Matthew 6:19

Matthew 6:19

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

a. NLT: “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.

b. NIV: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

c. YLT: 'Treasure not up to yourselves treasures on the earth, where moth and rust disfigure, and where thieves break through and steal,

d. AMP: Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal.

e. Worrell Translation: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;

1. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth…”

a. lay…up [2343 * thesaurizo] [Strong: from 2344; to amass or reserve (literally or figuratively):--lay up (treasure), (keep) in store, (heap) treasure (together, up).]

b. not [3361 * me] [Strong:  a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether:--any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations.]

c. for yourselves [5213 * humin] [Strong: irregular dative case of 5210; to (with or by) you:--ye, you, your(-selves).]

d. treasures [2344 * thesauros] [Strong: from 5087; a deposit, i.e. wealth (literally or figuratively):--treasure.]

e. upon [1909 * epi] [Strong: a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).

f. earth [1093 * ge] [Strong: contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (including the occupants in each application):--country, earth(-ly), ground, land, world.]

1). We are not to labor to be rich.

a). Proverbs 23:4, 5 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

23:4 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

2). Those who strive to be rich cause a whole lot of problems for themselves and hinder their relationship with God.

a). 1 Timothy 6:6-10 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

6:9 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.

6:10 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.

3). Jesus warned against covetousness.

a). Luke 12:15-21 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

12:16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

12:17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

12:18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

b). In the parable the rich man was doing alright up until verse 18. When God blesses sometimes we may have to build. This man was laying up treasure on earth. His sin was not that he was rich, but that he was selfish and not rich toward God.

4). We must not let our wealth become our security.

a). Proverbs 18:11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.  

2. “…where moth and rust doth corrupt…”

a. where [3699 * hopou] [Strong: from 3739 and 4225; what(-ever) where, i.e. at whichever spot:--in what place, where(-as, -soever), whither (+ soever).]

b. moth [4597 * ses] [Strong: apparently of Hebrew origin (5580); a moth:--moth.]

c. and [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

d. rust [1035 * brosis] [Strong: from the base of 977; (abstractly) eating (literally or figuratively); by extension (concretely) food (literally or figuratively):--eating, food, meat.]

e. doth corrupt [853 * aphanizo] [Strong: from 852; to render unapparent, i.e. (actively) consume (becloud), or (passively) disappear (be destroyed):-- corrupt, disfigure, perish, vanish away.]

3. “…and where thieves break through and steal:”

a. and [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. where [3699 * hopou] [Strong: from 3739 and 4225; what(-ever) where, i.e. at whichever spot:--in what place, where(-as, -soever), whither (+ soever).]

c. thieves [2812 * kleptes] [Strong: from 2813; a stealer (literally or figuratively):--thief.]

d. break through [1358 * diorusso] [Strong: from 1223 and 3736; to penetrate burglariously:--break through (up).]

e. and [2532 * kai] See “and” above.

f. steal [2813 * klepto] [Strong: a primary verb; to filch:--steal.]

1). Jesus called the devil a thief.

a). John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

b). The devil is after your soul, your life and your money. He wants to steal it all.