How does Psalm 119:36 relate to Matthew 6:21 about treasures and heart? Opening the Texts • Psalm 119:36 — “Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to dishonest gain.” • Matthew 6:21 — “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The Heart’s Inclination in Psalm 119:36 • The psalmist prays for a reshaping of desires: “Incline my heart.” • Two directions are contrasted: – Toward God’s “testimonies” (His written Word, revealed will, and covenant promises). – Away from “dishonest gain” (any pursuit that prizes earthly profit over obedience). • The verse rests on a conviction that the heart is naturally bent toward self-interest unless God intervenes (Jeremiah 17:9; Ezekiel 36:26-27). Treasure Reveals Heart in Matthew 6:21 • Jesus teaches that what we value governs our inner life. • “Treasure” includes money, possessions, ambitions, status—anything we store up for security or enjoyment (Luke 12:15-21). • The heart follows treasure the way a needle follows a magnet: wherever investments lie, affections trail behind. Threads That Tie the Verses Together • Direction of Desire – Psalm 119:36 looks upward: “Turn my heart toward Your Word.” – Matthew 6:21 looks forward: “Notice where your heart is headed after your treasure.” – Together they show that the heart never sits still; it’s always tilting one way or the other. • Competing Treasures – Psalm singles out “dishonest gain.” – Jesus widens the net to “treasure” in general. – Both passages warn that earthly gains compete with devotion to God (1 Timothy 6:9-10). • Word as True Wealth – “Your testimonies” (Psalm) are presented as the superior treasure (Psalm 119:72, 162). – Jesus echoes this by urging believers to store treasures “in heaven” (Matthew 6:20). – The lasting value of God’s Word and kingdom outshines temporal riches (Isaiah 40:8; 1 Peter 1:24-25). • Heart Surgery vs. Heart Exposure – Psalm 119:36 is a plea for internal transformation—“Change me.” – Matthew 6:21 is a diagnostic—“Check yourself.” – United, they show both the need for God to incline our hearts and our responsibility to track where our affections already are (Proverbs 4:23). Living It Out Today 1. Identify your current “treasures.” Review spending, screen time, conversations. What do they reveal? 2. Pray Psalm 119:36 daily: ask God to bend your heart toward His Word. 3. Reallocate resources—time, money, talents—to kingdom aims (2 Corinthians 9:7-8; Colossians 3:2). 4. Memorize and meditate on Scripture. The more you store God’s testimonies, the richer your heart becomes (Joshua 1:8). 5. Celebrate eternal returns: note answered prayers, growth in character, and opportunities to serve—treasures that moth and rust can’t touch (Matthew 6:19). |
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