Matthew 6:20

Matthew 6:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
• New International Version (NIV)But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
• English Standard Version (ESV)but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
• New King James Version (NKJV)but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Context of Matthew 6:20

18so that your fasting will not be noticed by people, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you. 19“Do not store up for yourselves [material] treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal; 21for where your treasure is, there your heart [your wishes, your desires; that on which your life centers] will be also. 22“The eye is the lamp of the body; so if your eye is clear [spiritually perceptive], your whole body will be full of light [benefiting from God’s precepts].

Matthew 6:20 word by word

θησαυρίζετε δὲ ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐν οὐρανῷ, ὅπου οὔτε σὴς οὔτε βρῶσις ἀφανίζει καὶ ὅπου κλέπται οὐ διορύσσουσιν οὐδὲ κλέπτουσιν·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• lay upθησαυρίζωthēsaurizō · to store upG2343
• for yourselvesσύsu · youG4771
• treasuresθησαυρόςthēsauros · treasureG2344
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
• whereὅπουhopou · where(-ever)G3699
• neitherοὔτεoute · neitherG3777
• mothσήςsēs · mothG4597
• rustβρῶσιςbrōsis · eatingG1035
• doth corruptἀφανίζωaphanizō · to destroyG853
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• thievesκλέπτηςkleptēs · thiefG2812
• doδιορύσσωdiorussō · to break inG1358
• notοὐou · noG3756
• norοὐδέoude · norG3761
• stealκλέπτωkleptō · to stealG2813

Cross-references for Matthew 6:20

• Matthew 19:21Jesus answered him, “If you wish to be perfect [that is, have the spiritual maturity that accompanies godly character with no moral or ethical deficiencies], go and sell what you have and give [the money] to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me [becoming My disciple, believing and trusting in Me and walking the same path of life that I walk].”
• Isaiah 33:6And He will be the security and stability of your times, A treasure of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; The fear of the Lord is your treasure.
• Luke 12:33“Sell your possessions (show compassion) and give [donations] to the poor. Provide money belts for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing and inexhaustible treasure in the heavens, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
• Luke 18:22When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “You still lack one thing; sell everything that you have and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have [abundant] treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me [becoming My disciple, believing and trusting in Me and walking the same path of life that I walk].”
• 1 Timothy 6:17As for the rich in this present world, instruct them not to be conceited and arrogant, nor to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
• Hebrews 10:34For you showed sympathy and deep concern for those who were imprisoned, and you joyfully accepted the [unjust] seizure of your belongings and the confiscation of your property, conscious of the fact that you have a better possession and a lasting one [prepared for you in heaven].
• Hebrews 11:26He considered the reproach of the Christ [that is, the rebuke he would suffer for his faithful obedience to God] to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt; for he looked ahead to the reward [promised by God].
• James 2:5Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters: has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and [as believers to be] heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
• 1 Peter 1:4[born anew] into an inheritance which is imperishable [beyond the reach of change] and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,
• 1 Peter 5:4And when the Chief Shepherd (Christ) appears, you will receive the [conqueror’s] unfading crown of glory.
• Revelation 2:9‘I know your suffering and your poverty (but you are rich), and how you are blasphemed and slandered by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan [they are Jews only by blood, and do not believe and truly honor the God whom they claim to worship].

Commentaries on Matthew 6:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Lay up - treasures in heaven - "The only way to render perishing goods eternal, to secure stately furniture from moths, and the richest metals from canker, and precious stones from thieves, is to transmit them to heaven by acts of charity. This is a kind of bill of exchange which cannot fail of acceptance, but through our own fault." Quesnel. It is certain we have not the smallest portion of temporal good, but what we have received from the unmerited…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven - That is, have provision made for your eternal felicity. Do not exhaust your strength and spend your days in providing for the life here, but let your chief anxiety be to be prepared for eternity. Compare the notes at Isaiah 55:2. In heaven nothing corrupts; nothing terminates; no enemies plunder or destroy. To have treasure in heaven is to possess evidence that its purity and joys will be ours. It is to be heirs…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-24Verses 19-24 Worldly-mindedness is a common and fatal symptom of hypocrisy, for by no sin can Satan have a surer and faster hold of the soul, under the cloak of a profession of religion. Something the soul will have, which it looks upon as the best thing; in which it has pleasure and confidence above other things. Christ counsels to make our best things the joys and glories of the other world, those things not seen which are eternal, and to place our…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20Treasures in heaven: For Jews during the time of Jesus, this was a common image. Obeying God’s commands was seen as storing up treasures with God. The context (6:19; Luke 12:33) shows that Jesus was mainly referring to acts of charity.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven--The language in Luke (Lu 12:33) is very bold--"Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not," &c. where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal--Treasures these, imperishable and unassailable! (Compare Col 3:2).Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 6:20

• Commandments
• Covetousness
• Heaven
• Moth
• Religion
• Riches
• Theft and Thieves

In the dictionaries

• Add
• Appear
• Closet
• Consider
• Corrupt
• Countenance
• Covetousness
• Despise
• Dwell
• Fast

Commentaries on Matthew 6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings