A Study of the commands from our Lord, Jesus the Christ

Week 12, February 15th

The Benefits of Obedience Continued.

Consider the command from our LORD:
"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;"
Matthew 6:20 (NASB)

The command: "store up for yourselves treasures in heaven".
This command was given to everyone listening to the "Sermon on the Mount" (Matthew 5-7).
The response: We really won't be able to tell until we arrive in heaven.
The benefit: An eternal treasure that "moth nor rust destroys" nor thieves can steal.

Jesus is commanding us, his disciples, to store up treasures for ourselves in heaven.

The Greek word that Jesus used for "store up" is "thēsaurizō" which means to gather up, to heap up, or store up. And the Greek word that Jesus used for "treasure" is "thēsauros" which means something valuable. This same word "thēsauros" was used to describe the gifts left by the Wise men in Matthew 2:11 (NASB)

I remember a phrase used by Chuck Missler, (www.khouse.org), "you can't take it with you, BUT you can send it on ahead." This is exactly what Jesus is talking about.

Salvation is only the beginning. There is so much more. Consider Matthew 19:29 (NASB) .

"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life."

I would like to point out what I believe is the key phrase in Matthew 19 verse 29: "for My name's sake"

When you, a disciple of Christ, are "investing" your resources because of Jesus' name sake, Jesus is promising that you will receive many times as much. The Greek word Jesus used for "many times as much" is "hekatontaplasiōn" or a hundredfold.

The point I am trying to make is this: You have a choice in everything you do. You can invest your resources to build up treasure here on earth which will all pass away (see Revelation 21:1 (NASB) ) or you can benefit by obedience and "send it ahead".

Don't think that it is all work and that you have to die to start enjoying eternal life. The day you accepted Jesus as your Savior and believed. You moved from death unto life. (see John 5:24 (NASB) )

Here are a couple of other BENEFITS of Obeying while you are still on earth:
- Holy Spirit dwells within you (see 1 Corinthians 3:16 (NASB) )
- Peace of GOD to guard you (see Philippians 4:7 (NASB) )
- Jesus always with you (see Matthew 28:20 (NASB) )

If you have any other questions for me please send me an email.

The tour continues next week with a look at the commands from Matthew 7:7 (NASB) .

Return to: "and teaching them to obey";