Matthew · New Testament · Matthew 6:19–24
Treasure in Heaven
The Story
In this passage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches his followers about the danger of placing too much value on earthly wealth and possessions. He warns that material treasure is always vulnerable — moth and rust will destroy it, and thieves can break in and steal it. "Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal." He then offers a simple but profound truth about the human heart: "Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be." Jesus then uses the image of the eye as a lamp for the body — when the eye is healthy and focused, the whole person is filled with light, but when it is unhealthy, darkness takes over. He closes with one of his most direct statements about divided loyalty: "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other." He then names the choice plainly — no one can serve both God and money.
The Message
Jesus is not simply giving financial advice — he is making a claim about where the human heart will ultimately anchor itself. What we treasure reveals what we truly worship, and we cannot genuinely worship both God and wealth at the same time. The passage calls for an honest look at where our deepest investments — and therefore our hearts — actually lie.