19Do not habitually store up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where corrosion and consumption destroy, and where thieves dig through and steal. [6:20] But store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where neither corrosion nor consumption destroys, and where thieves do not dig through and steal. [6:21] For where your treasure is, there your core being will be also.
MAT 6:19-21
Treasures in Heaven
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st-century Mediterranean world, wealth was often stored in physical forms such as grain, clothing, or precious metals, which were vulnerable to decay, theft, or destruction. Moths could ruin textiles, and '' (consumption) could refer to pests eating stored grain or metal corroding. Thieves breaking in ('') was a common concern, as homes were often made of mudbrick or stone, easily breached. Wealth accumulation ('') was a marker of status and security in a society where patronage and economic instability were pervasive. However, Jesus contrasts this with 'treasures in heaven,' a concept rooted in Jewish thought where good deeds and faithfulness to God were seen as eternal investments. The 'heart' ('') was understood as the center of one’s desires and priorities, not just emotions. This teaching challenges the cultural norm of seeking security in material wealth, redirecting focus toward values that transcend earthly vulnerability.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
MAT 6:19
- KJV
- Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, 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.
- Koinōnos
- Do not habitually store up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where corrosion and consumption destroy, and where thieves dig through and steal.
MAT 6:20
- 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:
- BSB
- But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
- Koinōnos
- But store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where neither corrosion nor consumption destroys, and where thieves do not dig through and steal.
MAT 6:21
- KJV
- For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
- BSB
- For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
- Koinōnos
- For where your treasure is, there your core being will be also.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 6:19
- do store up:The word translated 'do store up' implies a continuous, habitual action of accumulating and hoarding, suggesting a lifestyle of gathering possessions.
- rust:The word translated 'rust' here literally means 'eating' or 'corrosion,' referring to anything that consumes or wastes away material possessions, not just metallic rust.
- break in:The phrase 'break in' refers specifically to digging through a wall, which was a common method of burglary in ancient times when houses were often made of mud brick.
MAT 6:21
- heart:The word translated 'heart' in this context refers to the core of a person's being—their intellect, emotions, will, and moral character—not just the physical organ.