Treasures and Serving God
Matthew 6:19-24
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Matt.6.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Μη: PART
- θησαυριζετε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- θησαυρους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- επι: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- οπου: ADV
- σης: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- βρωσις: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- αφανιζει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- οπου: ADV
- κλεπται: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- διορυσσουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- και: CONJ
- κλεπτουσιν·: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Matt.6.20-21 (structural): Immediate literary continuation: contrasts storing treasures on earth with storing treasures in heaven and links treasure to the disposition of the heart.
- Luke 12:33-34 (verbal): Parallel saying of Jesus: sell possessions, give to the poor, and 'provide purses for yourselves that do not wear out'—same language and concept of treasures in heaven.
- 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (thematic): Paulic echo of the ethical response to wealth: do good, be generous, and thereby 'lay hold of eternal life' and store up a good foundation for the future—similar exhortation about heavenly rather than earthly investment.
- James 5:1-3 (thematic): Strong prophetic critique of hoarded wealth that will perish and testify against its owners—shares the motif of the transience and moral danger of earthly treasures.
- Proverbs 23:4-5 (verbal): Wisdom reflection on the futility and transience of pursuing riches ('when you set your eyes on it, it is gone') that parallels Jesus' warning that earth-bound treasure is subject to decay and loss.
Alternative generated candidates
- Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
- Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
Matt.6.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- θησαυριζετε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- δε: CONJ
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- θησαυρους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- ουρανω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- οπου: ADV
- ουτε: CONJ
- σης: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ουτε: CONJ
- βρωσις: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- αφανιζει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- οπου: ADV
- κλεπται: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- ου: PART,neg
- διορυσσουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- ουδε: CONJ
- κλεπτουσιν·: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Matt.6:19 (structural): Immediate parallel in the Sermon on the Mount: contrasts storing up treasures on earth with storing up treasures in heaven (the two-verse unit forms a single teaching).
- Luke 12:33-34 (verbal): Very similar saying in Luke: sell possessions, give to the poor, and 'where your treasure is, there your heart will be also'—same exhortation to heavenly rather than earthly wealth.
- Matt.19:21 (thematic): Jesus tells the rich young ruler to sell his possessions and 'have treasure in heaven,' echoing the same call to prioritize heavenly treasure over earthly riches.
- 1 Tim.6:17-19 (thematic): Paulic application: the wealthy should do good, be generous, and thereby 'lay up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future'—uses the language and motive of heavenly treasure.
- Colossians 3:2 (thematic): Calls believers to set minds on things above rather than earthly things, reflecting the same spiritual orientation behind storing up treasure in heaven.
Alternative generated candidates
- But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
- But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal.
Matt.6.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οπου: ADV,rel
- γαρ: PART
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θησαυρος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- εκει: ADV
- εσται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- καρδια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
Parallels
- Luke 12:34 (verbal): Lukan parallel with nearly identical wording: 'For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.'
- Matthew 6:19-20 (structural): Immediate Sermon on the Mount context: contrasts earthly vs. heavenly treasures and leads directly to 6:21's observation about the heart's orientation.
- Colossians 3:2 (thematic): Commands believers to set minds on things above rather than earthly things, echoing the call to place one's treasure (and thus heart) in heaven.
- 1 Timothy 6:10 (allusion): Warns that the love of money leads to evil, thematically opposing the counsel to value heavenly treasure so the heart is not bound to wealth.
- Proverbs 4:23 (thematic): Emphasizes guarding the heart because it determines life’s course, resonating with Jesus’ claim that the heart follows one's treasure.
Alternative generated candidates
- For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
- For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matt.6.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- λυχνος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,m
- σωματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- οφθαλμος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εαν: CONJ
- ουν: PART
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- οφθαλμος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- απλους: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ολον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- σωμα: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- φωτεινον: ADJ,acc,sg,n
- εσται·: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Luke 11:34-36 (verbal): Nearly identical saying in Luke: the eye is the lamp of the body; healthy/evil eye fills the body with light/darkness — same metaphor and wording.
- Matthew 6:23 (structural): Immediate parallel within Matthew: the contrasting clause (if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness) completes the same metaphor and teaching unit.
- Proverbs 20:27 (thematic): Uses lamp imagery for inner life: 'The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD,' linking inward illumination with moral/spiritual perception.
- Ephesians 1:18 (thematic): Paul prays that the 'eyes of your heart' be enlightened — similar figurative use of 'eye' and light to describe spiritual insight and illumination.
Alternative generated candidates
- The eye is the lamp of the body; so if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.
- The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.
Matt.6.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εαν: CONJ
- δε: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- οφθαλμος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- πονηρος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- ολον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- σωμα: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- σκοτεινον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- εσται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- ουν: PART
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- φως: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- εν: PREP
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- σκοτος: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- σκοτος: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- ποσον: ADV
Parallels
- Matthew 6:22 (verbal): Immediate parallel in the same teaching: the eye is called the lamp of the body; a healthy/clear eye lets in light, an evil/poor eye brings darkness (sets up 6:23's consequence).
- Luke 11:34-36 (verbal): A close Synoptic parallel recounting the same image of the eye as lamp and the whole body being full of light or darkness, including the concluding rhetorical question about the light in you.
- Luke 8:16 (structural): Related light/lamp imagery in a different teaching: the parable that a lamp is not hidden but set on a stand—echoes concern that inner light (or its absence) affects outward life.
- 1 John 2:9-11 (thematic): Develops the moral paradox of claiming to be 'in the light' while actually living in darkness; highlights inward moral condition manifested externally, similar to Matt 6:23's inner light/darkness.
- John 3:20 (thematic): Speaks of people who do evil and 'hate the light' because their works are exposed—connects the moral consequences of darkness and the exposing function of light found in Matthew 6:23.
Alternative generated candidates
- But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
- But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
Matt.6.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ουδεις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- δυναται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- δυσι: NUM,dat,pl,m
- κυριοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- δουλευειν·η: VERB,pres,act,inf
- γαρ: PART
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ενα: NUM,acc,sg,m
- μισησει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ετερον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- αγαπησει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- ενος: NUM,gen,sg,m
- ανθεξεται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- του: ART,gen,sg,m
- ετερου: ADJ,gen,sg,m
- καταφρονησει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- ου: PART,neg
- δυνασθε: VERB,pres,mid,ind,2,pl
- θεω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- δουλευειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- και: CONJ
- μαμωνα: NOUN,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Luke 16:13 (quotation): Near-verbatim parallel in Luke’s Gospel: the same saying about no one being able to serve two masters and the impossibility of serving God and mammon.
- Romans 6:16 (verbal): Uses slave/servant imagery to make the same point about allegiance — if you present yourselves as slaves to obedience, you are slaves to the one you obey (implying exclusive loyalty).
- Joshua 24:15 (structural): Joshua’s call to decisive allegiance—'choose today whom you will serve'—is a thematic precedent for the demand to serve only one lord (Yahweh) rather than divided loyalties.
- 1 John 2:15 (thematic): Warns against loving the world, mirroring Matthew’s contrast between love/loyalty to God versus love of worldly wealth (mammon) and the incompatibility of divided devotion.
Alternative generated candidates
- No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
- No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
No one can serve two masters. For either they will hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.