Sermon Tone Analysis

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.”