Matthew 6:19-34 is a teaching
“Treasures on Earth”: treasures
(v.19) Heaven’s treasures cannot be destroyed by or (v.20)
“Heaven”: a surrogate name for God
“Tell me: When John baptized people, did that come from heaven; (a reverential Jewish way of referring to God) or just from other people (human beings)?” – Matthew 21:25 (EXB)
Disciples are (vv.19-21)
A disciple’s heart mind are focused on God (v.21)
“Mind and heart are not two distinct realities.” (Davies, 2004)
A commitment to God produces in our lives (v.22)
Clear: haplous – “single, directed towards one object” (PLGNT)
commitments produce
(vv.23-24)
Disciples are committed to God (vv.22-24)
Storing up treasures on earth will produce
(vv.19, 25)
Worried: merimnaō – I am anxious about, I care for (PLGNT)
(v.26) Look: emblepsate – a searching look in order to learn (France, 2007)
Gaze upon the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap or store in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of far greater value than they? – Matthew 6:26 (NCB)
(vv.26-27) Birds teach the disciples about God’s character
(v.28)
Notice: katamathete – observe, learn (Strong’s)
(vv.28-30) Lilies teach the disciples about God’s character
(vv.31-34) God’s character is the for an anxious heart
Jesus’ Main Point: upon God’s character (vv.19-34)
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. – Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)
“The antidote to anxiety is the consideration of the character of our heavenly father.” – Jonny Ardavanis
PASSAGES ABOUT GOD’S CHARACTER
December 27/28, 2025
“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.” – Malachi 3:6 (ESV)
Encouragement for the Lonely:
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. – John 15:15 (ESV)
Encouragement for the Hurting:
“I am the Lord who heals you.” – Exodus 15:26 (CEB)
Encouragement for the Fearful:
…fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
Encouragement for Those Who Feel Unsafe:
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. – Psalms 91:1-2 (NLT)
Encouragement for the Unloved:
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. – 1 John 4:16 (ESV)
Encouragement for Those Anxious about the Future:
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. – Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)
Encouragement for Those Lacking:
Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather crops into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more important than they? – Matthew 6:26 (NASB)
Encouragement for Those Falling Apart:
Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. – Psalms 54:4 (ESV)
Encouragement for the Restless:
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.
– 1 Corinthians 14:33 (NIV)
Encouragement for those who Feel Weak:
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. – Psalms 46:1 (KJV)
Encouragement for those who Feel Defeated by Sin:
“…I am the Lord who sanctifies you.” – Exodus 31:13 (NASB95)