Matthew 6:19-20
“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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse emphasizes not just the risk of losing earthly treasures, but their inherent decay. "Moth and rust" aren't just external threats; they represent the slow, internal breakdown and consumption that makes anything earthly destined to fade. This highlights that our hoarding is ultimately futile against time and entropy itself.
Jesus is continuing His Sermon on the Mount, shifting from teaching about religious hypocrisy to practical guidance on discipleship. He’s just warned against seeking human praise for spiritual acts and is now addressing the snare of worldly possessions and the anxieties that come with them, contrasting earthly treasures with heavenly ones.
Ever felt like your hard-earned money or prized possessions just vanished? Jesus cuts right to the heart of why we can't trust our security to earthly things.
Jesus paints a vivid picture of why we shouldn't hoard wealth on earth. He uses the imagery of:
These aren't just random examples; they represent the inherent instability and impermanence of everything we accumulate in this life. No matter how secure we think our possessions are, they are subject to decay, loss, and theft.
Jesus drops a profound truth bomb: 'Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.' What does this really mean for our desires and loyalties?
Jesus isn't just warning us against earthly treasures; he's pointing us towards where our deepest desires should be directed. The core principle is this:
If we pour our energy, our focus, and our emotional investment into accumulating things on earth, our hearts will inevitably follow. We'll worry about them, protect them, and derive our sense of security and identity from them.
Conversely, if we 'treasure up treasures in heaven' (as Jesus will soon explain), our hearts will naturally be drawn to the eternal, the unseen, and the things of God. It’s a fundamental law of human nature: our affections align with what we value most.
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.
ouranō · Greek Noun
The eternal dwelling place of God; metaphorically represents the realm of God’s kingdom, where values and rewards are enduring and incorruptible.
This passage directly parallels Matthew 6:19-20, urging believers to 'sell your possessions and give to charity; make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.'
James 5:2-3James echoes Jesus' warning by directly addressing the wealthy, stating their riches have 'rotted' and their gold and silver have 'corroded,' just as Jesus described earthly treasures being consumed by moth and rust.
1 Timothy 6:10This verse speaks to the root issue behind hoarding earthly treasures, warning that 'the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils,' and connects directly to the danger of misplaced priorities that Jesus addresses.
Ecclesiastes 5:10This Old Testament passage offers a similar perspective on the futility of pursuing wealth, stating, 'Whoever loves money never has enough, nor whoever loves wealth is ever satisfied with his income.'
John 6:27Jesus challenges the crowd in this passage to 'do not work for food that spoils but for food that endures to eternal life,' mirroring the contrast between perishable earthly treasures and lasting heavenly ones.
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…
The verse emphasizes not just the risk of losing earthly treasures, but their inherent decay. "Moth and rust" aren't just external threats; they represent the slow, internal breakdown and consumption that makes anything earthly destined to fade. This highlights that our hoarding is ultimately futile against time and entropy itself.
Jesus is continuing His Sermon on the Mount, shifting from teaching about religious hypocrisy to practical guidance on discipleship. He’s just warned against seeking human praise for spiritual acts and is now addressing the snare of worldly possessions and the anxieties that come with them, contrasting earthly treasures with heavenly ones.
Jesus is continuing His Sermon on the Mount, shifting from teaching about religious hypocrisy to practical guidance on discipleship. He’s just warned against seeking human praise for spiritual acts and is now addressing the snare of worldly possessions and the anxieties that come with them, contrasting earthly treasures with heavenly ones.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Matthew 6:19-20 is available in the Sola app.
"“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 s…" — The verse emphasizes not just the risk of losing earthly treasures, but their inherent decay. "Moth and rust" aren't just external threats; they represent the slow, internal breakdown and consump…
