Matthew 6:19-24 is a commentary on the first 18 verses of the chapter. When Jesus tells us not to lay for ourselves treasure on the earth, He is speaking about those who practice their righteousness to be seen of men. Those who are all about fame and notoriety care little for the afterlife, but have concerns with how they are perceived in the here and now. When their piety becomes a show, they are storing up for themselves treasure on earth. The problem is that there is little security down here. Thieves break in and steal, and moth and rust destroy things stored down here. If we wish to have everlasting treasure, we must store riches in the most secure location – heaven. In heaven our treasure cannot be stolen, nor can it be destroyed by moth or rust; and remember that where your treasure is, that is where your heart is, too.
The way to ensure you are storing up your treasure in heaven is to make sure that your eyes are clear and healthy. We are not speaking of literal eye health, of course, but spiritual eye health. If the eye is healthy, the body will be full of light; if the eye is bad, the whole body will be full of darkness. You cannot serve two masters. A clear eye recognizes this and serves God, and no one or nothing else. A bad eye tries to have God and something else. Those who practice their righteousness to be seen of men store their treasure on earth, have bad eyes and serve mammon; their hearts are not with God. Where is your heart?
