New English Translation
Matthew 6:20
20But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.
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 it will not be obvious to others when you are fasting, but only to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. 19“Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22“The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.
Read all of Matthew 6Matthew 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 said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
- Isaiah 33:6He is your constant source of stability; he abundantly provides safety and great wisdom; he gives all this to those who fear him.
- Luke 12:33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves purses that do not wear out – a treasure in heaven that never decreases, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
- Luke 18:22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
- 1 Timothy 6:17Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.
- Hebrews 10:34For in fact you shared the sufferings of those in prison, and you accepted the confiscation of your belongings with joy, because you knew that you certainly had a better and lasting possession.
- Hebrews 11:26He regarded abuse suffered for Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for his eyes were fixed on the reward.
- James 2:5Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?
- 1 Peter 1:4that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you,
- 1 Peter 5:4Then when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away.
- Revelation 2:9‘I know the distress you are suffering and your poverty (but you are rich). I also know the slander against you by those who call themselves Jews and really are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
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
In the dictionaries
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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries