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Scripture • World English Bible
Matthew 6:16–24
16“Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.
17But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
18so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
19“Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;
20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal;
21for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light.
23But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon.
World English Bible (WEB) • Public Domain
Reflection
Fasting, treasure, and the eye — Jesus ties these together to expose where a man truly worships. When fasting becomes performance, the fast points to people instead of God. True devotion happens in secret before the Father who sees. Likewise, where you put your resources reveals your heart. Earthly wealth is vulnerable: moth, rust, thieves. Heavenly treasure is secure because it’s tied to God’s purposes and people’s souls. Finally, Jesus uses the eye as a metaphor for focus. A sound eye lets light flood the life; a bad eye fills a man with darkness. These images converge on one central claim: you cannot serve two masters. Either you will be enslaved to Mammon or free to obey God. The choice is not abstract. It shows up in bank accounts, calendars, conversations, and the quiet choices of the day. Men, this passage calls for honest appraisal and decisive allegiance. It’s about worship more than technique. Where your treasure is—there your heart will be. If you want to follow Jesus, arrange your life so that your money, time, and focus point to him.
Putting Faith Into Action
- Choose one regular expense and reallocate a portion of it this week to a gospel-centered cause or a man you can disciple; set a calendar reminder and record the gift amount.
- Set a daily five-minute quiet time this week to ask God to examine your heart: What do I really treasure? Write one sentence summary in a notebook each day.
- Identify one competing 'master' (work, money, approval, addiction). Name it aloud and tell one trusted brother or pastor your plan to move that thing under Christ's authority.
Prayer
Father, thank you that you see us in secret. Forgive the ways I have let money, approval, or success take your place in my heart. Give me courage to reorder my life so my treasure points to you. Cleanse my vision; make my eye sound so my whole life is full of your light. Help me serve you alone and to trust your provision. Shape my desires to match your kingdom and give me wisdom for the concrete steps I must take. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Memory Verse
Matthew 6:21 — for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (WEB)
“for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Bible Context
Read all of Matthew 6
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Bible Context
Read all of Matthew 6
Matthew 6
World English Bible • WEB
1“Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
2Therefore, when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.
3But when you do merciful deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does,
4so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
5“When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward.
6But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
7In praying, don’t use vain repetitions as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.
8Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need before you ask him.
9Pray like this: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
10Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread.
12Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.
13Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’
14“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
16“Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.
17But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
18so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
19“Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;
20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal;
21for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light.
23But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon.
25Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
26See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they?
27“Which of you by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan?
28Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin,
29yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these.
30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of little faith?
31“Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’
32For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33But seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
34Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.
World English Bible (WEB) • Public Domain
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