In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks of treasures in heaven. This teaching is found in Matthew 6:19-21. Jesus’ instruction here is an important one for Christians to understand. It encourages us to store up our treasures not here on earth, but rather in heaven where they will remain safe and secure forever. Let’s explore this teaching more closely.
The Context of Jesus’ Instruction
To better understand why Jesus instructed us to lay up treasures in heaven, we must first look at the context of this teaching. In verses 19-21, Jesus warns against laying “up treasure upon earth” (v 19, ESV). Instead, He commands us to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (v 20). He then explains that where our treasure is, there our hearts will be also (v 21), and that no one can serve two masters (v 24). The context helps us understand that Jesus is warning us against storing up earthly treasures—things like money, wealth, and possessions—and is instead encouraging us to focus our attention and affections on heavenly rewards. In other words, He is telling his disciples to set their minds on eternal things instead of worldly ones.
What Does it Mean?
So, what does it mean when Jesus tells us to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven”? It means that as believers we should seek after things that have eternal value such as righteousness (Romans 5:18) and knowledge of God’s Word (2 Timothy 2:15). We are encouraged to pursue worthwhile goals such as ministering to others and sharing the gospel with those who do not know Christ (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). These activities create a legacy that will bring glory to God into eternity and are far more valuable than any earthly wealth or possessions we could gather. As Paul writes in Philippians 3:8, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
Understanding Jesus’ instruction on treasures in heaven from the Sermon on the Mount helps us see how important it is for followers of Christ to focus their attention and affections on things which have eternal value rather than those which only last while we are here on earth. By pursuing activities such as ministering to others and sharing the gospel with those who do not know Christ, we can lay up true treasures in heaven which will bring glory to God into eternity. May we all strive daily towards this goal!
For a more, join us for our series on the Sermon on the Mount.
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