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Easy-to-Read Version

Matthew 6:20

Instead, save your treasures in heaven, where they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal them.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Commandments;   Covetousness;   Heaven;   Moth;   Religion;   Riches;   Theft and Thieves;   Thompson Chain Reference - Future, the;   Heaven;   Heavenly;   Home;   Investments, Spiritual;   Poverty-Riches;   Spiritual;   Treasures, Spiritual;   The Topic Concordance - Heart;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Heaven;   Houses;   Missionaries, All Christians Should Be as;   Repentance;   Riches;   Theft;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Moth;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Giving;   Money;   Sermon on the mount;   Wealth;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Citizenship;   Jesus Christ;   Reward;   Spirituality;   Tithe, Tithing;   Wealth;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Hutchinsonians;   Lord's Prayer;   Sacrifice;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Covetousness;   Dwell;   Moth;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ecclesiastes, the Book of;   Jesus Christ;   Judas Iscariot;   Lazarus;   Moth;   Rust;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Insects;   Matthew, the Gospel of;   Moth;   Robbery;   Rust;   Sermon on the Mount;   Treasure, Treasury;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ethics;   Moth;   Mss;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Animals;   Consciousness;   Covetousness;   Deliverance ;   Discipline;   Doctrines;   Dress (2);   Foundation;   Good;   Heart;   Heaven ;   Honesty ;   Ideas (Leading);   Immortality (2);   Law of God;   Letters;   Light;   Logia;   Mammon;   Man (2);   Matthew, Gospel According to;   Merit;   Metaphors;   Moth ;   Popularity;   Property (2);   Prudence;   Reality;   Renunciation;   Retribution (2);   Reward (2);   Selfishness;   Sermon on the Mount;   Simple, Simplicity ;   Thief ;   Wealth (2);   Winter ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Moth,;   Thief;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Kingdom of christ of heaven;   Kingdom of god;   Kingdom of heaven;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Treasure;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Moth;   Worm;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Alms;   Break;   Crime;   Dig;   Judas Iscariot;   Moth;   Rust;   Sermon on the Mount, the;   Treasure;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Alms;   New Testament;  

Devotionals:

- Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life - Devotion for July 10;   Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for January 4;   Every Day Light - Devotion for May 9;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
King James Version (1611)
But lay vp for your selues treasures in heauen, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, & where theeues doe not breake thorow, nor steale.
King James Version
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
English Standard Version
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
New American Standard Bible
"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
New Century Version
But store your treasures in heaven where they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal them.
Amplified Bible
"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal;
Geneva Bible (1587)
But lay vp treasures for your selues in heauen, where neither the mothe nor canker corrupteth, & where theeues neither digge through, nor steale.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
Legacy Standard Bible
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
Berean Standard Bible
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Contemporary English Version
Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them.
Complete Jewish Bible
Instead, store up for yourselves wealth in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and burglars do not break in or steal.
Darby Translation
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust spoils, and where thieves do not dig through nor steal;
George Lamsa Translation
But lay up for yourselves a treasure in heaven, where neither rust nor moth destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal.
Good News Translation
Instead, store up riches for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and robbers cannot break in and steal.
Lexham English Bible
but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor consuming insect destroy and where thieves do not break in or steal.
Literal Translation
But treasure up for you treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust cause to perish, and where thieves do not dig through and steal.
American Standard Version
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Bible in Basic English
But make a store for yourselves in heaven, where it will not be turned to dust and where thieves do not come in to take it away:
Hebrew Names Version
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don't break through and steal;
International Standard Version
But keep on storing up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal.Matthew 19:21; Luke 12:33-34; 18:22; 1 Timothy 6:19; 1 Peter 1:4;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where no moth and no rust corrupt, and where thieves do not dig through and steal.
Murdock Translation
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where no moth and no rust can spoil, and no thieves dig through nor steal.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But laye vp for you, treasures in heauen, where neyther moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where theeues do not breake through, nor steale.
English Revised Version
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
World English Bible
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don't break through and steal;
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break thro' nor steal.
Weymouth's New Testament
But amass wealth for yourselves in Heaven, where neither the moth nor wear-and-tear destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
but gadere to you tresouris in heuene, where nether ruste ne mouyte distrieth, and where theues deluen not out, ne stelen.
Update Bible Version
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Webster's Bible Translation
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.
New English Translation
But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.
New King James Version
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
New Living Translation
Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.
New Life Bible
Gather together riches in heaven where they will not be eaten by bugs or become rusted. Men cannot break in and steal them.
New Revised Standard
but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
but be laying up or yourselves treasures in heaven, where, neither moth nor rust, doth tarnish, and where, thieves, dig not through nor steal:
Douay-Rheims Bible
But lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven: where neither the rust nor moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break through, nor steal.
Revised Standard Version
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
But gaddre ye treasure togeder in heve where nether rust nor mothes corrupte and where theves nether breake vp nor yet steale.
Young's Literal Translation
but treasure up to yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth disfigure, and where thieves do not break through nor steal,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But gather you treasure together in heauen, where nether rust nor mothes corrupte, and where theues nether breake vp nor yet steale.
Mace New Testament (1729)
but lay up for your selves treasures in heaven, where there is neither moth, nor rust, nor corruption, nor thieves, nor violence to molest you.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Shoot for the great things of heaven, where there is no rot and thieves can't break in.

Contextual Overview

19 "Don't save treasures for yourselves here on earth. Moths and rust will destroy them. And thieves can break into your house and steal them. 20 Instead, save your treasures in heaven, where they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal them. 21 Your heart will be where your treasure is. 22 "The only source of light for the body is the eye. If you look at people and want to help them, you will be full of light. 23 But if you look at people in a selfish way, you will be full of darkness. And if the only light you have is really darkness, you have the worst kind of darkness. 24 "You cannot serve two masters at the same time. You will hate one and love the other, or you will be loyal to one and not care about the other. You cannot serve God and Money at the same time.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Matthew 19:21, Isaiah 33:6, Luke 12:33, Luke 18:22, 1 Timothy 6:17, Hebrews 10:34, Hebrews 11:26, James 2:5, 1 Peter 1:4, 1 Peter 5:4, Revelation 2:9

Reciprocal: Exodus 22:2 - breaking Deuteronomy 17:17 - neither shall he 1 Kings 22:10 - having put Job 21:19 - layeth Proverbs 8:18 - durable Proverbs 21:20 - treasure Ecclesiastes 5:14 - those Ezekiel 26:12 - make a spoil Obadiah 1:6 - are the Luke 12:21 - he 2 Corinthians 6:10 - and Colossians 1:5 - laid Colossians 3:1 - seek 2 Timothy 4:8 - there James 5:2 - Your riches

Cross-References

Genesis 1:28
God blessed them and said to them, "Have many children. Fill the earth and take control of it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the air. Rule over every living thing that moves on the earth."
Genesis 2:19
The Lord God used dust from the ground and made every animal in the fields and every bird in the air. He brought all these animals to the man, and the man gave them all a name.
Genesis 6:8
But Noah pleased the Lord .
Genesis 6:11
When God looked at the earth, he saw that people had ruined it. Violence was everywhere, and it had ruined their life on earth.
Genesis 6:16
Make a window for the boat about 1 cubit below the roof. Put a door in the side of the boat. Make three floors in the boat: a top deck, a middle deck, and a lower deck.
Genesis 6:20
Two of every kind of bird, animal, and creeping thing will come to you so that you might keep them alive.
John 5:40
But you refuse to come to me to have that life.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven,.... That is, either be concerned for, and seek after heavenly treasure, the riches of glory, the joys and glories of another world, which infinitely excel everything that is valuable on earth; and which can never be corrupted, or taken away: or rather, lay up your earthly treasures in heaven; that is, put them into the hands of God in heaven; and this is done, by liberally communicating to the poor; by which means men "provide themselves bags which wax not old, and a treasure in heaven that faileth not", Luke 12:33. They shall never want any good thing here, and they "lay up in store for themselves, a good foundation against the time to come", 1 Timothy 6:18. This is the way to have worldly treasure secured from moth, rust, and thieves; for to lay it up in heaven with God, to give it to him, to his poor, to make use of it for his glory, is to lay it up in a place,

where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. Treasures are safer here than in our own hands, and will turn to better account, and more to our own advantage, both in this life, and that which is to come: see

Matthew 19:21. In this way, though not for it, men come to have treasure in heaven, even the treasure of eternal life, glory, and happiness. Heaven is often represented by the Jewish writers as a treasury; and the treasures which are in it are said n to be

"Myyx yzng, "treasures of life", and treasures of peace, and treasures of blessing; and the souls of the righteous, and the spirits and souls that shall be created, and the dew with which God will quicken the dead.''

Those words in Deuteronomy 31:16. "And the Lord said unto Moses, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers", are thus o paraphrased.

"And the Lord said unto Moses, lo! thou shalt sleep in the dust with thy fathers, and thy soul shall be treasured up

בגנזי חיי עלמא, "in the treasury of eternal life", with thy fathers.''

They tell us p of a story of Monbaz the king, who was son to queen Helena; in which are many things agreeable to these words of Christ, and which may serve to illustrate them.

"Monbaz the king stood and gave all his goods to the poor: his relations sent to him, and said, thy fathers added to that which was their's, and to that which was their fathers; but thou hast given away that which was thine, and that which was thy father's: he replied to them all thus: my fathers גנזו בארץ ואני גנזתי בשמים, "laid up treasure on earth, but I have laid up treasure in heaven", according to Psalms 85:11. My fathers laid up treasures, which do not bring forth fruit; but I have laid up treasures, which bring forth fruit, according to Isaiah 3:10. My fathers gathered in a place, where the hand, i.e. of man rules, (where thieves break through and steal,) but I have gathered in a place where the hand of man does not rule, according to Psalms 97:2. My fathers gathered mammon, money, but I have gathered souls, according to Proverbs 11:30. My fathers gathered for others, but I have gathered לעצמי, for myself, according to Deuteronomy 24:13. My fathers gathered in this world, but I have gathered "for the world to come".''

One of their commentators q on the phrase, "my fathers laid up treasures below", as it is in the Babylonish Talmud r, has this remark:

"for lo! all that they treasured up was for the necessaries of this world; which is מקום עפר רמה תולעה, "a place of dust and vermin", which corrupt and destroy everything; "but I have laid up treasures above", a place secure and firm, and which preserves everything that is put into it.''

n T. Bab. Chagiga, fol. 12. 2. o Targum Jon. ben Uzziel, in Deut. xxxi. 16. p T. Hieros. Peah, fol. 15. 2. q Caphtor, fol. 97. 1. r T. Bab. Bava Bathra, fol. 11. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven - That is, have provision made for your eternal felicity. Do not exhaust your strength and spend your days in providing for the life here, but let your chief anxiety be to be prepared for eternity. Compare the notes at Isaiah 55:2. In heaven nothing corrupts; nothing terminates; no enemies plunder or destroy. To have treasure in heaven is to possess evidence that its purity and joys will be ours. It is to be heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, 1 Peter 1:4. The heart, or affections, will of course be fixed on the treasure. To regulate the heart, it is therefore important that the treasure, or object of attachment, should be right.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 6:20. Lay up - treasures in heaven — "The only way to render perishing goods eternal, to secure stately furniture from moths, and the richest metals from canker, and precious stones from thieves, is to transmit them to heaven by acts of charity. This is a kind of bill of exchange which cannot fail of acceptance, but through our own fault." Quesnel.

It is certain we have not the smallest portion of temporal good, but what we have received from the unmerited bounty of God: and if we give back to him all we have received, yet still there is no merit that can fairly attach to the act, as the goods were the Lord's; for I am not to suppose that I can purchase any thing from a man by his own property. On this ground the doctrine of human merit is one of the most absurd that ever was published among men, or credited by sinners. Yet he who supposes he can purchase heaven by giving that meat which was left at his own table, and that of his servants; or by giving a garment which he could no longer in decency wear, must have a base ignorant soul, and a very mean opinion of the heaven he hopes for. But shall not such works as these be rewarded? Yes, yes, God will take care to give you all that your refuse victuals and old clothes are worth. Yet he, who through love to God and man, divides his bread with the hungry, and covers the naked with a garment, shall not lose his reward; a reward which the mercy of God appoints, but to which, in strict justice, he can lay no claim.


 
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