Matthew 6:19
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus doesn't just mean gold and silver; he's highlighting that even the most prized possessions in ancient cultures – like fine garments and stored provisions – were vulnerable. He's showing us that everything valuable on earth eventually decays or is taken, urging us to see the true insecurity of earthly wealth.
Jesus is in the middle of teaching about the proper attitude we should have towards worldly possessions. He's just warned against serving two masters, God and money, and is now elaborating on how our pursuit of wealth can distract us from God. He contrasts the insecurity of earthly riches with the permanence of heavenly treasures.
Why does Jesus bring up moths and rust when talking about wealth? It's a stark reminder that what we chase can literally fall apart.
Jesus paints a vivid picture of earthly possessions. The "moth" targets the rich fabrics and costly garments that were a sign of wealth in the ancient world. The "rust" (or more broadly, 'eating away') refers to the decay that affects everything from food stores to metal objects.
Think about it:
Jesus isn't just talking about physical objects; he's speaking to the very nature of earthly security. It's inherently fragile and temporary. What seems solid today can be gone tomorrow.
Where do you invest your energy and focus? Jesus says the location of your 'treasure' directly dictates the direction of your heart.
Jesus makes a profound connection: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." This isn't just a suggestion; it's a statement of human nature. What we value most, what we pour our resources and attention into, inevitably captures our affection and loyalty.
If your 'treasures' are earthly – your job, your possessions, your reputation, your bank account – then your heart will be tied to the anxieties and fleeting satisfactions of this world. You'll worry about protecting it, growing it, and ultimately, you'll find your deepest hopes invested in things that cannot ultimately satisfy or endure.
Conversely, if your treasure is invested in heavenly things – in God's kingdom, in righteousness, in eternal purposes – then your heart will naturally orient itself towards God and His eternal reality.
Understand the original words
thēsaurous · Greek Noun
Valuable possessions or wealth; in a spiritual sense, it refers to that which holds true, eternal value and significance in the sight of God.
gē · Greek Noun
The material world as opposed to the spiritual or eternal realm; it signifies the temporary, perishable nature of earthly life and its pursuits.
This parable of the rich fool directly illustrates the folly of hoarding earthly wealth that can be lost in an instant, aligning with Jesus' warning against building treasures on earth.
James 5:1-3James echoes Jesus' warning by describing how the wealth of the unrighteous will 'eat your flesh like fire' and how their gold and silver will 'rust,' highlighting the decay and worthlessness of earthly treasures.
Proverbs 23:4-5This proverb cautions against wearing oneself out to gain wealth, emphasizing that riches have 'wings' and fly away, reinforcing the impermanence of earthly treasures Jesus speaks of.
Matthew 6:20-21This immediately following passage provides the solution to Jesus' warning in verse 19, directing believers to store up treasures in heaven, where they are eternally secure.
1 Timothy 6:10This verse directly states that the 'love of money is a root of all kinds of evil,' which is a foundational principle behind Jesus' teaching that our hearts tend to follow our treasures, whether earthly or heavenly.
vincentMatthew 6:19: "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:"
Lay not up treasures (μὴ θησαυρίξετε)Lit., treasure not treasures. So Wyc., Do not treasure to you treasures. The beautiful legend of St. Thomas and Gondoforus is told by Mrs. Jameson ("Sacred and Legendary Art"): "When St. Thomas was at Caesarea, our Lord appeared to him and said, 'The king of the Indies, Gondoforus, hath sent his provost, Abanes, to se…
bensonMatthew 6:19: "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:"
Matthew 6:19-21 . Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth — Our Lord here makes a transition from religious to common actions, and warns us of another snare, the love of money and earthly things, as inconsistent with purity of intention as the love of praise: where moth and rust doth corrupt, &c. — Where all things are perishable and transient. “In…
Jesus doesn't just mean gold and silver; he's highlighting that even the most prized possessions in ancient cultures – like fine garments and stored provisions – were vulnerable. He's showing us that everything valuable on earth eventually decays or is taken, urging us to see the true insecurity of earthly wealth.
Jesus is in the middle of teaching about the proper attitude we should have towards worldly possessions. He's just warned against serving two masters, God and money, and is now elaborating on how our pursuit of wealth can distract us from God. He contrasts the insecurity of earthly riches with the permanence of heavenly treasures.
Jesus is in the middle of teaching about the proper attitude we should have towards worldly possessions. He's just warned against serving two masters, God and money, and is now elaborating on how our pursuit of wealth can distract us from God. He contrasts the insecurity of earthly riches with the permanence of heavenly treasures.
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"“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal," — Jesus doesn't just mean gold and silver; he's highlighting that even the most prized possessions in ancient cultures – like fine garments and stored provisions – were vulnerable. He's showing us that…
