Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Parallel translations
- WEB “Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;
- BSB Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
- NKJV “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;
- NASB “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
- NLT “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Don't store up earthly treasures, which decay and can be stolen. Earthly wealth is fragile and cannot last.
Overview
Jesus shifts to the heart's investments, warning against making fleeting earthly possessions one's true treasure. Moth, rust, and thieves picture the vulnerability and impermanence of all material wealth. This is not a blanket condemnation of possessions but a warning against setting the heart's hope on them, preparing for the call to invest in eternity.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Heb 13:5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
- 1 Jn 2:15–16Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
- Luke 12:21So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
- Prov 23:4–5Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
- Prov 11:4Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
- Prov 16:16How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
- Jas 5:1–3Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
- 1 Tim 6:17Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
- 1 Tim 6:8–10And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
- Luke 18:22Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
- Luke 12:33Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
- Zeph 1:18Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.
- Eccl 5:10–14He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
- Luke 18:24And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
- Ps 62:10Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
- Ps 39:6Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
- Matt 19:21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
- Eccl 2:26For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
- Job 31:24If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 6:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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