Matius 6:19-24

Lasting Treasure

6:19 “Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth ¹  and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 6:20 But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 6:21 For where your ²  treasure ³  is, there your heart will be also.

6:22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eye is healthy, ⁴  your whole body will be full of light. 6:23 But if your eye is diseased, ⁵  your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

6:24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate ⁶  the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise ⁷  the other. You cannot serve God and money. ⁸ 

Lukas 11:34-36

11:34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, ⁹  your whole body is full of light, but when it is diseased, ¹⁰  your body is full of darkness. 11:35 Therefore see to it ¹¹  that the light in you ¹²  is not darkness. 11:36 If ¹³  then ¹⁴  your whole body is full of light, with no part in the dark, ¹⁵  it will be as full of light as when the light of a lamp shines on you.” ¹⁶ 

Lukas 12:33-34

12:33 Sell your possessions ¹⁷  and give to the poor. ¹⁸  Provide yourselves purses that do not wear out – a treasure in heaven ¹⁹  that never decreases, ²⁰  where no thief approaches and no moth ²¹  destroys. 12:34 For where your treasure ²²  is, there your heart will be also.

Lukas 16:13

16:13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate ²³  the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise ²⁴  the other. You cannot serve God and money.” ²⁵ 

[6:19]  ¹ tn The term σής (shs) refers to moths in general. It is specifically the larvae of moths that destroy clothing by eating holes in it (L&N 4.49; BDAG 922 s.v.). See Jas 5:2, which mentions “moth-eaten” clothing.

[6:21]  ² tn The pronouns in this verse are singular while the pronouns in vv. 19-20 are plural. The change to singular emphasizes personal responsibility as opposed to corporate responsibility; even if others do not listen, the one who hears Jesus’ commands should obey.

[6:21]  ³ sn Seeking heavenly treasure means serving others and honoring God by doing so.

[6:22]  ⁴ tn Or “sound” (so L&N 23.132 and most scholars). A few scholars take this word to mean something like “generous” here (L&N 57.107). partly due to the immediate context concerning money, in which case the “eye” is a metonymy for the entire person (“if you are generous”).

[6:23]  ⁵ tn Or “if your eye is sick” (L&N 23.149).

[6:23]  sn There may be a slight wordplay here, as this term can also mean “evil,” so the figure uses a term that points to the real meaning of being careful as to what one pays attention to or looks at.

[6:24]  ⁶ sn The contrast between hate and love here is rhetorical. The point is that one will choose the favorite if a choice has to be made.

[6:24]  ⁷ tn Or “and treat [the other] with contempt.”

[6:24]  ⁸ tn Grk “God and mammon.”

[6:24]  sn The term money is used to translate mammon, the Aramaic term for wealth or possessions. The point is not that money is inherently evil, but that it is often misused so that it is a means of evil; see 1 Tim 6:6-10, 17-19. God must be first, not money or possessions.

[11:34]  ⁹ tn Or “sound” (so L&N 23.132 and most scholars). A few scholars take this word to mean something like “generous” here (L&N 57.107), partly due to the immediate context of this saying in Matt 6:22 which concerns money, in which case the “eye” is a metonymy for the entire person (“if you are generous”).

[11:34]  ¹⁰ tn Or “when it is sick” (L&N 23.149).

[11:34]  sn There may be a slight wordplay here, as this term can also mean “evil,” so the figure uses a term that points to the real meaning of being careful as to what one pays attention to or looks at.

[11:35]  ¹¹ tn This is a present imperative, calling for a constant watch (L&N 24.32; ExSyn 721).

[11:35]  ¹² sn Here you is a singular pronoun, individualizing the application.

[11:36]  ¹³ tn This is a first class condition in the Greek text, so the example ends on a hopeful, positive note.

[11:36]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “Therefore”; the same conjunction as at the beginning of v. 35, but since it indicates a further inference or conclusion, it has been translated “then” here.

[11:36]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “not having any part dark.”

[11:36]  ¹⁶ tn Grk “it will be completely illumined as when a lamp illumines you with its rays.”

[12:33]  ¹⁷ sn The call to sell your possessions is a call to a lack of attachment to the earth and a generosity as a result.

[12:33]  ¹⁸ tn Grk “give alms,” but this term is not in common use today.

[12:33]  ¹⁹ tn Grk “in the heavens.”

[12:33]  ²⁰ tn Or “an unfailing treasure in heaven,” or “an inexhaustible treasure in heaven.”

[12:33]  ²¹ tn The term σής (shs) refers to moths in general. It is specifically the larvae of moths that destroy clothing by eating holes in it (L&N 4.49; BDAG 922 s.v.). See Jas 5:2, which mentions “moth-eaten” clothing.

[12:34]  ²² sn Seeking heavenly treasure means serving others and honoring God by doing so; see Luke 6:35-36.

[16:13]  ²³ sn The contrast between hate and love here is rhetorical. The point is that one will choose the favorite if a choice has to be made.

[16:13]  ²⁴ tn Or “and treat [the other] with contempt.”

[16:13]  ²⁵ tn Grk “God and mammon.” This is the same word (μαμωνᾶς, mamwnas; often merely transliterated as “mammon”) translated “worldly wealth” in vv. 9, 11.

[16:13]  sn The term money is used to translate mammon, the Aramaic term for wealth or possessions. The point is not that money is inherently evil, but that it is often misused so that it is a means of evil; see 1 Tim 6:6-10, 17-19. God must be first, not money or possessions.