| Matthew 6:21 | |
|---|---|
← 6:20 6:22 → | |
.jpg) Text of Matthew 6:21, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also", on a bench in Hatchmere, United Kingdom. | |
| Book | Gospel of Matthew |
| Christian Bible part | New Testament |
Matthew 6:21 is the twenty-firstverse ofthe sixth chapter of theGospel of Mathew in theNew Testament and is part of theSermon on the Mount. This verse continues the discussion ofwealth.
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In theKing James Version of theBible the text reads:
TheWorld English Bible translates the passage as:
TheNovum Testamentum Graece text is:
For additional translations see here:Matthew 6:21
In the previous two verses Jesus explained why one should store one's treasure in heaven rather than on earth. This verse states that if one places one's treasure in heaven that is where one's heart or attention will be. This is an implicit warning, which is made clear later in the chapter, that if one's treasure is on earth, one's heart and attention will also be on earthly matters, to the exclusion of God. While the previous verses stated that placing one's treasures in heaven was wise, this one shifts to warning that not doing so might lead to a life of futility seeking treasures that will not matter in light of eternity.Matthew 6:24 makes this explicit. This verse also makes clear thattreasure is not some specific collection of objects, but is rather anything that one values in life.
In the book "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" byJ. K. Rowling, it is written that the inscription on the tombstone ofAriana Dumbledore reads "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also".[1] This is taken from theKing James Version of Matthew 6:21 orLuke 12:34, which are identical.[2][3]
Pseudo-Chrysostom: Otherwise; He now teaches the benefit of almsgiving. He who places his treasure on earth has nothing to look for in Heaven; for why should he look up to Heaven where he has nothing laid up for himself? Thus he doubly sins; first, because he gathers together things evil; secondly, because he has his heart in earth; and so on the contrary he does right in a twofold manner who lays up his treasure in Heaven.[4]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.| Preceded by Matthew 6:20 | Gospel of Matthew Chapter 6 | Succeeded by Matthew 6:22 |