Can You Keep a Secret?

We are in the 4th week of our series – Can You Keep a Secret.

In Matthew chapter 6, right in the middle of the sermon on the mount, Jesus talks to us about secrets. 3 times in Matthew 6 Jesus speaks directly about things done in secret.

Jesus has taught us about giving in secret, praying in secret, and fasting secret.

Today I want you to turn to Matthew 6:19-24 where Jesus instructs us further in areas that are secret.

Matthew 6:19-24 (NIV) 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,[c] your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy,[d] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Can You Keep a Secret?

Jesus never directly says the word “secret” in our passage today, yet the context of the previous 18 verses cannot be discarded. What is that context?

• Jesus has spoken about the secret motives that drive our actions.
• Jesus has taught us to NOT be concerned with being seen by people, but what is done in secret is seen by God.
• Jesus has taught us that the far greater reward is to be seen by the Father in Heaven.

 

That is the context when Jesus teaches us about Treasures & Masters.

Treasures & Masters

In a context where the invisible secret things, seen by the Father in Heaven, Jesus brings us a very visible subject.

The Treasures & Masters of Earth are very visible.

Have you dreamed recently about…

More money, a promotion, a big lottery jackpot?
A new car, a new house, new shoes, or a new iPhone?
These are very visible TREASURES.

Have you worried lately about…
-Your boss?
-A letter from the IRS?
-Did you spot a cop driving to Church and almost broke your foot stomping on the brake to get you under the speed limit?
-Have you been caring too much about your social media status?
-Are you experiencing anxiety over what others may think of you?
These are very visible MASTERS.

Are you running after visible Treasures?
Are you fearful of any visible Masters?

This is everything that Jesus has been talking about in this chapter. Let’s dive into the word.

Matthew 6:19 (NIV) 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

Jesus tells us DO NOT store up these visible treasures of Earth. Jesus tells us why.

These visible treasures of earth are eaten by moth & vermin, and stolen by thieves. There is no safe place to store treasure on Earth.

-There is no safe that a thief can’t get into.
-Because of identity theft, account phishing, and hacking, your online accounts are always vulnerable.
-And if thieves don’t get your money inflation and taxes will.

-Your valuable items of worth will eventually break down to decay, moth, and vermin.
-Your latest smart phone that you paid Apple or Samsung $1000 for, Apple & Samsung are already releasing “updates” that actually deprecate the very phone you purchased from them.

These physical and carnal treasures are not a secret, and there are enemies who come to “steal, kill, and destroy.” (John 10:10)

Where are you storing your treasure?

Matthew 6:20 (NIIV) But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Jesus throughout this chapter has offered both negative and positive instruction. He again does this when he says DO NOT STORE UP TREASURES ON EARTH… and BUT STORE UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN.

Jesus is telling us to store up our treasure in a secret place called Heaven.  It is such a secret place that moths and vermin can’t find it. Moths and Vermin can get into anything on Earth… but not Heaven! Thieves can crack into any treasure on Earth, but thieves can’t even find the location of Heaven, much less find the treasures stored there.

Do you like Treasure?

I like the idea of treasure. I like news of promotions and pay raises.  I would celebrate with you if you won the lottery.

Jesus is not preaching against treasure in these verses. But Jesus is talking about where you store your treasure.

Where is your Treasure?

Maybe we think more about the treasure, than where we store the treasure. Jesus cares greatly about the location of your treasure. Jesus does not want your treasure to be eaten by moths and vermin or stolen by thieves.

Where is your treasure is an important question, and Jesus really drives this point home.

Matthew 6:21 (NIV) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Your Heart and Your Treasure occupy the same space.

No wonder it is important to know where your treasure is being stored.

If your treasure is stored on Earth, then that is where your heart resides.
If your treasure is being eaten and stolen, then so is your heart.

If your treasure is stored in Heaven, then that is where your heart resides.

Can You Keep a Secret?

I have some secrets to share with you.

Jesus is not after your treasure, but Jesus is after your heart.

The enemy we call the devil, does not care about your treasure, but he will gladly attack your treasure because it is where your heart resides.

Other enemies in this world, they are after your treasure but discard your heart like it is worthless trash.

Again, Jesus is not after your treasure, but Jesus is after your heart.

When you give your time, money, and energy, you are giving your treasure, and more importantly, you are giving your heart.

Store your treasure in a secret place. Let your heart be in Heaven, where Jesus is already enthroned.

Matthew 6:22-23 (NIV) “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.

23 But if your eyes are unhealthy,[d] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

It almost seems like a subject change… Jesus goes from treasure and heart talk to eye and light talk. Yet there is a thread that runs through this message.

Matthew 6:22 (NIV) “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.

There are disagreements over how to translate the word healthy in this verse.

Haplous – Single, Simple, Whole (Translated Healthy in Matt 6:22)

The Greek word haplous (hap-looce’) actually means SINGLE, SIMPLE, WHOLE. The NIV translators went with a more physical definition of a healthy eye.

The definition of SINGLENESS fits so much better with the context.

If your eyes are SINGLE, SIMPLE, WHOLE, your whole body will be full of light.

If your eyes… if your heart… if your treasure all occupy the same single secret location of heaven, you will be full of light. When your eyes are divided there is no such promise.

Matthew 6:23 (NIV) But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

There are disagreements over the translation of the word “unhealthy.”

Ponēros (pon-ay-ros’) Most often Translated as EVIL. Definition – pressed and harassed by labors

This is the same word that Jesus uses 10 verses earlier when he says “deliver us from EVIL.”

Eyes that are not single in focus and devotion are considered EVIL.

But we also need to pay attention to this word for evil which means “pressed and harassed by labors.”

Strong’s Concordance (via Blueletterbible.org) adds this footnote – indicates degeneracy from original virtue. (https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4190/kjv/tr/0-1/)

This reminds me of Adam who before the fall of sin was single eyed, but after the fall of sin was “pressed and harassed by labors” and was fallen from his original virtue.  And this state of being is correctly called – evil.

Are you pressed and harassed by labors? If that is you, ask yourself, are my treasures in Heaven or on Earth? In Heaven, no one is pressed and harassed by labors. Is your heart in Heaven or on Earth?

I think this subject is enough to send us all to an altar today.

Oh that we would repent today and we would be single eyed. If we sould singularly focus all that we are on the secret things of Jesus.

 

I am going to ask our worship team to come. As they lead us, I want us to transfer our treasure and our heart to heaven today.

I want Jesus to help us prepare our hearts with this last verse.

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Jesus really drives home the “single” translation here, when He tells us that no one can divide their service to 2 masters. We must serve one master.

Jesus leaves no doubt to the masters He is speaking of… He says “You cannot serve both GOD and MONEY.

Don’t let your Treasure be Your Master
But Let your Master be your Treasure

 

Has money been your master?

Turn that upside down today and treasure your master.

It is time close down your bank account earth and open a bank account in Heaven.

It is time to value the secret things of God, and let God be where your treasure and heart are.