Matthew 6:16-21 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:21

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. This seems to be a proverbial expression, and contains in it another reason, dissuading from worldly mindedness; because of the danger the heart is in of being ensnared and ruined thereby: and the sense of it is, if your treasure is on earth, and lies in earthly things, your hearts will be set upon them, and be in them, in your bags, your coffers and storehouses; and so your souls will be in danger of being lost; which loss will be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:16

When ye fast - A fast is termed by the Greeks νηϚις , from νη not, and εσθειν to eat; hence fast means, a total abstinence from food for a certain time. Abstaining from flesh, and living on fish, vegetables, etc., is no fast, or may be rather considered a burlesque on fasting. Many pretend to take the true definition of a fast from Isaiah 58:3 , and say that it means a fast from sin. This is a mistake; there is no such term in the Bible as fasting from sin; the very idea is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:17

Anoint thine head and wash thy face - These were forbidden in the Jewish canon on days of fasting and humiliation; and hypocrites availed themselves of this ordinance, that they might appear to fast. Our Lord, therefore, cautions us against this: as if he had said, Affect nothing - dress in thy ordinary manner, and let the whole of thy deportment prove that thou desirest to recommend my soul to God, and not thy face to men. That factitious mourning, which consists in putting on black... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:18

Thy father which seeth in secret - Let us not be afraid that our hearts can be concealed from God; but let us fear lest he perceive them to be more desirous of the praise of men than they are of that glory which comes from Him. Openly - Εν τω φανερω . These words are omitted by nine MSS. in uncial letters; and by more than one hundred others, by most of the versions, and by several of the primitive fathers. As it is supported by no adequate authority, Bengel, Wetstein, Griesbach, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:19

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth - What blindness is it for a man to lay up that as a treasure which must necessarily perish! A heart designed for God and eternity is terribly degraded by being fixed on those things which are subject to corruption. "But may we not lay up treasure innocently?" Yes. 1st. If you can do it without setting your heart on it, which is almost impossible: and read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:20

Lay 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 bounty of God: and if we give back to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:21

Where your treasure is - If God be the treasure of our souls, our hearts, i.e. our affections and desires will be placed on things above. An earthly minded man proves that his treasure is below; a heavenly minded man shows that his treasure is above. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:16

Verse 16 He again returns to the former doctrine: for, having begun to rebuke vain ostentation in alms and prayer, he laid down, before proceeding farther, the rule for praying in a right manner. The same injunction is now given to his disciples about fasting, which he had formerly given about prayers and alms, not to be too solicitous to obtain the applause of spectators, but to have God as the witness of their actions. When he bids them anoint their head, and wash their face, his language is... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:19

Verse 19 Matthew 6:19.Lay not up. This deadly plague reigns everywhere throughout the world. Men are grown mad with an insatiable desire of gain. Christ charges them with folly, in collecting wealth with great care, and then giving up their happiness to moths and to rust, or exposing it as a prey to thieves. What is more unreasonable than to place their property, where it may perish of itself, or be carried off by men? (450) Covetous men, indeed, take no thought of this. They lock up their... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:20

Verse 20 20.But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven They are said to do so, who, instead of entangling themselves in the snares of this world, make it their care and their business to meditate on the heavenly life. In Luke’s narrative, no mention is made of the contrast between laying up treasures on the earth and laying up treasures in heaven; and he refers to a different occasion for the command of Christ to prepare bags, which do not grow old: for he had previously said, Sell what you... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:19

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:20

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:16

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:19

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:20

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