Matthew 6:19-24

One of the most non-helpful expressions of sympathy is: ‘Don’t worry. Everything will be all right’—not helpful, but very common.

It is not because usually no reason is given why one should not worry.

One of the most futile expressions of sympathy is: ‘Don’t worry. Everything will be all right’—futile, but very common. It is futile because usually no reason is given why one should not worry. Our Lord did not indulge in such useless expressions. When he said, ‘Do not worry,’ he backed it up with teaching that provided reasons. That is what he does here.

Our Lord did not indulge in such useless expressions.

When he said, ‘Do not worry,’ He backed it up with teaching that provided reasons.

That is what He does here.

The earlier verses of chapter 6 have contrasted the

approval and reward of men with that of God.

Our Lord now continues the contrast in terms of the treasure of earth and heaven, of time and eternity.

This gives a unity to the rest of this chapter,

which contains two parallel sequences showing how our daily concerns and practice show our real allegiance.

Serving God leads to faith, which is expressed in seeking first God’s kingdom.

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Serving money leads to worry, which is expressed in running after the things of this life.

Christ begins by speaking of our treasure, which indicates where our real allegiance lies.

Thus leading us to the BIG IDEA of the passage: Christ demands following Him wholeheartedly,

forbidding seeking anything that tethers our hearts to the things of the world.

Jesus is going to use an illustration of the eye and a servant to illustrate the same thing, the importance of single-minded adherence to God.

A. Seeking of Possessions (vv19-20)

Seeking of Possessions (vv19-20)

The Negative command (v19)

“Don’t store up”

The Passion in the seeking. “Store up”

He instructs his followers not to lay up their treasures on this earth because treasures located here are liable to loss.

He is not, of course, saying that they must not go about their daily work with due care,

or that they must not run their businesses profitably.

It is passionate worldly-mindedness, to which He is objecting,

the concentration on prosperity in this world to the neglect of all else.

The Plentiful in the seeking. “Store up”

The Plentiful in the seeking. “Store up”

In this negative command it’s the excessive and inordinate hoarding up of wealth and goods (which is a common practice in our day).

We must not covet an abundance of these things,

Butler, J. G. (2008). Analytical Bible Expositor: Matthew (p. 105). Clinton, IA: LBC Publications

nor still be grasping at more and more of them, and

We must not covet an abundance of these things, nor be still grasping at more and more of them, and adding to them, as men do to that which is their treasure, as never knowing when we have enough.

adding to them, as those do to that which is their treasure,

as never knowing when we have enough.

The Product in the seeking. “treasures on earth”

The Product in the seeking. “treasures on earth”

We must not count these things

the best things, nor

the most valuable in themselves, nor

the most serviceable to us.

we must not call them glory.

Jesus is saying that it is the attitude to possessions that is important, not their amount.

not see earthly success,

however that be understood,

as the aim of all their labor

(it is the attitude to possessions that is important, not their amount).

The Peril with this seeking. “where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.”

Everyone has some “treasure,” the main object in life.

Jesus is asking whether that is to be the temporary or the eternal, and

He warns that earthly riches will disappear.

Morris, L. (1992). The Gospel according to Matthew (pp. 152–153). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.

Jesus specifies moth and rust as the destroying agents.

moth refers to what destroys cloth of any sort, especially fine clothing.

rust is more of a problem, it’s the “eating” away of any kind.

Rust is more of a problem. It is the “eating” away of any kind.

It is the “eating” away of any kind.

The point is that material possessions appear substantial and lasting,

but they are subject to decay in a variety of ways,

and that means loss to the owner.

It is foolish to regard them as lasting.

including that of the strongest, gradually wears away (; ; ; , ; ).

When he dies, all the earthly treasures on which he had pinned his hopes vanish with him.

How do we overcome an excessive love of this life?

ONE.

Be thoroughly persuaded of and deeply affected with the life to come.

"For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. "So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” ()

This persuasion is what strips the king of terrors, death, of all his frightful and scary looks.

It spoils his fatal conquest, grip, and sting.

"For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. "There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing.” () What do you do with guys like Paul?

This is what did invigorate the confidence and courage of that noble army of martyrs that’s gone on before us!

This covers the head with confidence to face the storms and entertain the challenges, of earth and hell. "Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? "As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, "nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ()

TWO

Look upon life and comforts as they are, not as they seem to be in their present circumstances.

Your life is a shadow. Look at it now, not as it is, but what is going to be?

It going to disappear!

Your life on earth is going to vanish!

Asaph looked at this life in its present circumstances and almost slipped (spiritually)

"God is indeed good to Israel, to the pure in heart. "But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my steps nearly went astray. "For I envied the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” ()

Then he gains the right perspective!

The Positive command (v20)

Christian Standard Bible Psalm 73

seemed hopeless,q

17 until I entered God’s sanctuary.

Then I understood their destiny.

18 Indeed, you put them in slippery places;

you make them fall into ruin.

19 How suddenly they become a desolation

The Positive command (v20)

"When I tried to understand all this, it seemed hopeless "until I entered God’s sanctuary. Then I understood their destiny. "Indeed, you put them in slippery places; you make them fall into ruin. "How suddenly they become a desolation! They come to an end, swept away by terrors.” ()

THREE.

Look upon life and all its comforts as a probation for something else and use them like that.

"Whatever your hands find to do, do with all your strength, because there is no work, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.” () "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” () "And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment—” ()

Don’t imagine that we’ll always be fighting for holiness and fighting the good fight of faith and contending for the faith.

We’ll not always have the great commission to fulfill.

One day we’ll be called off before long, that the next generation might succeed us (do you ever consider this reality?)

Will not our crop and harvest be answerable to our seed?

"Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap,” () "Let us not get tired of doing good [on earth, during probation], for we will reap at the proper time [in glory, in the presence of Christ] [in glory, in the presence of Christ] if we don’t give up. "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.” ()

erts, Publishers.

FOUR.

Keep up your proper view of your own death as a corrective of your excessive love to life!

Our hearts should not be where they must not always stay.

I wonder if Adam and Eve had considered their own death, if they’d of even put the forbidden fruit between their teeth?

We imagine immortality in a maze of vanity.

What clears up that smoke screen of vanity is the shortness of our stay on this earth!

Ponder for a moment: and

how much work there is to do,

how certain it is that we will die, and PONDER

why death came into the world, and

how suddenly, yes, and surprisingly the king of terrors, who

takes no bribes,

may make dispatches a few of his sharp and speedy arrows into our sides and hearts,

Then the enamoring influences of this mortal life would be more pulled away.

Extinguished lamps and empty vessels are only in the hands of slumbering virgins,

by whom the midnight-cry is clear forgotten.

Treasures and “goods [are] laid-up for many years;” and

then the heart is gone and sold to empty confidences and vain delights;

until that cry, “You fool, this night your soul must go,”

The Positive command (v20)

The Passion in the seeking. “Store up”

O that God would stir up a passion in us for heavenly treasure!

The Plentiful in the seeking. “Store up”

The Product in the seeking. “treasures in heaven”

Beginning with as small list of some of these as Jesus himself describes them, one thinks of

our standing with God as being fully pardoned (),

answered prayer (7:7), the

enrolment of our names in heaven (),

the Father’s love (),

a welcome not only to the “mansions” of heaven but to the Savior’s own heart (, ),

a full share in Christ’s own peace (),

His own joy (), and

His own victory (), and

The Holy Spirit’s permanent indwelling (, ; ).

Also, all the spiritual blessings mentioned in the beatitudes ().

There is a degree of difference with which spiritual (as over against material)

blessings are emphasized in the New Testament as compared with the Old.

With the coming of Christ heaven as it were touches the earth.

a faithfulness that will never be removed (; ),

a life that will never end (),

a spring of water that will never cease to bubble up within the one who drinks of it (),

a gift that will never be lost (, ),

a hand out of which the Good Shepherd’s sheep will never be snatched (),

a chain that will never be broken (, ),

a love from which we shall never be separated (),

a calling that will never be revoked (),

a foundation that will never be destroyed (),

and an inheritance that will never fade out (, ).

Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Gospel According to Matthew (Vol. 9, p. 345). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

The Protection w/the seeking. “where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal.”

The heavenly treasures are moth-proof, rust-proof, and burglar-proof (verse 20),

in other words, that they endure forever in all their sparkling luster, as

the irremovable possession of the children of our heavenly Father,

is the teaching of Scripture throughout, for it tells us about:

a faithfulness that will never be removed (; ),

a life that will never end (),

a life that will never end (),

a spring of water that will never cease to bubble up within the one who drinks of it (),

a spring of water that will never cease to bubble up within the one who drinks of it (),

The Protection w/the seeking. “where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal.”

a gift that will never be lost (, ),

a gift that will never be lost (, ),

a hand out of which the Good Shepherd’s sheep will never be snatched (),

a hand out of which the Good Shepherd’s sheep will never be snatched (),

a chain that will never be broken (, ),

a chain that will never be broken (, ),

a love from which we shall never be separated (),

a love from which we shall never be separated (),

a calling that will never be revoked (),

a calling that will never be revoked (),

a foundation that will never be destroyed (),

a foundation that will never be destroyed (),

and an inheritance that will never fade out (, ).

and an inheritance that will never fade out (, ).

In heaven neither moth nor rust is at work, and there are no thieves to break in or steal.

You see, it’s the accumulation of wealth is filled with spiritual danger (; ; ).

To be sure, money can be a great blessing, if it is not an end in itself

but a means to an end, namely,

a. to prevent one’s own family from becoming a burden to others (),

b. to help those who are in need (; ; , ; ; ; ; , ; ; ; ), and

c. to encourage the work of the gospel both at home and abroad (; , ; , ; ; ; , ), all to the glory of God ().

However, money can also be a snare (; ; , ).

So let me plead with you because

1. We know that our hearts will always hold on to the world until it sees something better to cleave to.

One that lives off of husks has no problem throwing them aside when a full supply of bread is introduced to them.

Think (2.) Secondly, the treasures in heaven infinitely transcend the world and all that is in it.

So when they’re both seen together, the world must, as the stars do, disappear before the rising sun.

The world us just a pile of heaping dust when you view it from the vantage point of the stars.

One way to do that, is to open up the gates of the bottomless pit,

that the smoke thereof might blind your eyes, and

the flames flash in your faces,

to stop you in the pursuit of these miserable vanities.

I might tell you,

1. That this miserable world is the devil’s bait, with which he draws men as schools of fish down the stream, into the sea of God’s wrath, .

And sadly, he draws many with baits made of that, who yet never taste the bait.

How many have been eternally ruined, pursuing some worldly thing which they could never reach;

but lost both their souls and their efforts to attain it.

I might also tell you,

2. The sweet of the world’s cup will soon be exhausted, but you will never get to the bottom of the dregs of it, "“ ‘Son,’ Abraham said, ‘remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.” ()

There will be a long eternity to pay the expense of this foul feast,

which the heart is having on the things of the world.

3. The fire of God’s wrath will loose those firm holds of the world, that the fire of God’s word cannot.—

The things of the world run so fast away with the hearts of men, that they cannot hear God’s voice calling them to return.

The lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life hang around the necks of people now, that they cannot look up to behold the beauty of Christ.

But the fire of hell will burn firm holds off, and leave them to lie down in the flames forever.

The table the rich man supped at (in ) has rotted away now.

The rich man, has no more to do with his barns.

When Judas went to his own place, he left the thirty pieces of silver behind him.

"“Don’t 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 neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” ()

B. Summary about Possessions (v21)

Showing in Possessions (v21)

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” ()

The Extent of the summary. “heart”

This is the seat of all of us.

It’s the fountain head of where all our desires and passions flow from!

Where is your treasure? on earth or in heaven? That’s where your heart is! This summary exposes each one of us...

The Exposure by the summary. “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.

We are therefore concerned to be

right and wise in the choice of our treasure,

because the nature and character of our minds,

and consequently

the course and direction of our lives, will be accordingly,

will be accordingly, either worldly or spiritual, earthly or heavenly.

either worldly or spiritual, earthly or heavenly.

The heart follows the treasure, as the sunflower the sun.

Where the treasure is, there the

value and esteem are, there the

love and affection are (),

The way the desires and pursuits go, there

the aims and intents are aimed,

and all is done with that in view.

The Exposure by the summary. “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.

Jesus points out that the place we choose for our treasures tells something about ourselves.

He does not describe treasure in any way, but

clearly it means here;

that which one prizes most,

that which one values above all else.

it’s that which one values above all else.

The place where we choose to store up what we value most

shows what our values are deep down.

The “heart” cannot be in both of these places at the same time.

It is an either-or proposition!

We must take heed of hypocrisy and worldly-mindedness in choosing the end we look at.

C. Seeing of Possessions (vv22-23)

C. Seeing of Possessions (vv22-23)

The Sanctified seeing.

"“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.” ()

Piling up earthly treasures blurs the vision, leading Jesus into what almost amounts to a parable.

The eye is a useful illustration of spiritual possibilities.

When the eye is functioning normally, the light it perceives means illumination of benefit to the whole body.

There is a spiritual parallel. Jesus speaks of the eye as the light of the body.

There is a spiritual parallel. Jesus speaks of the eye as the light of the body.

The meaning is that, the eye is the organ that brings light to the body;

whether we are sighted or blind depends entirely on the eye.

The eye is the source of light to the whole body.

Apart from the eye the body would receive no light;

thus the eye functions much as a lamp does.

In that case the proper functioning of one small member means illumination for the whole body.

In that case the proper functioning of one small member means illumination for the whole body.

The Sinful seeing.

"But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness, how deep is that darkness!” ()

The contrary thought is that the eye is evil,

which presumably means that it is diseased or impaired in some way.

If man divides his interest and tries to focus on both God and possessions,

he has no clear vision,

and will live without clear direction.

Life not focused on God’s claim and command is lost in spiritual darkness.

Just as a “healthy” eye lets in “light” to guide an entire person,

an eye focused on God will see clearly everything spiritual.

Just as a blind person sees only “darkness,” one worshiping possessions will get everything wrong from God’s perspective.

Carson, D. A. (2015). The Gospels and Acts. In D. A. Carson (Ed.), NIV Zondervan Study Bible: Built on the Truth of Scripture and Centered on the Gospel Message (p. 1941). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

As a sound eye lets in natural light, so a good heart lets in spiritual light;

and as a blind eye shuts out natural light,

so an evil heart shuts out spiritual light.

Accordingly we find the apostle expressly ascribing the darkness of the understanding to the blindness of the heart.

He represents all men as, "...darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts.” ()

The climax of this saying is concerned with the spiritual rather than the physical meaning of vision.

If your eye is bad, no light can come in and you are left with darkness because of that condition.

How much worse when the problem is not merely related to external perception,

but an internal corruption of one’s whole nature, so that

the darkness actually emanates from within and affects one’s whole being.

Thus making these verses so helpful in understanding our total depravity.

Perhaps we should think of something like “the eye of the soul”;

the light that is in you is surely not the light that strikes the eye.

We might call it the brightness of goodness within.

Perhaps we should think of something like “the eye of the soul”;

a healthy eye of the soul means enlightened living.

so a healthy eye of the soul means enlightened living.

Jesus is talking about the enlightenment that comes to the person who lives close to God.

When that light is darkness there is disaster!

Jesus is supposing that where there should be light in a person there is in fact darkness.

There’s a perversion at the very heart and center of the person’s life,

a perversion at the very heart and center of the person’s life,

There’s a complete lack of vision.

When that happens, “the darkness—how great!

D. Serving of Possessions (v24)

The Principle of serving.

"“No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.” ()

The man with the misplaced heart (verse 21) and

misdirected mind (verses 22 and 23)

also suffers from a misaligned will,

a will not in line with God’s will (verse 24).

He imagines, perhaps, that he can give his full allegiance to the two goals of glorifying God and acquiring material possessions, but he errs.

He will either hate the one and love the other, or vice versa.

“God” (in v24) is the heavenly Father, as representing the Trinity, and as revealed to us by Jesus Christ.

By “money,” it is meant wealth, property.

Think of money, real estate, food, clothes, etc.

Here in , as well as in , wealth is personified:

It is presented as a master (a person) to whom someone is devoted and whom he loves.

Today also people will say, “He has become the slave of his possession.”

If a person loves God he will show this by being devoted to Him, placing everything—

money,

time,

talents, etc.—

at His disposal, serving Him.

It is clear, therefore, that loving God is not merely a matter of the emotions

but of

heart, soul, mind, and strength (; ).

To love God requires service and even sacrifice ().

The Practice of serving. “You cannot serve both God and money.” (v24)

So described, it becomes all the more evident that this

supreme,

self-sacrificing,

enthusiastic allegiance

cannot be rendered to two parties.

Whoever renders it becomes a worshiper, and

the One to whom it is rendered becomes his God.

Again, since there is only one true God, it follows that money-worship is idolatry.

The psychological tension that is built up in the soul of a person

who imagines for a while

that he will be able to love and serve both masters becomes so severe and unendurable

that in attitude, word, and deed he will sooner or later begin to show where his real allegiance lies.

though, perhaps, the individual in question was not fully aware of this.

In the crisis the agitated soul, out of love for the one master, will begin to show that he hates the other,

1. We know that our hearts will always hold on to the world until it sees something better to cleave to.

perhaps even to the point of being willing to betray him.

Think of Judas Iscariot.

Was it not money that led him to deliver Christ into the hands of the enemy? ; .

One that lives off of husks has no problem throwing them aside when a full supply of bread is introduced to them.

Think (2.) Secondly, the treasures in heaven infinitely transcend the world and all that is in it.

So when they’re both seen together, the world must, as the stars do, disappear before the rising sun.

The world us just a pile of heaping dust when you view it from the vantage point of the stars.

One way to do that, as we close is to open up the gates of the bottomless pit,

that the smoke thereof might blind your eyes, and

the flames flash in your faces,

the flames flash in your faces,

to stop you in the pursuit of these miserable vanities.

I might tell you,

1. That this miserable world is the devil’s bait, with which he draws men as schools of fish down the stream, into the sea of God’s wrath, .

And sadly, he draws many with baits made of that, who yet never taste the bait.

How many have been eternally ruined, pursuing some worldly thing which they could never reach;

but lost both their souls and their efforts to attain it.

I might also tell you,

2. The sweet of the world’s cup will soon be exhausted, but you will never get to the bottom of the dregs of it, "“ ‘Son,’ Abraham said, ‘remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.” ()

There will be a long eternity to pay the expense of this foul feast,

which the heart is having on the things of the world.

3. The fire of God’s wrath will loose those firm holds of the world, that the fire of God’s word cannot.—

The things of the world run so fast away with the hearts of men, that they cannot hear God’s voice calling them to return.

The lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life hang around the necks of people now, that they cannot look up to behold the beauty of Christ.

But the fire of hell will burn firm holds off, and leave them to lie down in the flames forever.

The table the rich man supped at (in ) has rotted away now.

The rich man, has no more to do with his barns.

When Judas went to his own place, he left the thirty pieces of silver behind him.

"“Don’t 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 neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” ()