Matthew 6:19-20

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:19

Lay not up … but lay up ( Matthew 6:20 ). Lay up treasure indeed, but in the right place (cf. a still more striking case in John 6:27 ); observe that in both cases it is "for yourselves." Lightfoot ('Hor. Hebr.,' on verse 1) quotes an interesting Haggada from Talm. Jeremiah,' Peah,' 15b (equivalent to Talm. Bob., 'Baba Bathra,' 11 a ), in which "Monobazes, the king," when blamed for giving so much to the poor, defends himself at length: "My fathers laid up their wealth on earth; I lay... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:19-21

Matthew 6:19 comes here only, but Matthew 6:20 , Matthew 6:21 have much in common with Luke 12:33 , Luke 12:34 . They are there in the middle of a long discourse ( Luke 12:22-53 ), which immediately follows the parable of the rich fool, itself spoken on the occasion when a man wished his brother to divide the inheritance with him. There seems no reason to believe that that discourse is at all necessarily in historical position, and that our verses belong originally to it and to its... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:19-21

The two treasuries. The earthly and the heavenly treasuries are first compared together, and then the reason is given for preferring the latter. I. THE EARTHLY TREASURY . 1 . Its locality. A treasury on earth. The thought is of the accumulation of material wealth. This may be of the choicest kind—works of art, gold, and jewels. Still, it is all earthly, and it does not imply any share in heavenly things, any portion in the unseen world. 2 . Its imperfection. Even while... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:19-21

The treasure laid up on earth. It is most unimportant, in meditating on the succeeding portions of this wonderful discourse of our Lord, to insist on tracing some imagined connection between them. If on the surface it be plain, or if by careful examination it becomes plain, let us love to notice it, and to learn its continual contribution to the instructiveness and beauty of the teaching. Otherwise there is no incumbent necessity or advantage in stringing such pearls as these, at any rate.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:19-21

Hoarding. The all-absorbing desire of humanity is happiness. A depraved heart naturally seeks this in the world. Money, which "answereth all things," is the exponent of the world's good. Hence the feverish desire to accumulate money. Wealth comes to be loved and laid up because it is loved. This hoarding is sin. I. MAKING PROPER PROVISION FOR THE FUTURE IS NOT HERE CONDEMNED . 1. God commends this prudence in his system of nature. 2 . He commends it in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:19-34

(1) The principle of regarding God alone in our religious actions is also to be maintained in the relation that we hold to wealth in the broadest sense. Matthew 6:19-21 : seek true wealth, because earthly wealth, though gathered, may be rendered useless by earth's chances. Matthew 6:22 , Matthew 6:23 : further, because it is the single eye that receives the light. Matthew 6:24 : in fact divided service is impossible. Matthew 6:25-34 : place God first, and he will provide. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:19-34

The fourth part of the sermon: self-consecration. I. THE WHOLE MAN MUST BE GIVEN TO GOD . 1 . The heart. God asks for it. "Give me thy heart," he says to each of us. The heart will be where the treasure is. Where is our treasure, our chief good, the object of our strongest desires? If it is on earth, it will fail us at the last. "I must leave all this! I must leave all this!" was the sad cry of the great French statesman, Cardinal Mazarin, when, stricken already by the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:19-34

Sermon on the mount: 5. Thought for the morrow. There has been set before us a righteousness, perfect in its outward expression and in its root, and if now we ask—How are we to attain this? we are told—By loving it. That is the only way. "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Your likings are the eyes of your inner man; if they are rightly placed your whole life will be right. Just as a man has an organ to guide him in the physical world, so he has an organ for his guiding... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:20

But lay up ( Matthew 6:19 , note). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:20

The treasures of character. "Treasures in heaven." "Here moral excellence is put in contrast with material treasure. Men are to seek nobility of character, riches of feeling, strength of manhood, and not perishable wealth." Character is called "treasure in heaven," because it alone goes with us into the unseen world. It belongs to us; it cannot be parted from us. It is not something that we have; it is that which we are , wherever we are. I. THE INSECURITY OF ALL TREASURE ... read more

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