Grant B. Caldwell
09/22/08
Jesus said, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21). The primary principle enunciated in the sermon on the mount is explained in Matthew 5:20: Our righteousness must be genuinely spiritual, not outward and worldly like the scribes and Pharisees. Matthew 6 illustrates this point in two ways. First, in verses 1 through 18, Jesus cites three common religious practices — giving, praying, and fasting. Previous lessons were designed to study these three practices. Second, in verses 19 through 24, Jesus uses three metaphors to further emphasize this major point. Observe them briefly in this lesson and more detail will be given in following investigations.
Treasures — Since early in the sermon, Jesus has been discussing rewards.We may do what we do for the reward we receive here in this life, be it fame, fun, or fortune, or we may truly do it for the Lord. The word treasure in the original language is thesauros which is "the place in which goods and precious things are collected and laid up" (Thayer, page 290). This is the word from which we get our word thesaurus which is a treasury of words. Jesus later asked what profit it would be if you gain the whole world and lose your own soul (Matthew 16:26).
Light and Sight — Again from earlier in the sermon (5:14), Jesus illustrates His major thesis with the illustration of light. It is commonly understood in medical circles that the way we see anything is by light which is reflected from an object into the eye. But if the eye cannot receive the light, the whole body is full of darkness. Just so with the spiritual body. The light is the word of God (Psalm 119:105). If we are blinded by worldly desires and selfish ambitions; if our purpose in life is to receive the praise of men and not the praise of God; if our only aspiration is feel good physically; then we will not be able to see the beautiful world God has created for them that love Him. Jesus said the blind lead the blind and both fall into the ditch (Matthew 15:14). "There is none so blind as him who will not see."
Slavery — The third illustration is that of servitude. The scribes and Pharisees were busy trying to serve God and man — both at the same time. Jesus said this simply could not be done. The reason is that God and man have different purposes, views, and goals in life. If we are going to serve man at all, forget God. Jesus said this person should "make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon (wealth), that when you fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations" (Luke 16:9). What will you have when this world is over?