Matthew 6:19 ¶ Lay not up
for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and
where thieves break through and steal: 20
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor
rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your
heart be also. 22 The light of the body
is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of
light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy
whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be
darkness, how great is that darkness! 24
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love
the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot
serve God and mammon.
Here is a great lesson on what should be the Christian’s
priorities. There are many verses and episodes in the Old and New Testament
that buttress what Jesus is saying here including those who warn against
depending on earthly riches.
Psalm 39:6 Surely every man
walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up
riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
Psalm 62:10 Trust not in
oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your
heart upon them.
Proverbs 11:4 ¶ Riches
profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
Proverbs 16:16 ¶ How much
better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be
chosen than silver!
Luke 12:21 So is he that
layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Luke 18:24 And when Jesus
saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches
enter into the kingdom of God!
1Timothy 6:8 And having
food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into
many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of
all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and
pierced themselves through with many sorrows…17
Charge 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;
The word single in verse 22 is interesting. It is
translated from a Greek word, according to Strong’s Dictionary, meaning whole
or sound. Notice that single is contrasted with evil in this passage,
indicating health and soundness on the one hand and diseased or malfunctioning
on the other. A spiritually healthy person serves God and places their trust
and hope in heaven while a sick and twisted person places their confidence in
the riches of the world.
You can’t serve both God and mammon, an Aramaic word used here to
personify worldly wealth in contrast to God.
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