Section 6:19–24

Jesus taught about money

This section warns against selfishly keeping all your money for yourself. It is the same as serving money. Instead, one should be generous to others and in that way serve God. God rewards those who use their possessions to help others. In that way they “store up treasures in heaven” (6:20).

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Teaching about money and possessions
-or-
True riches
-or-
Treasures in Heaven (Contemporary English Version)

There is a parallel passage in Luke 11:34–36.

Paragraph 6:19–21

In this paragraph, Jesus warned against trying to save a lot of money or things here on earth. They just disappear. Rather, be eager to increase your spiritual worth, because that is what lasts. And what you strive to have will become what you think about and desire.

6:19a

Do not store up for yourselves: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as store up refers to gathering or accumulating things.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Do not accumulate for yourselves (NET Bible)
-or-
Do not lay up for yourselves (English Standard Version)
-or-
You must not collect/gather

treasures on earth: The phrase treasures on earth refers generally to the earthly, physical possessions that are most important and valuable to people. They are things such as money, expensive clothing, jewels, livestock, food, houses, and lands.

Here are some other ways to translate the word treasures:

• Choose a term that can be used both here and in 6:20a. Such a term could be used to refer to (a) both physical treasure and (b) figurative or spiritual treasure. Here are some examples:

wealth
-or-
that which is worth much

• Choose a term that can only be used here, but not in 6:20a. Such a term refers specifically to physical treasure. Here are some examples:

possessions
-or-
belongings

6:19b–c

The main idea in 6:19b–c is that possessions here on earth do not last. Insects will eat some of them, rust will destroy some of them, and thieves will steal some of them. So trying to gather many possessions and put them aside will not be helpful.

6:19b

moth: A moth is a flying insect that produces worms that eat holes in clothes. If moths are not known in your area, you may want to use another insect that destroys things. For example:

termite
-or-
weevil
-or-
(boring) insect

The word moth is singular in Greek. But it represents the entire group of insects. So many English versions translate it as “moths.”

rust: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rust is literally “eating.” Here it refers to anything that eats away or corrodes another material. This includes rust spoiling iron, or gold and silver becoming tarnished. It also may include insects eating holes in clothing, and rats eating grain.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

corrosion
-or-
decay

destroy: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as destroy refers to ruining something.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

spoil (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
ruin

Both the noun “moth” and the noun “rust” go with the verb destroy. In some languages, it may be necessary to use a different verb with each noun. For example:

moths eat them and rust destroys them (New Living Translation (2004))

6:19c

thieves: The word thieves refers to people who break into houses to steal things from others.

Here is another way to translate this word:

robbers (Good News Translation)

break in: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as break in is literally “dig through.” Most Jews of that time built their houses with dried mud bricks. So thieves would dig a hole through the dried mud wall to enter the house.

The Berean Standard Bible uses the usual English verb phrase break in for the way thieves enter a house. Use the usual verb in your language for a thief entering a house. For example:

thieves sneak in to steal

-or-

thieves break the door and enter

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