Matthew 6:19-20 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”
Do you know what the word treasures in this verse is a translation of? Of course you don’t! But that’s why pastors go to seminary. In the Greek of the New Testament this word is thesaurus– yep, that’s right, just like the book you might have had in your library to look up synonyms of words. Someone decided that words and the richness and variety of their nuances were indeed a treasure and so they called a book that lists such things a thesaurus. Do you know what the verb store up in this verse is a translation of? Hold on to something- it’s the imperative form of the same word thesaurus. So really you could translate this “do not treasure the treasures of earth… but treasure the treasures of heaven.” He will go on to remind us that “where your treasure is their will your heart be also.” I used this verse to talk about money and stewardship this Sunday but your treasure could be non-material. It could be romance or leisure or admiration or creativity… or words. Jesus isn’t putting down the physical things of this world; he is just reminding us that they shouldn’t be our reason for living, the prime focus of our attention. God wants our hearts and where our treasure is, he says, will also be our hearts. So, what do you treasure? Where is your heart? Salvation is finding our true treasure in God through the grace and mercy shown in Jesus. Look it up in your thesaurus!
Don
Logan Memorial Presbyterian Church 