Matthew 6 21

Matthew 6:21 kjv

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Matthew 6:21 nkjv

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:21 niv

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:21 esv

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:21 nlt

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Matthew 6 verses

Matthew 6 21 Meaning

This verse encapsulates a fundamental truth about human nature and devotion: where a person invests their most valued assets, whether material possessions, time, energy, or affection, there their deepest desires, will, and innermost self will inevitably reside. It underscores that one's true allegiance is revealed by what they consider their ultimate treasure and security, dictating the focus and direction of their life.

Matthew 6 21 Context

Matthew 6:21 is a pivotal verse within Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, specifically nestled in His discourse on true righteousness versus external show. Preceding this verse (Matthew 6:1-18), Jesus critiques the hypocritical practices of the Pharisees concerning giving, prayer, and fasting, stressing that divine reward follows secret, sincere devotion. Immediately before Matthew 6:21 (vv. 19-20), Jesus explicitly commands His followers not to accumulate perishable earthly treasures, but imperishable heavenly treasures. This verse (v. 21) serves as the explanatory principle: the motivation behind one's treasure-seeking (earthly vs. heavenly) inevitably defines the core allegiance of their heart. Historically, many Jewish people, while pious, often sought security and prosperity in earthly means, mirroring the practices of the Gentile world. Jesus, through this teaching, provides a radical alternative to the pervasive material concerns, directly challenging any cultural beliefs that prioritize worldly accumulation over spiritual investment in God's Kingdom.

Matthew 6 21 Word analysis

• For (γάρ - gar): A conjunction indicating explanation or reason. It connects the idea of heart's location to the previous instruction about where to store one's treasures.
• where (ὅπου - hopou): An adverb of place, here used to denote correlation or correspondence, emphasizing the inevitable connection.
• your treasure (ὁ θησαυρός σου - ho thēsauros sou):
  • thēsauros: From a root meaning "to put, to place," referring to accumulated stores, wealth, or valuables. It can denote a physical repository (e.g., treasury, strongbox) or the contents within it (e.g., gold, grain, clothes). Biblically, it also encompasses one's most valued possessions, priorities, or what one relies on for security. Here, it contrasts with fleeting earthly assets, implying true, eternal value.
  • sou: The possessive pronoun "your," making the statement personal and direct to each listener.
• is (ἐστίν - estin): A verb of being, indicating a present, factual, and unwavering state.
• there (ἐκεῖ - ekei): An adverb of place, reinforcing the locative correspondence, indicating where the heart will be.
• your heart (ἡ καρδία σου - hē kardia sou):
  • kardia: In the biblical sense, the "heart" is far more than the seat of emotion. It represents the innermost core of a person – the seat of intellect, will, reason, decision, conscience, character, desires, and intentions. It is the spring from which life's actions flow and where true loyalty resides. It encompasses the entirety of one's inner being.
  • sou: Again, "your," highlighting the personal nature of one's inner commitment.
• will be (ἔσται - estai): Future indicative form of "to be," conveying certainty and inevitability. This is not a mere possibility or a recommendation but a foundational principle: the heart will follow the treasure.
• also (καί - kai): A conjunction, here serving an intensifying or emphatic function, signifying "there, even there" or "there as well," solidifying the inseparable connection.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "For where your treasure is": This phrase establishes the focal point of an individual's life. What someone designates as their "treasure" indicates their highest priority, ultimate value, and what they believe brings them the greatest security, joy, or satisfaction. This treasure is not merely financial wealth, but anything that occupies the mind, effort, and affection above all else.
• "there your heart will be also": This part states the immutable consequence of the "treasure" chosen. The "heart," representing the entirety of one's inner self – including desires, motivations, intellect, and will – naturally gravitates towards, and becomes fixated on, what it deems most valuable. This signifies a unified and inescapable connection between one's ultimate priorities and their core being, revealing that external actions are simply an outflow of internal allegiances.

Matthew 6 21 Bonus section

• The principle presented here by Jesus suggests a diagnostic power to one's actions and focus. It implies that true piety is not merely outward observance but is fundamentally determined by the heart's alignment with its chosen treasure.
• This verse underpins the concept of "Lordship"—acknowledging Jesus Christ as ultimate authority means positioning Him and His Kingdom as the preeminent treasure of the heart.
• It counters a compartmentalized life where one might claim spiritual devotion yet remain deeply attached to worldly pursuits. Jesus declares that the heart's true location cannot be hidden.
• The profound connection between treasure and heart highlights the unified nature of human beings, where actions, thoughts, and emotions are inextricably linked to a core driving force.

Matthew 6 21 Commentary

Matthew 6:21 distills a profound spiritual truth, serving as the psychological and theological rationale for Jesus' earlier injunctions on heavenly treasure. It reveals an inseparable law of the human spirit: the focus of our deepest affections and the orientation of our will are always directed towards what we consider our ultimate value. If one's treasure is earthly, consumed with material gain, reputation, or worldly security, then the heart will be inevitably entangled with anxiety, greed, and the pursuit of fleeting gratification. Conversely, if God and His eternal Kingdom are the chosen treasure, the heart's affections, security, and true desires will be firmly anchored in everlasting realities. This verse provides a penetrating self-diagnostic: examining what one worries about, what one celebrates, where one consistently invests time and resources, and what provides one's greatest sense of security, reveals the true allegiance of the heart. It's an implicit call to radically re-evaluate priorities and to intentionally fix the heart's ultimate loyalty on the things of God. For practical application, consider:

• Finances: Do spending habits reflect love for worldly comfort or commitment to kingdom causes?
• Time: How much time is devoted to accumulating temporal goods versus cultivating a relationship with God and serving others?
• Worries: Are anxieties dominated by earthly losses or eternal concerns?
• Aspirations: Are life's deepest hopes rooted in worldly success or spiritual growth and God's glory?