Christ says, “Where your ”
  10. Job (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Job 22:25: 22:25 God promises to be his people’s treasure (Ps 16:5; Isa 33:6; Matt 19:21; Mark 10:21); although they possess nothing, they will be rich (2 Cor 6:10; Jas 2:5).”
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