The key verse for the Sermon on the Mount is found in:
Matthew 7:24 (NASB)
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
To lose sight of this verse is to lose sight of the very heart of Jesus' teaching in His Sermon on the Mount. We need to keep in focus the fact that the Words of Jesus form a solid rock foundation that we can build our lives on.
Remember we talked about taking a journey last week. This is a simple way to show us the context of the passage we will look at each week.
Our text for today is found in:
Matthew 6:19-21 (NASB)
[19] Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
[20] But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
[21] for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
I could carry this passage down a well-traveled path.
Now certainly there is great truth in these three simple points. However, I think Jesus also intended something much deeper, something much more personal and intimate.
The only ultimate disaster that can befall us, I have come to realize, is to feel ourselves at home here on earth.
-- Malcolm Muggeridge
This morning we are going to focus on the word treasure in this passage. There are three important things we need to understand about the treasure.
First, we need to know the value of the treasure.
Jesus used this idea of a treasure several times in His teachings. For example in:
Matthew 13:44 (NASB)
The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
This treasure was worth everything the man had. Another example is found in:
Matthew 13:45-46 (NASB)
[45] Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,
[46] and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
This pearl was worth everything the man had.
Now there has to be something significant in the fact that these two men sold everything they had to gain one treasure. A treasure they thought was worth everything they owned on this earth.
Let me ask you a question: Can you tell me one thing for which you are willing to give everything? Can you show me one thing that is worth everything that you have on his earth?
That is what Jesus is trying to get across to us in our text for today. There is something that is worth everything we could ever obtain on this earth. However, that brings to our minds the question; "What is this treasure Jesus speaks of here?"
Second, we need to know what the treasure is.
Paul helps clarify this for us in his second letter to the Corinthian church, chapter four. There are two important things to notice as we read this passage.
2 Corinthians 4:4-10 (NASB)
[4] ...the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
[5] For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake.
[6] For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
[7] But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;
[8] we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;
[9] persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
[10] always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
From the words Paul is using here, we know that he is talking about the same thing Jesus was talking about in this portion of the Sermon on the Mount. Words like...
We have seen this before in looking at Paul's writings. It is almost as if he has a written copy of the words of Jesus that he is using as a reference to write his letters. We know that he didn't have that kind of reference, but it is amazing to see how Paul's writings are so similar to Jesus' teachings.
From the context here, we know that Paul is comparing our earthly body to an earthen vessel. The treasure is contained within the earthen vessel. The treasure is contained within our earthly body. So we know that our body and the things of this world that provide for it's comfort, are not the treasure Jesus, or Paul speak of here.
So what is it that is contained within the vessel? When we know the answer to that question, we will know what the treasure is. This passage tells us very plainly.
Verse 7 says "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves..." In other words, we have the power of God in our lives. However, there's more.
Verse 10 says "...so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body." It is the life of Jesus that is contained in this earthen vessel. That's the treasure -- Jesus Christ. It is He who gives us power to live for Him.
It is important to understand what the word manifested means. The Greek word used here is "phaneroo (G5319); it means to make visible, clear, manifest." (CWS-NT) The life of Jesus is to be made visible in our bodies. The life of Jesus is to be made clear in our lives.
Therefore, the treasure is the indwelling presence of Jesus Christ being made visible to the world. Life is all about Him and not about me, except as I am revealing His love to the world.
Third, we need to have a correct perception of the treasure. Jesus' encounter with the Rich Young Ruler provides a good example here.
Matthew 19:16-22 (NASB)
[16] And someone came to Him and said, "Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?"
[17] And He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."
[18] Then he said to Him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER; YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY; YOU SHALL NOT STEAL; YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS;
[19] HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER; and YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."
[20] The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?"
[21] Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
[22] But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.
This passage shows us several important truths about the treasure.
Remember Jesus' words in our text..."...for where your treasure is there your heart will be also." The rich young ruler knew he could not follow Jesus without a drastic change in his life.
Before his encounter with Jesus, the rich young ruler thought it was all about himself. God had rewarded him with great wealth, and in return, he kept God's laws. But he was still empty, there was something still missing.
His problem was that he didn't have a proper perception of the treasure. He thought the treasure was all that God had blessed him with.
If that were true none of Jesus' followers would ever loose a job, go bankrupt, get sick, or have lack of wealth in any way. However, that's not true. His followers suffer too.
Like the rich young ruler, we don't understand the value of the treasure. That's why we have anxiety. We don't believe we are worth the attention and care of the creator of the universe.
Therefore, we busy our lives with the day to day cares of this world trying to provide for ourselves. Then, when we fall short of our selfish expectations, or when someone tries to take away what we have worked hard to provide for ourselves, we bury ourselves in anger and anxiety.
The rich young ruler was asked to sell everything. The value of everything was certainly a lot of money but it was not for payment to follow Jesus. The value of everything he had was not worth the value of following Jesus, because following Jesus can be a very unpleasant experience.
The value of everything is for the treasure contained within the earthen vessel. The treasure was the rich young ruler's soul. The treasure is Christ within, which is relationship with Him. So how does one measure or capture the reality of the value of the treasure?
Jesus tried to get across to us, that the value of the treasure is measured by the price one pays for it.
~ In the case of the treasure hidden in the field, it was everything the man had.
~ In the case of the great pearl, it was everything the man had.
~ In the case of the rich young ruler, it as everything he had.
Are you getting the picture yet? If Christ within me, is the greatest treasure of all, then the only way I can measure the worth of that treasure, is to realize the price that was paid in order for me to have that great treasure of Christ within me.
The eternal God and Creator of the universe...
The eternal God and Creator of the universe paid everything for us. You and I are the treasure. You and I are worth everything to God.
The passages about the treasure hidden in the field, the pearl of great price, and the rich young ruler, are all about what Jesus was trying to get across in our text for today.
Matthew 6:19-21 (NASB)
[19] Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
[20] But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
[21] for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Like the rich young ruler, we want to know what good thing we can do to get to heaven. We don't understand that heaven is where the greatest treasures in the universe are.
We think that the whole point of heaven is all about a place prepared for our pleasure. Certainly, it will be a place of pleasure for us, but our pleasure is not the point of heaven.
Heaven is a place where the greatest treasures in the universe can be with the one who created them. Heaven, first of all, is a place for God's pleasure, and He paid a great price so we could be there with Him.
The tragedy of the rich young ruler is that he thought a real treasure consisted in the things of this world. Don't make the same mistake by thinking that heaven is a place filled with the most wonderful things for us to enjoy for all of eternity. How boring would that be?
This is not the point of heaven. Jesus said...
John 14:1-3 (NASB)
[1] "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
[2] "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
[3] "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
Look at the bold words there. "...that where I am, there you may be also." That is what Jesus was inviting the rich young ruler to do. "Sell all you have, and come and follow Me." Lay aside all the entanglements and cares of this life and come follow Me.
That's His call to everyone who would spend eternity with Him. Lay aside all the entanglements and cares of this life and come and follow Me. I must take my life and surrender it to Him as Lord, as King of my life. When I do that I am assured that He will supply all of the real needs of this life to me without failure.
Now if God gave everything so that I might have this great treasure, I must ask myself what it will cost me to have this treasure. Jesus makes it very clear,
E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!
The doctrine of Entire Sanctification is not some theological quirk. It is the teaching of Jesus Christ. It is the teaching that I must give everything to Him so that He might be made visible to the world through my life here on earth. When He owns me; when He is Lord of my life; when I offer myself as a living sacrifice to be used by Him; He is made clear to the world.
CWS-NT - AMG Complete Word Study Dictionary - New Testament (CWS_NT). Cedar Rapids: Laridian Electronic Publishing, 2007.
NASB - New American Standard Bible (NASB). Cedar Rapids: Laridian, 2002.
I want to thank my research assistant, Debi Peck, who does hours of research to provide many of my resources. I also want to thank Vonda Watson-Bostick and Robyn Harper, who help me with editing.