12:34

For: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For introduces the reason why the disciples should store up treasure in heaven rather than on earth. This is what Jesus told them in 12:33c. Be careful not to imply a wrong connection to a different part of 12:33. Some English versions do not translate a connector here. In some languages it may be helpful to repeat some information from 12:33. For example:

⌊Provide this treasure in heaven⌋ because…

In other languages you may be able to use a more general phrase that refers back to all of 12:33. For example:

Remember/Realize that…

where your treasure is, there your heart will be also: The expression where your treasure is, there your heart will be also means that the place where your treasure is located is the place that you will think about. If a person has stored riches on earth, he will think about them and put efforts into protecting and increasing them. If a person has stored up riches in heaven, he will think about heaven and devote himself to God. Other ways to translate this verse are:

For what you consider to be your wealth is what you will truly love/value and think about.
-or-
Where a person puts his treasure, he will also direct his thoughts.

In some languages it may be more natural to reverse the order of the two clauses in this verse. For example:

For your heart will always be where your riches are. (Good News Translation)
-or-
You will dedicate your life to whatever you consider to be most valuable. (adapted from the TRT footnote)

heart: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as heart is used here in a figurative way. The Jews often spoke of the heart as the part of a person in which thoughts and feelings occur.

In some languages people use a different part of the body, such as the mind, throat, liver, or stomach, in this way. In other languages people use a non-figurative expression, as in the TRT example above. You should use an expression that is natural in your language.

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