Matthew 6:19

Lasting Treasure

6:19 “Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth ¹  and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.

Luke 12:15

12:15 Then ²  he said to them, “Watch out and guard yourself from ³  all types of greed, ⁴  because one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Luke 12:33

12:33 Sell your possessions ⁵  and give to the poor. ⁶  Provide yourselves purses that do not wear out – a treasure in heaven ⁷  that never decreases, ⁸  where no thief approaches and no moth ⁹  destroys.

Hebrews 13:5

13:5 Your conduct must be free from the love of money and you must be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you and I will never abandon you.” ¹⁰ 

James 5:2-3

5:2 Your riches have rotted and your clothing has become moth-eaten. 5:3 Your gold and silver have rusted and their rust will be a witness against you. It will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have hoarded treasure! ¹¹ 

¹ tn The term σής (shs) refers to moths in general. It is specifically the larvae of moths that destroy clothing by eating holes in it (L&N 4.49; BDAG 922 s.v.). See Jas 5:2, which mentions “moth-eaten” clothing.

² tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

³ tn See L&N 13.154 for this use of the middle voice of φυλάσσω (fulassw) in this verse.

⁴ tn Or “avarice,” “covetousness.” Note the warning covers more than money and gets at the root attitude – the strong desire to acquire more and more possessions and experiences.

⁵ sn The call to sell your possessions is a call to a lack of attachment to the earth and a generosity as a result.

⁶ tn Grk “give alms,” but this term is not in common use today.

⁷ tn Grk “in the heavens.”

⁸ tn Or “an unfailing treasure in heaven,” or “an inexhaustible treasure in heaven.”

⁹ tn The term σής (shs) refers to moths in general. It is specifically the larvae of moths that destroy clothing by eating holes in it (L&N 4.49; BDAG 922 s.v.). See Jas 5:2, which mentions “moth-eaten” clothing.

¹⁰ sn A quotation from Deut 31:6, 8.

¹¹ tn Or “hoarded up treasure for the last days”; Grk “in the last days.”