The Truth about Treasure (Matthew 6:19–24)

What hath Athens to do with Jerusalem?

This is Tertullian’s famous question contrasting the difference between divine truth and man-made philosophy. And it highlights the challenge of living in this world with our eyes fixed upon another.

In a similar fashion, we might ask the same question about our rewards: What hath dollars to do with eternal destinies?

Indeed, in a world where money motivates, secures, comforts, and corrupts, we are painfully aware of the problems that money (and its lack) bring. Yet, as Jesus instructs us in Matthew 6:19–24, our earthly riches also provide an important avenue for discipleship and increasing our eternal joy. The question is how!

With that in mind, Sunday’s sermon considered Jesus’s teaching about earthly and heavenly reward. You can listen to that sermon online. Discussion questions and additional resources can be found below.

Matthew 6:19–24

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Discussion Questions

What comes to mind when you think of money? Do any emotions come up? Do you talk about money? Why is it such a difficult topic to discuss?
What does the Bible say about money? What have you read, studied, or helped you think about money?
What does Jesus say about money? Why does Jesus talk about money so much?
How does Matthew 6:19–21 relate to Matthew 6:1–18? What is the relationship between rewards and treasure? How does Matthew 6:19–21 set up the next section (vv. 25–34)?
What does Jesus say about treasure? What is personally instructive about Jesus’s words? How does the concept of “currency conversion” help you think about money?
What is the contrast between a “good eye” and “bad eye”? Where does a good eye come from? How can you grow in your generosity? See 2 Corinthians 8–9.
If you had an infinite supply of money, what would you do? How does the fact that God, your heavenly father, has an infinite supply of money impact your thinking?
What is one step you can take toward obeying God in giving?