Matthew 6:19-34

18 Matthew 6.19-34

May 10th 2026

Okay. At this point in the Sermon on the Mount we are going to enter into what we might call the Yeshuan “World View.”

What does this mean? It is literally Yeshua’s description of the world view or mindset He taught His disciples to have over the standard world view of the fears and worries we all face in life.

Before even getting into the specifics, I want to take fifty thousand foot view of the text from verse 19-34 to illustrate the general scope of it all.

Remember, last week He told them the matter in which to give, pray and fast – in secret, right?

That is a model we fully promote and embrace as YEshuans – doing as much as possible in secret. When this is the case of things we submit we all live with the notion that what people are doing privately is good and we give the benefit of the doubt.

Let all such things be seen in secret by the Father who will reward opening for such according to His timing and ways.

Now, let me just layout the fifty thousand view of the Yeshuan life mindset. Ready?

He says,

(FULL PAGE GRAPHIC)

Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 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! 24 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. 25 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? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

So, why do we call this the Yeshuan Mindset? First of all, Yeshua teaches it, so it is the mindset He prescribes.

That said, He is teaching it to the Jews (His own disciples, btw, who were on His errand to their brethren.)

They lived by faith in God for provision as a Nation and this is a reiteration of the mindset they were to have on God from the beginning.

Note too, that Yeshua worked as a carpenter or more probably a stonesetter and even as the Messiah they had a bag for their own needs and for the poor, and the men we know about were employed before calling them, and Paul was a tentmaker – so the reality is this advise was a MINDSET not a literal absolute prescription.

It’s the mindset priority of even them then and if it was their mindset it is certainly ours.

Second, as His disciples or as followers of His recommended ways we believe that this mindset is the mindset of the genuine Children of God – and we do not hedge about it because if or since Yeshua said plainly, You CANNOT serve God and Mammon then one cant – and to try is to fail in the mindset.

We also call it a mindset (which is really the heart-condition and not just a mental position) because that is what God assesses us by – the heart condition, the heart intention and what priorities we literally bear about in the time we have here on earth.

Obviously, the mindset is truly a very different way to see and live life (especially compared to the mindset of those whose heart are on the things of this world and all that is in it).

So, let’s walk through it all again as Yeshua, after instructing them how to give, how to pray and how to fast and says,

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

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

Remember, He is talking to apostles who were in full time service to going out and sharing Him and that it was in a very different day.

I suggest that He speaking close to literally there with them but to us the words are subjectively assigned, not laws, and open to personal application.

The whole attitude is worth considering in terms if priority, focus and conditioning our hearts as His children.

Yeshua tells an interesting parable in His life found in Luke 12, couched in a similar teaching moment in his record, and we read,

Luke 12:13 And a certain one said to him, out of the multitude, `Teacher, say to my brother to divide with me the inheritance.'

14 And he said to him, `Man, who set me a judge or a divider over you?'

15 And he said unto them, `Observe, and beware of the covetousness, because not in the abundance of one's goods is his life.'

16 And he spake a simile unto them, saying, `Of a certain rich man the field brought forth well;

17 and he was reasoning within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where I shall gather together my fruits?

18 and he said, This I will do, I will take down my storehouses, and greater ones I will build, and I will gather together there all my products and my good things,

19 and I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast many good things laid up for many years, be resting, eat, drink, be merry.

20 `And God said to him, Unthinking one! this night thy soul they shall require from thee, and what things thou didst prepare--to whom shall they be?

21 so is he who is treasuring up to himself, and is not rich toward God.

So he instructs them to not to store up treasures upon earth “where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal (meaning earthly things are temporary at best, and that they are subject to invasion, erosion, theft and then ultimately, we can’t take then with us.)

20 But . . . lay up for yourselves (set aside) treasures (where?) in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (heavenly things are eternal and lasting)

The importance of this mindset is then given in verse 21 when he says,

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

Again, He focuses on the heart and where it is centered on. Why? It is who we really are when all things are said and done AND it is what God looks upon to assess us all.

I have said it once to a thousand times, but the heart is the beginning and the end of our existences – and its condition is the determining factor of both.

Changing the heart focus, condition, motives and desires is in our hands alone – just like the sun can harden clay or soften it, God’s light will turn some hearts to stone and others to malleable mud – the choice is ours always.

If you care about knowing and serving God make your focus on your heart first and everything else will fall in line. Start with your behaviors and work inward and you will be in bondage. I’ve lived it, tried it and seen for myself – work on your heart before God.

Again, the reason Yeshua teaches these two “lay up” principles is because He says,

“for wherever you have established your treasure there is where your heart truly is.”

So ask, what do I treasure MOST in my life? How can you tell? By what you value most, which is determined by what you pursue and think about the most, and where you have put your attention, time, interest, devotion, and allegiance to the most.

It is VERY VERY difficult to make a mark in this world or to succeed in the things of this world folks and not put your whole heart into it.

The price the world demands for expertise and fame is complete dedication to a thing.

Yeshua made the following observation in a very paradoxical parable found in Luke where he says the following,

“for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.”

The meaning is clear, in this world, the children of it have far more wisdom than the children of light. They know how to do big business because the have hearts focused on big business, they know how to perform because they have paid attention on how to get by and make money here and now.

This world operates of an economy with very specific rules and ways and in order to really succeed the heart must put those ways first and foremost.

We maintain that this life is a proving ground where God seeks high and low for those who love and seek Him first and foremost over all the other activities life offers.

This is not to suggest that He is angry or hateful or punishes those whose hearts are on this world – they are the general rule and it is expected.

But in the proving ground, those who from the heart are His through and through are part of the few in the strait way who Yeshua said, would find it.

My view is God has taken care of all of us, removing the stain of sin from the Fall and given each of us time to live – but for those few who find the strait and narrow way, they embody the heart condition Yeshua describes here.

This is to whom Yeshuan reach for to serve and help – the few whose eyes are single, whose heart are focused and who at least desire Him and His kingdom over all other earthly things.

Anything less from the heart there are a thousand churches that will help you serve both God and Mammon.

But, hear me clearly – this is NOT to say we don’t engage in things in this world for it is by these things we hone and apply our talents, that we make our living, that we interact with others who do not know the Lord in love – but the point I think Yeshua is making to readers today is, “Where is your heart?” “Your main objective which is they true “why” that we do everything else.”

Then He adds in this dissertation of the Christian World View,

22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single (this is the key phrase to understanding the context and what Yeshua is saying), thy whole body shall be full of light.

23 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!

Note the words in each line –

“Of therefore thine eye be single” compared to “but if thine eye be evil.”

A better way might be to read this is Him saying, “therefore if thine eye is healthy, functioning, fit” verses “but if thine eye is “diseased, crooked, or not functional.”

The eye is like a lamp for the whole body is what he is saying, and if that lamp is functional, the whole body is filled with light.

We are talking about perspective here, and if our eyes are rightly focused and functioning we will see things around us clearly and the lamp to the body will guide us to sound mobility and choices.

But if a person’s eye-lamp is twisted, crooked and cracked, the body will be full of obscurity and seeing things (like those in the world) will be out of focus, filling the soul with distortion and a wrong dark view of life.

So, Yeshua is talking about sound perspectives, views that see rightly, a focus that can readily capture reality while we are in this world the proving ground.

See the world through a distorted lens and you will wrongly interpret the world around you, see it through eyes that are perfect in focus and balance and perception and a person will see clearly.

So again, He says,

22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be healthy (this is the key phrase to understanding the context and what Yeshua is saying), thy whole body shall be full of light.

I came from a life where my whole body was full of darkness because my vision of this world was skewed. I was unable to see the things of God clearly and was unable to see this world any better – so my vision of both was off. Yeshua describes this condition in the next verse saying,

23 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!

The light that is darkness is light that is muted, twisted, disease and only illuminates part of the persons perspective.

It casts shadows on the truth and brightens up the lies. This condition literally causes people to call good evil and evil good.

Yeshua describes it by saying, “If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!”

So for those that care about the truth, about the Kingdom and about God, He is setting up the attitude – from the heart put God on the throne of everything, make His and His will primary and get your heart right – and you will see and perceive clearly and your body will be full of light.

This leads Him right into the next thing where He explains what misperceptions can cause when He says at verse 24,

24 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.

Talk about clarifying truth here - the King lays forth some reality that is really hard to swallow as people in this life.

See, we tend to believe that when a person has mad life stills on business, commerce and industry, that their views of things are superior to those who don’t. And so we look for and long to have successful earth people in our midst to help us refine the faith in a way that works.

But the fact of the matter is, genuine gatherings of God’s children are least in this world as they have the least interest in how the things of this world operate.

Why? Yeshua says it plainly, “you cannot serve God and mammon.”

To try to do it splits your vision and causes you to hate the one and to love the other and will ostensibly fill your body with diseased perspectives.

This is the metric of modern religion – it is filled and governed by people who think that they can serve both.

We suggest that this teaching clearly states that when a group of people steeped in the ways of this world gather and form a religion the last thing they seek to know and do is to serve God alone – they all want to serve God and this world. And they enter into the faith with twisted vision and diseased eyes, somehow thinking that they are an exception to the rule Yeshua lays forth.

As Yeshuan’s, we have deconstructed this model of playing church and seek those who from the heart truly serve God alone – without a care for mammon or the things of this world.

This means that organizationally we elect, choose and accept the reality that we will limp along in the power this world offers because those who accept this approach accept what Yeshua says.

I would rather spend my time and associate with brothers and sisters who have eyes that are single in life on Him than with ten thousand millionaires whose eyes are divided and justify trying to serve God and riches.

Herein is yet another reason we believe that God never intended for the faith to be capture in brick and mortar – it automatically demands that people serve both God and Mammon.

He continues on with what seems like a reference to verses 19-21, when He says, referencing the Christian World View . . .

25 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?

26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

And again and in the same light,

27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Two ideals are coming through here – the first is seeking God with an eye single to Him and in that vein trust him – or have faith in Him to supply, provide and to clothe and feed.

And He adds

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Again – priorities – in the proving ground for those who long to be His children and to walk with Him – seek ye first the Kingdom of Heaven – God will take care of the rest.

I can attest to the difficulty of this approach in this day and age. To walk by faith with an eye single to Him alone (we cannot serve God and mammon) is a super difficult task and I would be lying if we suggested that we did this perfectly.

But I can attest to the reality and validity of walking by faith and serving Him through faith alone.

He does provide, He does bring about, He will meet your needs but it is always on His time table and that is what makes doing it in a world of options so difficult.

If you want to be wealthy in the things of this world, and to know where your next paycheck is coming from don’t follow Him in faith – it is a long hard road where He will take you up on your aims.

But if you want a life that is unlike most people, and you really want to walk with an eye single to Him and His Kingdom, step up and join the rest of His rag tag team of those with eyes and hearts truly set and you will live like few others have even tried.

The culminating summary of the whole teaching, the whole perspective and mindset is found in verse 34 when He says to His own twelve,

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

We encounter an object lesson of this mindset in the story of Peter in the boat at night, Remember?

The Apostles were out on a stormy sea and saw Yeshua walking around out there upon it. Their cares were on not sinking, and they look out and see the Master walking upon the very surface of the churned up water they feared.

Once the Lord revealed Himself to them, Matthew 14:28 says:

“And Peter said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water,” (why? Scripture tell us, saying) “to go to Yeshua.”

Initially, full of desire and trust Peter was so encouraged by the power and presence of Christ fearlessly transcending the stormy surface that He appears to have stepped out and walks on the water too! What the heck! A mortal man walking on the sea. How?

His eye was single. His whole soul was ostensibly filled with light that dissolved the shadowy storm around them. Neither was his personal safety, his earthly treasures on his mind – as He was dedicated to pursuing Him in spite of the obvious danger to his person.

Fascinating.

But then we read at 14:33

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

The story is rife with meaning.

Peter was in distress in life, in peril amidst the storm tossed sea with the others. But they saw the Master walking upon it and Peter was immediately filled with so much courage to face the storm head on he asked if he too could overcome its threatening nature.

So, with the intent to go to Yeshua, his eye ostensibly fixed, he leaves the boat, and walks on the water . . . but

as it reads in Matthew 14:30, he grew afraid, “and beginning to sink.”

This series of events is very common in the faith when people embark of following God through faith.

We are often ready and willing to step out of the sinking vessels and onto the very surface of the deep that once frightened us.

In his parable of the sower, Yeshua addresses this phenomena when He likens the word of God first coming into the heart of people and where in most cases except the first, it is received with joy.

But Yeshua teaches that there are enemies to growth and stability and to keeping ones eye single – and He describes them as the cares and riches of the world and He describes another as being offended or tried because of the “words sake.”

Now in the King James there are several Greek terms translated into the English word, “word.”

Logos (λόγος): Refers to the word, message, reason, or study. Used to describe the overarching message or "the Word" which is a term to describe Christ in the beginning (John 1:1) and the end (Revelation).

Rhema (ῥῆμα): Refers to the spoken, declared, or active word. It is often used for specific words spoken in a particular context (e.g., Matthew 12:36).

Lexis (λέξις): A word, speech, or phrase.

Graphe (γραφή): Specifically refers to the written word or the scriptures (meaning "writing" or "book").

When Yeshua teaches that offense comes because of the words sake and causes growth of the seed to stop, He uses logos, to it is not the scripture nor a spoken message but I maintain He is saying that people stop growing because they are offended by what it takes to follow Him.

The power to truly follow Him from the heart literally enable Peter to walk on a storm tossed sea His eyes were fixed on Him.

But, again,

“when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink,” his body filling with fear, frightening imagery and doubt.

And instead of continuing to not have a care nor fear of the threat all around Him and remaining victorious over the waters, he started to sink.

He took His eyes off the goal, the only object out there to really keep Him afloat and frankly, from an eternal view, the only source to keep us afloat amidst the storms of life.

And Peter knew this and we read,

“And he cried, saying, Lord, save me.”

This is the central message of the verses we have discussed today with key words being,

To storing up treasures in heaven

(Because where our treasure is there will be our heart also).

And God looks on the heart.

And if you have a heart for Him, look to Him in faith in this life, not to the things of this world, and keep your eye clear of mixed messages, they will fill you with confusion if you do, and you will begin to sink, and seek first the Kingdom of God and all things will be added unto you, and don’t allow the cares, and ways, and riches of this short life confound you and trip you up.

Life on the proving ground is but a vapor. We are here but for a minute – choose well – because all of the factors that promise us happiness here will be empty there.

If you have been living a double minded life, it is never ever too late to reset, change your hearts desires and to pursue them.

We highly recommend it to any and all who . . . care.

We will embark on Chapter 7 next week.