Introduction

‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’ Matthew 6:19-21

TREASURES IN HEAVEN

A topical study of the Gospels reveals that Jesus spoke on the subject of money or materialism often. He evidently considered the love of money and material things to be a serious problem that needed to be addressed continually, 1 Timothy 6:10. We haven’t changed much in the last 2000 years, the problem remains today.

In the first century, the idea of a secure bank was unknown, and the safest way to keep their money was to bury it, Joshua 7:21 / Matthew 25:18. However, doing such would subject the money, which was composed of metal, to rust and corrosion, Matthew 6:20-21.

They could choose to keep their treasure above ground but then took the risk of having it stolen by a thief breaking in, Matthew 6:19. In actuality, the Greek words here literally indicate that the ‘thieves dig through.’

This statement is accurate since houses of that day were frequently made of loose stone or sun-dried bricks. It was easier for a thief to dig through the wall than attempt to break through a more secure door.

Thus, there really was no absolute way to protect their physical treasures. Any of them could be stolen, metal was subject to corrosion, and clothing could be destroyed by moths.

To ‘treasure’ something is to love that object more than anything else. To ‘treasure’ the things of this world are foolish because they are both uncertain and temporary.

Happiness may be found in such ‘treasures’ for a while, but not true, lasting joy. These verses don’t teach that it is sinful to be materially rich in the present world. To be rich is dangerous, but not sinful, Matthew 19:23-24.

However, this passage does teach that we must ‘possess’ whatever material goods we are blessed with and not vice versa. To possess a large amount of money or resources isn’t wrong, but to love those things and consider them to be a ‘treasure’ is to fall into Satan’s trap, 1 Timothy 6:7-10 / Luke 12:15 / Hebrews 13:5.

Anyone with such a mentality will hoard these possessions to harm others and himself. Instead, those who are rich should be careful to remember that they can only trust in God and not in themselves or their earthly treasure. Let them do much good with the things the Lord has entrusted them with, 1 Timothy 6:17-19.

Jesus makes a strong case for laying up treasure in heaven while exposing the folly of hoarding earthly treasure by contrasting the corrupting forces of this world with the security of heaven, Matthew 6:20-21.

To practice righteousness to be seen by God and to bring glory to His name is to make a deposit in God’s heavenly ‘bank.’ There is great security in knowing that such treasures cannot be stolen or damaged. The riches of heaven are eternally secure for the person who continues to treasure them.

‘The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! ‘No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.’ Matthew 6:22-24

Jesus focused on ‘treasures’, i.e., whatever is most important to our ‘heart’, Matthew 6:19-21. It is foolish to store up earthly treasures for they do not last, but heavenly treasures are eternal.

In Matthew 6:22-24, He also addresses this theme. We cannot serve earthly riches and God simultaneously, Matthew 6:24. There can only be one master in a person’s life.

If we make physical riches our master, then we have chosen a treasure that will not last. If we make God Almighty our master, then we have wisely chosen an everlasting treasure.

What does Jesus mean when He speaks of good eyes, bad eyes, darkness, and light? Matthew 6:22-23. Understanding His point isn’t nearly as difficult when we observe that Jesus is contrasting earthly and heavenly treasures in the verses both immediately before and after. Thus, it’s reasonable to suggest that He is still addressing this theme in these verses in the middle.

The eye allows images, that is light inside the body, Matthew 6:22. Our body will be ‘full of light’ if our eye is ‘good’, i.e., healthy, and allows us to see things clearly and in proper perspective.

The person with such good spiritual ‘eyesight’ sees money as a tool to help further the Lord’s work and not as something to lavish upon themselves.

But, if our eye is ‘bad’, i.e., not healthy, then our body will be ‘full of darkness’, Matthew 6:23. We will not see things clearly or in a proper perspective, physically or spiritually.

It’s entirely possible for us to start with a healthy ‘eye,’ but it can become dimmer and dimmer until it is full of the evils of materialism and immorality.

In reference to serving two masters, Matthew 5:24, it should be remembered that God is a jealous God, Exodus 20:5. Just as no right-thinking husband will accept a rival for the affections of his wife, so God will accept no rival for our affections.

If a person loves anyone or anything more than they love God, then that person is not a true disciple, Luke 14:26-33. They are serving another ‘master.’ Also, it should be recognised that a person doesn’t necessarily love what or whom they claim, they love that to which they give foremost devotion and attention, Matthew 19:21.

Jesus contrasts ‘God’ with ‘money’, i.e., riches, Matthew 6:24. It’s impossible to serve these two masters simultaneously because the only way to obey the one is to disobey the other! If we love and treasure physical things, then we will not serve God with all our hearts, Mark 12:30-31.

God will not accept just part of our service but demands that we love Him supremely, James 4:4 / 1 John 2:15. However, the devil will gladly accept only a portion of our service, for he knows that in getting a part of it, he is truly getting all of it.

The primary thrust here seems to be pointing out the danger of self-deception. A person might falsely reason that they can serve riches as long as they are serving God by means of certain formalities. Jesus says that such isn’t possible.

We’re either with God or against Him, there is no middle ground, Matthew 12:30. Where is our treasure? If we answer that question honestly, we’ll know who our master is!