Matthew 6 19

Matthew 6:19 kjv

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

Matthew 6:19 nkjv

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;

Matthew 6:19 niv

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

Matthew 6:19 esv

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,

Matthew 6:19 nlt

"Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.

Matthew 6 verses

Matthew 6 19 Meaning

This verse instructs believers to shift their primary focus and effort from accumulating material wealth on Earth to pursuing spiritual riches. It highlights the inherent impermanence and insecurity of earthly possessions, which are subject to decay by natural forces like moths and rust, and susceptible to theft, in contrast to the eternal and secure nature of heavenly treasures. It's a call to reorder priorities, valuing the eternal over the temporary.

Matthew 6 19 Context

This verse is part of Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, specifically within a section (Matt 6:1-18) that critiques external religious practices done for human praise rather than true righteousness. Immediately before this, Jesus taught about almsgiving, prayer, and fasting, emphasizing the hidden, sincere approach rewarded by God. Verse 19 transitions the teaching from specific religious duties to the broader theme of worldly possessions, challenging the audience's underlying priorities. In first-century Jewish society, wealth was often stored in tangible forms like fine clothing, precious metals (gold, silver), and agricultural products. Houses were typically built with mudbrick, making them relatively easy to "dig through." Accumulating such wealth was a common ambition. Jesus directly challenges this societal norm and perhaps an indirect polemic against any perception that material prosperity equates to God's ultimate blessing, steering disciples towards eternal security.

Matthew 6 19 Word analysis

• Do not lay up (μὴ θησαυρίζετε - mē thesauzizete): "Do not store up," "do not accumulate." The Greek verb implies a continuous or habitual action, a sustained effort. It's a prohibition against making accumulation one's central life endeavor, a deliberate choice not to gather wealth for personal security.
• for yourselves (ὑμῖν - hymin): Emphasizes self-centered accumulation. The focus is on individual gain and security, rather than stewardship or giving. This "for yourselves" implicitly contrasts with "for God" or "for others."
• treasures (θησαυροὺς - thesaurous): From thesauros, referring to a collection of valuables; a store, a treasury, wealth. In the ancient world, this could include precious metals (gold, silver), valuable fabrics (fine linen, wool), jewels, or even stored grain. The term itself is neutral, but its context ("on earth") and application ("for yourselves") make it problematic.
• on earth (ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς - epi tēs gēs): The critical distinguishing factor. "On the earth" signifies transience and decay. It sets up the contrast with "in heaven," emphasizing the location where ultimate value and security lie. This limitation to the earthly sphere renders any accumulation temporal and ultimately vulnerable.
• where (ὅπου - hopou): Points to the inherent characteristics of the earthly realm. It explains why not to store treasure there.
• moth (σὴς - sēs): A destructive insect, especially detrimental to valuable garments and textiles (wool, silk) which were a form of stored wealth. Signifies organic decay and destruction by natural means.
• and rust (κἀὶ βρῶσις - kai brōsis): "And corrosion" or "and consumption/decay." This typically refers to the oxidation and decay of metals like iron or copper, but brōsis can also broadly refer to consumption, erosion, or even spoilage of food, impacting other forms of stored wealth. Signifies inorganic decay and general material deterioration.
• destroy (ἀφανίζει - aphanizei): "Makes invisible," "causes to vanish," "corrupts," "ruins." This strong verb indicates complete loss or obliteration, highlighting the total vulnerability of earthly possessions.
• and where (κἀὶ ὅπου - kai hopou): Again pointing to the inherent nature of earthly security.
• thieves (κλέπται - kleptai): Burglars or robbers, representing external human agency causing loss. A common threat in a world with limited security measures for personal wealth.
• break in (διορύσσουσι - dioryssousi): Literally "dig through," often through the soft, sun-dried brick or wattle-and-daub walls common in houses of the time. This vivid image underscores the lack of impregnability of earthly strongholds.
• and steal (κλέπτουσι - kleptousi): To carry away covertly; to appropriate for oneself illegally. Completes the description of how thieves operate to remove accumulated wealth.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth": This foundational command reorients the disciple's life purpose. It's not about prohibiting possession itself, but about the attitude and goal of accumulation for self-security within a transient world.
• "where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal": These clauses provide the divine rationale. They meticulously detail the various threats to earthly wealth: natural degradation (moth, rust) and human malevolence (thieves). The imagery is concrete and relatable, making the impermanence tangible. The distinction highlights that earthly treasures are never truly secure, vulnerable both internally (decay) and externally (theft).

Matthew 6 19 Bonus section

• Heart's Focus: This verse inherently links to the following one (Matt 6:21, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also"). The choice of treasure reveals the deepest devotion of the heart. Laying up treasures on earth implies a heart deeply rooted in the fleeting and temporary, while storing treasure in heaven indicates a heart set on the eternal and divine.
• Investment Strategy: Jesus presents two contrasting "investment strategies." One, focused on earthly gains, yields corruptible and stealable assets. The other, heavenly, promises an unassailable return. The teaching can be seen as wisdom literature advising a truly secure and profitable "investment."
• Distinction from Old Testament Law: While the OT affirmed God's blessing with material prosperity (e.g., Deut 28), Jesus shifts the emphasis. He's not negating earthly blessing but re-calibrating the disciple's ultimate treasure and allegiance, highlighting the ultimate impermanence of all things on Earth compared to the Kingdom.
• Not against saving: The prohibition is against laying up for oneself as a life's ambition or source of security. It's distinct from prudent saving for a family or emergency, provided the heart's ultimate trust remains in God.

Matthew 6 19 Commentary

Matthew 6:19 serves as a crucial ethical and spiritual principle within Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, directing the disciples' worldview away from materialism. It is not an absolute condemnation of wealth itself, nor a command to live in abject poverty, but rather a sharp critique of the motivation and security derived from earthly accumulation. The imperative "Do not lay up for yourselves" targets the heart's attachment and the intention behind amassing possessions for self-comfort or self-glorification. Jesus uses common ancient vulnerabilities—moths destroying clothing, rust corrupting metals, and thieves breaching homes—to vividly illustrate that any earthly store, regardless of its form, is fundamentally insecure and subject to inevitable loss. The call is to prioritize that which endures, refocusing one's desires, efforts, and ultimate trust away from the fleeting world and towards the eternal reality of God's Kingdom. It establishes the spiritual economy where acts of righteousness, love, and faith contribute to an imperishable "heavenly account."