Matthew 6:19-21

DAY 47
Dates: 4-13-25

WHERE IS YOUR HEART AT?
Treasures in Heaven

Pray

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

Q: What are the “treasures on earth” that Jesus is referring to?
– AND – What does moth and rust refer too?

What is included in “treasures on earth?”

Clothes, shoes, cars, lawn mowers, sheets and linens, houses, water pipes, light bulbs, paint, furniture. Money. Books, jewelry, toasters, extension cords, windows, trees, flowers, birds, animals – including pets. Even our teeth decay and wear out. Subscriptions and investment accounts expire, as do insurance accounts. Streets wear out and get potholes. Airplanes, cities, beautifully designed parks, telephone poles, iPhones, and carpets and rugs all deteriorate. Even gold and silver become tarnished, and diamonds are subject to decay or thievery. How about our food? Of course. My cheese often-times gets moldy before I finish it. 

I think tangible, material things are obviously to be included in our list. But what about the intangibles?

Do you think our list should include our reputations? Should it include our feelings, our emotions, our sensitivities? Should it include our skills? Our various abilities? Like musicians, or athletes or computer programmers or welders or doctors or nurses? Are these things subject – in this life – to rust and decay? Or being stolen?

Everything in this list is subject to destruction, whether by the moth, or decay, or by rust; or subject to being stolen. Everything will eventually wear out and/or be destroyed or taken away from us, by one means or another. 

Q: Are there any exceptions? Is there anything that the Bible says WILL LAST?

A: Three things: 

1. People (souls), 
2. the Word of God and 
3. God Himself.

Q: So then, if we have identified what we think vs 19 is saying, 

Q: What does vs 19 mean? 

Q: What does “store up” mean?

1. The NIV Application Commentary says, “The accumulation of wealth for its own sake is deceptive, because one can find in material treasure a false sense of security or an inaccurate assessment of one’s spirituality.”
2. Do not put your hope in things that will not and cannot last. Do not put your hopes in things that cannot and will not meet your deepest and greatest needs. 
3. Put all your hope in God!
4. Put ALL your hope in the things of God!

Q: What are the characteristics of the things included in vs 19?

1. They are temporal. 
2. Some, maybe many, can be good, but will not last, or avoid decay, destruction or thievery. 
3. Some, maybe many will be a temptation, subtlety drawing us away from fully trusting in God, who loves us unconditionally and perfectly. 
4. They sometimes can hold out false hope, hope that they cannot fulfill. 
5. They will all, eventually, at some point, fail.
6. God IS love, and love never fails! (1 Cor. 13:8a)

Q: What does vs 20 say?

A: “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” – basically the opposite of vs 19.

The Keyword in verse 19 is “on earth.” The keyword in vs 20 is “in Heaven.“

Q: What does vs 20 mean?

A: Just as the things on earth are temporal and fleeting, and easily disappear, the things in heaven are eternal. They last forever and cannot ever be destroyed or disappear. 

They are EVER-LASTING.

Invest your heart in things that last.
Invest your heart in things that cannot be taken away from you.
Invest your heart in things that are eternal.
Things that will last forever and are NOT subject to decay or thievery. 

One commentary, William Hendricksen says, “How absurd, Jesus is saying, to “treasure up” for oneself perishable earthly “treasures,” and while doing this to lose the imperishable heavenly riches! (New Testament Commentary, William Hendricksen) 

Q: What does he mean by the last half of that statement?

The idea is that we can’t successfully focus on both worlds, this present world, and the world to come both at the same time. We must choose between focusing our lives and energies on this present world, the current earth, or on the Kingdom of Heaven; the eternal world to come. 

Hendricksen also goes on to say “Completely different are “the treasures in heaven” (from the treasures on earth) (cf. 19:21), that is, those blessings that are reserved for us in heaven (1 Peter 1:4), that are heavenly in character, but of which we experience a foretaste even now.”

There is on old proverb that says if a fox chases two rabbits, he won’t catch either one.
Both will get away. 

You have to pick one rabbit, and focus on that. 

You have to choose whom you will follow, the prince of this world, Satan, or our Heavenly Father, the God of Heaven. 

The author of our book, The Holman Bible Commentary says on pg 85, “The point of this life is preparation for the world to come.”

And Jesus Himself elaborated on this in Matthew 16:24-27, saying, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.”

Q: What is included in vs 20?

A: Hendricksen gives us a partial list:

1. our standing with God as being fully pardoned
2. answered prayer
3. the enrollment of our names in heaven
4. the Father’s love
5. a welcome not only to the “mansions” of heaven but to the Savior’s own heart
6. a full share in Christ’s own peace
7. his own joy
8. his own victory
9. and the Holy Spirit’s permanent indwelling

And there are many more!

Like: 

1. A new glorified body and 
2. eternal life in the presence of God! 
3. No more tears! 
4. No more sin
5. No more sadness. 
6. No sickness
7. No more decay (no more moldy cheese!)
8. Purpose
9. Deep fulfillment
10. Worship galore! 
11. Permanent, eternal access to the King!
12. Perfect healing
13. No more sleepless nights of tossing and turning. 
14. Perfect rest 
15. No sin!
16. No disappointment
17. No police
18. No jails
19. No fireman
20. No investment agencies
21. No insurance agencies
22. No locks on the doors
23. No shortage of ANYTHING EVER!
24. No being put on hold
25. Batteries never die (they probably won’t even exist!)
26. The food will be phenomenal!
27. and on and on and on!!

Q: What are the characteristics of the things included in vs 20?

A: All things are ETERNAL. No expiration dates.

Q: What does vs 21 say?

A: I think this is one of the most telling, most important, and most simply stated truths in the Bible. 

1. Check your heart!
2. What do you love?
3. Where is your heart at? 
4. What occupies your attention? What are you passionate about? The temporal or the eternal. Some temporal things are important, and God knows that (see Matthew 6:30-32) what you need, but temporal things are not nearly as important as eternal things. 

Q: What does vs 21 mean?

A: 
Love what God loves
Value what God values 
Treasure what God treasures.

Q: How do we apply this passage?

A: 
So, how do we find out what God loves, values and treasures?
He has told us plainly in His love letter to us – the Bible!
READ IT and STUDY IT and MEDITATE UPON IT’S PRECIOUS TRUTH EVERY DAY!!!

Colossians 3:1-2 says very plainly,  “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Q: Are these verses in Matthew platitudes? Suggestions?

Q: Are they commands?

Q: Why would Jesus command something like this?

Q: What does our book (Holman Commentary) say:
“Jesus was summarizing why the kingdom servant is motivated to practice righteous acts. It is not for temporary honor among men on earth, but for eternal reward before the Father in heaven. The point of this life is preparation for the world to come. The present tense verb here can best be translated, “Stop storing up treasures on earth!” But Jesus does specifically command us to store up for yourself in heaven.”

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RELAVANT VERSE(s)

Matthew 16:24-27 
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.”

1 Corinthians 13:8
Love never fails.

Colossians 3:1-2 
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Hebrews 13:5 
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have…

1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Philippians 4:11-13 
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

1 Timothy 3:2-3 
Now the overseer is to be above reproach … not a lover of money.

Acts 20:35
“… the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ “

Our posture as Christians should always be “other-centered.”

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Quotes:

As children of God we have a single goal—treasure in heaven; a single vision—God’s purposes; and a single Master—God, not money. 
(John MacArthur; 101 Quotable Christians: More Than 2,000 Memorable Thoughts from People Who Shaped Your Faith)

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NEXT WEEK:

WHO – OR WHAT – WILL YOU SERVE.

Matthew 6:22-24

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Notes:

* Everything with an asterisk and is italicized and purple is my own added words and thoughts and are not part of the actual verse or quote.