New Testament · Gospel

Matthew 6:20

Treasures and Worry

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:20 · Berean Standard Bible
What It Means

Matthew 6:20, in plain English

Instead, invest in things that matter to God, things that last forever and can never be taken from you.

Why it's here

Jesus isn't saying possessions are evil; He's showing you a better place to put your heart's energy.

Who's speaking

Jesus, pointing you toward what truly lasts.

Where it sits in the story

This is an invitation to live with an eternal perspective, storing up what really matters in the long run.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

In contrast to earthly treasures, heavenly treasure is immune to decay and theft, representing an imperishable investment in God's eternal kingdom.

Language and setting

The concept of heavenly reward was familiar in Jewish thought, but Jesus elevates it as the primary orientation for His followers' lives.

Voice

Jesus, teaching on eternal investment.

Significance

This verse reframes wealth not as something to abandon but to redirect toward what lasts forever in God's economy.

In context

Matthew 6:18–22

18so that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

19Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.

Read all of Matthew 6 — Jesus redefines wealth, prayer, and anxiety in a single breath. The lilies and the birds become his unlikely teachers.

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