Matthew 6:19 (WEB)

Passage

“Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;

Nearby Context

Matthew 6:17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face;

Matthew 6:18 so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 6:19 “Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;

Matthew 6:20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal;

Matthew 6:21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "treasures", "yourselves", "earth", "where", "moth", "rust", and "consume". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "treasures" and "yourselves", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 18's "so that you are not seen by..." into verse 20's "but lay up for yourselves treasures in...", so "treasures" and "yourselves" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "treasures" and "yourselves" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.