Matthew 6:20

Sunday, 12 January 2025

 

but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:20

 

“And you, amass – yourselves – treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor an eating – it evaporates, and where stealers – they tunnel not, nor they steal” (CG).

 

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that His disciples shouldn’t amass for themselves treasures upon the earth. Now, He explains where amassing treasures is appropriate, beginning with, “And you, amass – yourselves – treasures in heaven.”

 

In the previous verse, Jesus said to not amass treasures “upon the earth.” Now He says to amass them “in heaven.” The realms are different, and the way to amass them in each of those places also differs.

 

Regardless of what dispensation a person lives, the only way to accomplish what Jesus says is through faith. Nothing earthly can be taken to heaven. Nothing done on earth meets the bar of heavenly rewards unless it is done in faith.

 

This is the primary lesson of Hebrews 11 where people from various dispensations are all rewarded for their faith. The actions were merely an outcropping of faith. It is faith, and faith alone, that bridges the span between the earthly and the heavenly realms in this regard.

 

To understand this, think of some prominent person who gives away a great deal for various charities, maybe Bill Gates. He has donated an extraordinary amount to AIDs research, for example.

 

His charitable foundation has totaled grant payments of $77.6 billion dollars. And yet, he is not a man of faith. As such, he has not amassed a single treasure in heaven. And more, if he doesn’t come to Jesus before he dies, he will be chucked into the same Lake of Fire where Adolph Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, and all of the other “bad” people of the earth will go. There is no buying one’s way into God’s favor. 

However, when deeds are done in faith, rewards are stored up for that person in heaven “where neither moth nor an eating – it evaporates, and where thieves – they tunnel not, nor they steal.”

 

In these words, Jesus has restated the same words as the previous verse but changed them according to the situation. The two verses, side by side, show the contrast –

 

You amass, not – yourselves – treasures upon the earth, where moth and an eating – it evaporates, and where stealers – they tunnel, and they steal.

 

And you, amass – yourselves – treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor an eating – it evaporates, and where stealers – they tunnel not, nor they steal.

 

These words of Jesus, though spoken under the law to His disciples, carry the same truth as those in the church today. Paul explains when and how these “treasures” will be received as rewards by those in the church in 1 Corinthians 3 and 2 Corinthians 5.

 

Those who live by faith and act in faith are saving up rewards that will be handed out at the Bema seat of Christ. Nothing done in faith will lose its reward.

 

Life application: As noted above, Hebrews 11 explains how something earthly becomes a source of reward in heaven. The precept is explained and then repeated time and again –

 

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:1-3

 

This is then followed by line after line of examples of faith: By faith Abel / By faith Enoch / By faith Noah / By faith Abraham / By faith Sarah / By faith Abraham (again) / By faith Isaac / By faith Jacob / By faith Joseph / etc.

 

But what does Paul say in Romans and Galatians? He demonstrates that law and faith are mutually exclusive –

 

“For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, 15 because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.” Romans 4:13-15

 

“What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.” Romans 9:30-32

 

“...knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” Galatians 2:16

 

“But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for ‘the just shall live by faith.’ 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but ‘the man who does them shall live by them.’” Galatians 3:11, 12

 

If you are attempting to merit God’s favor through law observance, you have set aside grace. You will receive no rewards, no treasures in heaven, for your conduct. Because you are not living by faith, even if you were once saved by faith, you should expect no rewards at all for your faithless life as you arrogantly set aside the grace of God found in Jesus Christ. Live by faith, put away your deeds of the law, and start amassing treasures that are truly heavenly.

 

Heavenly Father, how dull we are to assume that we can outdo Jesus through law observance. He has done it all! He has fulfilled the law! In Him, we are imputed His righteousness. Why would we look for another righteousness that is not of faith? How dull we are. Help us to not be so dull. Amen.