Matthew 6:19-22 use of Money?

Matthew 6:19

Note on Matthew 6:19

The Greek for this phrase “Lay not up” is literally “THESAURIZO ME THESAURIZO.” THESAURIZO means “to amass or reserve (literally or figuratively)” (Strong’s Concordance). The word ME is “a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas <3756> expresses an absolute denial)” (Strong’s Concordance). This means this command not to lay up treasure for ourselves is not absolute. In fact, there are scriptures that enjoin us to lay up treasures for ourselves and offspring. 2 Corinthians 12:14 says, “For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.” How could the Lord bless our stores if we never store anything up (Deuteronomy 28:5)? We cannot leave an inheritance for our grandchildren if we never save anything.
How does Jesus’ statement here square with commands given to us to leave an inheritance for our children’s children? Proverbs 13:22 says, “A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.” The answer is that it is not about laying up treasure for ourselves. It is about laying up treasure for our children and grandchildren. I think this could be expanded to say that prosperity so that we can bless others or the kingdom of God is not a violation of this verse.

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 36 at Matthew 6:19: If isolated from the rest of God’s Word, there are some scriptures that could be interpreted to say that having money or wealth is wrong (Psalms 37:16; Proverbs 10:2, 11:4, 28, 13:7, 15:16-17, 16:8, 23:4-5, 28:8, 20, 22, 30:8-9; Ecclesiastes 5:10-15; Jeremiah 9:23; Matthew 6:19-34, 13:22, 19:23-24; Luke 12:15-21; 1 Timothy 6:4-11, and 17-19). However, there are other scriptures that speak of riches as a blessing (Genesis 13:2, 6, 24:35; Deuteronomy 8:18, 28:1-14; 1 Kings 3:11-13, 10:21-23; 2 Kings 20:13; 1 Chronicles 29:11-12; Job 1:3; Psalms 112:3; Proverbs 3:13-16, 8:1, 18, 21, 21:20; Matthew 6:33; Mark 10:28-30; 2 Corinthians 8:9; and 3 John 2).
The harmony between these two apparently opposite positions is that money is neither good nor bad. It is the love of money that is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10), and many have committed that sin who don’t have a dime. The love of things (covetousness) is idolatry and that is what Jesus was addressing.
Jesus gave this same teaching another time, recorded in Luke 12:22-32. His teaching in Luke (which is nearly word for word the same as here in Matthew 6) was in response to a man who asked Jesus to arbitrate the dividing of his family’s inheritance. Jesus warned the man concerning covetousness, taught a parable about the rich fool, and then spoke of seeking first the kingdom of God. Through this, it is easy to see that Jesus was not speaking against riches but rather covetousness.
Because it is so easy to lust after money and the things it can provide, the Lord established a system whereby prosperity is a byproduct of putting God first. As Matthew 6:33 states, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” We should no more reject the blessing of prosperity than we should covet it, which would be idolatry.

Matthew 6:20

Note on Matthew 6:20

This makes it very clear that we can store up treasures in heaven. We can’t take any monetary wealth with us to heaven, but we can send it on ahead of us, not in cash but through turning it into something nonperishable. Jesus said that giving to the poor was laying up treasure in heaven (Matthew 19:21, Luke 12:33). We can use money to impact people’s lives with the Gospel, and then they will welcome us into heaven (Luke 16:9).

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 37 at Matthew 6:20: We can’t take it (money) with us (to heaven), but we can send it on before us. Matthew 19:21 says that through giving to the poor, we are laying up treasure in heaven. Compare with Proverbs 19:17.

Matthew 6:21

Note on Matthew 6:21

It’s very interesting that Jesus didn’t say, “Where your heart is, there will your treasure be also.” But Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” We can use money to direct our hearts towards God and the things of God. Our hearts will go where our greatest investment has already gone.

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 38 at Matthew 6:21: The reason for not laying up treasures on this earth is so that we will not have our hearts drawn away from the things of God (Mark 4:19). A key to success in the kingdom of God is singleness of purpose (Proverbs 23:7; Philippians 3:13, and 4:8). We don’t have the capacity to do our best in two areas at the same time (Matthew 6:24 and James 3:1-2). Therefore, if we will simply put God and His kingdom first in every area of our lives, He will add unto us all the wealth that we need (Matthew 6:33). “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22). It’s when we covet after money that we pierce ourselves through with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:10).

Matthew 6:22

Note on Matthew 6:22

The context of this verse is speaking of money. The reason Jesus makes the statements in this verse is to illustrate how we cannot be occupied with money and the kingdom at the same time. If we will seek first the kingdom of God, then money will be added unto us supernaturally by God. But if we seek money first, it will turn our hearts away from the Lord. Our eye, or focus or attention, has to be single upon the Lord.

Andrew Wommack's Living Commentary.