Matthew 6:21-25

 

Mat 6:21 (KJB)

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

 

If you are unsaved and your focus is on this earth, it will be a fleeting investment and you will die in your sins. If you are truly saved and your focus is on Heaven and bringing the Gospel here on earth, then you will live in eternal bliss forevermore. It is a question of which direction your heart is focused on.

 

Mat 6:22 (KJB)

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

 

The word “single” in the Greek is only used twice in the New Testament and both refer to the present usage. (Luke 11:34 KJV) The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. It is the word “haplous” and carries with it the idea of “sincere, generous, sound, or free from wrong motives” in a positive way. As the verse states, that the light of the body is the eye, and if the eye is generous or single in purpose, then the whole body shall be filled with light. It speaks of a disciple who is single in purpose and that purpose is to be sold out to the Lord Jesus Christ and the propagation of the Gospel. If one focuses their life on the Kingdom of God, then they are living in total light and wish to fulfill the fact the we are the light of the world. (Mat 5:14 KJV) Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. This would refer only to a true believer who invests their life in the Kingdom of God. A true believer who still walks with the world will never give evidence they are the light.

 

Mat 6:23 (KJB)

But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

 

Here Jesus contrasts the saved person who has a body full of light to the one who has a body filled with darkness. Those who live in darkness can only see a little distance in front of them and therefore concern themselves with this world in contrast to those in light that can see a far distance, namely eternity. It is akin to those who are blind, their bodies walk in darkness because it can only go according to the way the blind person walks, normally with a stick or guide dog. If a person is unsaved, their hearts are in total darkness and this verse seems to be saying that as they continue in darkness, they try to become even darker. (1 John 2:11 KJV) But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. The unbeliever is also blinded to the truth and continues in the ways of the world.

 

Mat 6:24 (KJB)

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

 

Mammon - The word “mammon” is from the Latin “mamona” and is a term of reproach for money, wealth, or possessions which are regarded as an evil influence or an idol in one’s life.

 

The Lord Jesus Christ is now speaking about someone who is double minded, that is, serving two masters. (James 1:8 KJV) A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. James states it plainly that a double minded man is unstable in all his ways. The reason for that is if he is trying to serve two masters, then he will be pulled in both directions. What is good and proper in serving one master may not be good and proper in serving the other master. How can I serve God and the world at the same time? It cannot happen. The world states that you should accumulate as much of the world’s goods as you can but the Scriptures state that we should be content with the things that we have. How can you be greedy and content at the same time? Those are two philosophies of life diametrically opposed to each other. Jesus is trying to convey to His hearers that you cannot serve the world and all its sinful snares and God at the same time since they are also opposed to one another. Eventually if you attempt to do it, one of the masters will win out and no doubt it will be the master of the world because you will be able to see the wealth accumulate and the other you must take by faith, which the world disdains. Jesus knew that if you attempt to serve both, then the world would win out. (2 Tim 4:10 KJV) For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Demas is a perfect example of attempting to serve God and the world because he allowed the world to win out.

 

Mat 6:25 (KJB)

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

 

“Therefore” is a preposition linking the previous verse to this one. Since it is impossible for a person to live for this world and the Lord, Jesus now assures His hearers that they should not concern themselves about the necessities of life. The word for “thought” in the Greek text carries with it the idea of “be anxious.” Jesus is telling his hearers that they should not be anxious or be worried about food or clothing. He is trying to get His hearers to focus on something more important than this world. Life is more important than fancy meals and the body has more importance than the clothes that cover it. In other words, He is saying that the people need to seek the Kingdom of God because fancy clothes on a corpse does no good and the same with fancy meals. Food alone does not guarantee life and fancy clothing does not guarantee happiness. Neither of these should be the focus of a person’s life. They are something that we need to live in this life but not to be the focus of our life. We must look beyond the physical to the spiritual. (1 Cor 7:31 KJV) And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

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