Matthew 6:21 - Printer Friendly

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

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

NASB: for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

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

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

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

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

A person's priorities are reflected by two sets of records: checkbooks and appointment books. In other words, where a person spends their money and their time is proof of what they truly value. Saying "this is important to me" is hypocrisy if not backed up with the way our lives are lived.

This well-known verse goes to the heart of Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1–2). Most people in Jesus' audience grew up believing what mattered most to God was performance: action, behavior, and words. The Pharisees were thought to be the most spiritual because they closely followed behaviors tied to rules, regulations, and traditions. What Christ has been teaching is that God cares most about what His people are thinking and feeling. Righteous actions matter but are truly righteous only when accompanied by a devoted heart (Matthew 6:1–2, 5–6, 16–17).

Jesus has also applied this perspective to money. He has taught not to stockpile riches and possessions on earth. Those are temporary and easily lost. Instead, He has said, stockpile rewards in eternity by your true, inner devotion to God (Matthew 6:19–20). His point is not that Christians cannot have wealth, or they should not own anything. Rather, He means that we can only have one ultimate priority (Matthew 6:24), which should be God.

Attitudes toward wealth matter because our hearts are owned by whatever we consider our "treasure." That proves to be the real foundation of our thoughts, affection, and hopes. If we focus time, energy, and effort on building wealth for ourselves on earth, that wealth is what our hearts will focus on. If we focus on building rewards from God in heaven, our hearts will focus on the experience of enjoying that "treasure" forever. Rather than being motivated by temporary wealth, we'll emphasize honoring God and His will.

Matthew 6:19–24 contains Jesus' perspective on money and its place in the hearts of God's people. This flows directly from His teaching that inner thoughts and motivations are part of righteousness. God, and His will, are what matter, not the opinions of other people. Here, Jesus tells the crowds not to stockpile temporary treasure on earth. Rather, they should be working towards godly goals—''storing up'' rewards in heaven with choices driven by sincere devotion to God. Where we place our treasure indicates the real priority of our hearts. Those who live for worldly wealth live in inner darkness. Only one thing can be truly primary in a person's life. Each person must choose whether to serve God, or their own selfish interests.

The Sermon on the Mount continues in chapter 6, which is entirely composed of the words of Christ. Jesus teaches that God rewards deeds motivated by sincere devotion to Him, not by approval from other people. He teaches a simple and authentic model prayer. Christ warns against stockpiling money and possessions on earth. Instead, believers should make choices that store up treasure in heaven. A person's top priority can either be God, or money, but cannot be both. Along with that, Jesus says believers should fight against anxiety about daily needs. The heavenly Father knows what we need. All we need to do is pursue His kingdom and righteousness; He will take care of our needs, one day at a time.

Chapter 5 began Matthew's telling of the Sermon on the Mount. In that passage, Jesus pointed out that thoughts and attitudes are part of righteousness, just as much as actions. In Chapter 6, He explains how good deeds are only righteous when done out of sincere devotion to God, rather than for other people's approval. He also provides a model for prayer. Jesus explains how excessive worry, such as over money, interferes with faith in God. Knowing that God loves us should lead believers to trust Him, not to be anxious. Chapter 6 is one of the few chapters of the New Testament entirely composed of the words of Christ. In chapter 7 Jesus will introduce additional themes such as appropriate judgment, trust in God, and treatment of others.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.