matthew-6:19-21

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:19-34

Sermon on the mount: 5. Thought for the morrow. There has been set before us a righteousness, perfect in its outward expression and in its root, and if now we ask—How are we to attain this? we are told—By loving it. That is the only way. "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Your likings are the eyes of your inner man; if they are rightly placed your whole life will be right. Just as a man has an organ to guide him in the physical world, so he has an organ for his guiding... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:20

But lay up ( Matthew 6:19 , note). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:20

The treasures of character. "Treasures in heaven." "Here moral excellence is put in contrast with material treasure. Men are to seek nobility of character, riches of feeling, strength of manhood, and not perishable wealth." Character is called "treasure in heaven," because it alone goes with us into the unseen world. It belongs to us; it cannot be parted from us. It is not something that we have; it is that which we are , wherever we are. I. THE INSECURITY OF ALL TREASURE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:21

For where . A further reason for laying up treasures in heaven: wherever they are they have a positive effect on the soul. Your treasure ; thy (Revised Version). The singular was altered by the copyists so as to correspond with the plural found in the earlier part of the utterance and in the undisputed text of Luke. But our Lord loves to speak to each soul individually. Your heart ( Matthew 5:8 , note). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 6:19

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth - Treasures, or wealth, among the ancients, consisted in clothes or changes of raiment, as well as in gold, silver, gems, wine, lands, and oil. It meant an abundance of “anything” that was held to be conducive to the ornament or comfort of life. As the Orientals delighted much in display, in splendid equipage, and costly garments, their treasures, in fact, consisted much in beautiful and richly-ornamented articles of apparel. See Genesis 45:22,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 6:20-21

Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven - That is, have provision made for your eternal felicity. Do not exhaust your strength and spend your days in providing for the life here, but let your chief anxiety be to be prepared for eternity. Compare the notes at Isaiah 55:2. In heaven nothing corrupts; nothing terminates; no enemies plunder or destroy. To have treasure in heaven is to possess evidence that its purity and joys will be ours. It is to be heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 6:19-21

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 eastern countries, where the fashion of clothes did not alter as with us, the treasures of the rich consisted not only of gold and... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:19-34

42. Concern about material things (Matthew 6:19-34; Luke 12:22-34)People who come into the kingdom of God should not view the material things of earthly life as others view them. They should put God’s interests first and be generous in giving to others. Those who set their hearts on material things are being disloyal to God, and guarantee bitter disappointment for themselves in the end (Matthew 6:19-21).To illustrate the results of right and wrong attitudes to material things, Jesus referred to... read more

E.W. Bullinger