Righteous: Treasure
Jump to: Nave'sLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, the concept of "righteous treasure" is deeply intertwined with the values and priorities that align with God's will and eternal purposes. The Scriptures frequently contrast earthly wealth with heavenly treasures, emphasizing the eternal value of righteousness over material possessions.

Heavenly Treasure vs. Earthly Wealth

The Bible consistently teaches that true treasure is found not in earthly wealth but in the righteousness that comes from a life aligned with God's commandments. In Matthew 6:19-21 , Jesus instructs His followers: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." This passage highlights the transient nature of earthly wealth and the enduring value of heavenly treasure, which is closely associated with righteousness.

Righteousness as True Wealth

Proverbs 11:4 states, "Riches are worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death." This verse underscores the idea that material wealth cannot save a person in the ultimate sense; only righteousness, which is a right standing with God, can deliver from eternal judgment. Similarly, Proverbs 15:6 declares, "The house of the righteous has great treasure, but the income of the wicked is trouble." Here, the "great treasure" of the righteous is not necessarily material wealth but the spiritual and moral wealth that comes from living a life pleasing to God.

The Pursuit of Righteousness

The pursuit of righteousness is portrayed as a treasure hunt of the highest order. In Proverbs 2:1-5 , the pursuit of wisdom and understanding, which are closely linked to righteousness, is described as seeking hidden treasures: "My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you, if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding, if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, if you seek it like silver and search it out like hidden treasure, then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God."

Eternal Rewards

The New Testament further elaborates on the concept of righteous treasure by pointing to the eternal rewards that await those who live righteously. In 1 Timothy 6:17-19 , Paul advises the wealthy to "do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life." This passage emphasizes that the true life, or eternal life, is the ultimate treasure, and it is secured through righteous living and generosity.

Christ as the Ultimate Treasure

Ultimately, Christ Himself is portrayed as the ultimate treasure for the believer. In Colossians 2:2-3 , Paul speaks of "the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of the mystery of God, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." The righteousness that believers seek is found in Christ, who embodies the fullness of God's wisdom and knowledge.

In summary, the biblical concept of "righteous treasure" calls believers to prioritize spiritual and eternal values over temporal and material ones, recognizing that true wealth is found in a life lived in accordance with God's will and in the person of Jesus Christ.
Nave's Topical Index
Exodus 19:5
Now therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then you shall be a peculiar treasure to me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 135:4
For the LORD has chosen Jacob to himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Fourfold Treasure
... He must be a beggar indeed who counts a piece of dirt a treasure. ... Let thy conscience
and love of rectitude adore him who has made thee righteous. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the fourfold treasure.htm

The Treasure Hid in the Scriptures is Christ; the True Exposition ...
... nature; but when it is read by the Christians, it is a treasure, hid indeed ... shall
shine as the brightness of the firmament, and many of the righteous [4154] as ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxvi the treasure hid in.htm

The Evil one Wailed "Where Now, is There a Place for Me to Flee to ...
... One wailed "Where now, is there a place for me to flee to from the righteous? ... 4.
At this storehouse of treasure I was amazed, for small was its treasure at ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn xlii the evil one.htm

The Heavenly Treasure in Earthen Vessels
... We have the heavenly treasure in earthly, mortal, corruptible bodies. "Dust thou
art," said the righteous Judge to his rebellious creature, till then ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 124 the heavenly treasure.htm

The Present Recompense
... go further still, and say, Is not the righteous man recompensed on the earth every
time he hears a strain of noble music? To him who has his treasure in heaven ...
/.../all saints day and other sermons/sermon xxix the present recompense.htm

The Death of the Righteous
... 7. Death and the last day 1. The Death Of The Righteous. ... They laid up their treasure
upon earth, and to be turned out of it all at once is a great loss. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/1 the death of the.htm

Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity Treasure Christians have in the ...
... The Christian has indeed inestimable treasure. ... salvation in self-devised trivialities,
in penances, confessions and satisfactions, in self-righteous works of ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/eighteenth sunday after trinity treasure.htm

What Christ Himself Taught.
... Lay up treasure, therefore, in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt."
[1791] And ... and maketh His sun to rise on sinners, and the righteous, and the ...
/.../justin/the first apology of justin/chapter xv what christ himself taught.htm

Wherefore Even they which Having Relinquished or Distributed their ...
... warning of rich men, "Let them," says he "readily give, communicate, treasure up
for ... shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in ...
/.../augustine/of the work of monks /section 33 wherefore even they.htm

The Desire of the Righteous Granted;
... THE DESIRE OF THE RIGHTEOUS GRANTED; OR, A DISCOURSE OF THE RIGHTEOUS MAN'S
DESIRES. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. As the tree is ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the desire of the righteous.htm

Resources
What does it mean that a righteous person cares for the needs of animals (Proverbs 12:10)? | GotQuestions.org

How should poetry in the Bible be interpreted? | GotQuestions.org

What is fervent prayer (James 5:16)? | GotQuestions.org

Righteous: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Righteous

Righteous: Access of, to God

Righteous: Babies

Righteous: Branches of a Vine

Righteous: Calves of the Stall

Righteous: Cedars in Lebanon

Righteous: Corn (Grain)

Righteous: Described

Righteous: Dew and Showers

Righteous: Doves

Righteous: Eagles

Righteous: Few

Righteous: Fruitful Trees

Righteous: Gold

Righteous: Good Figs

Righteous: Good Fish

Righteous: Good Servants

Righteous: Green Olive Trees

Righteous: Jewels

Righteous: Lambs

Righteous: Lebanon

Righteous: Lights

Righteous: Lilies

Righteous: Lions

Righteous: Little Children

Righteous: Living Stones

Righteous: Members of the Body

Righteous: Mount Zion

Righteous: Obedient Children

Righteous: Palm Trees

Righteous: Pomegranates

Righteous: Promises To, Expressed or Implied

Righteous: Relation of, to God

Righteous: Righteous and Wicked, Circumstances of, Contrasted

Righteous: Runners in a Race

Righteous: Salt

Righteous: Sheep

Righteous: Soldiers

Righteous: Stars

Righteous: Stones of a Crown

Righteous: Strangers and Pilgrims

Righteous: The Sun

Righteous: Thirsting Deer

Righteous: Treasure

Righteous: Trees Planted Beside Rivers

Righteous: Unfailing Springs

Righteous: Unity of, With Christ

Righteous: Vessels of Gold and Silver

Righteous: Vines

Righteous: Watered Gardens

Righteous: Wheat

Righteous: Willows by the Water Courses

Righteous: Wrestlers

Select Readings: The Righteous and the Wicked in Contrast

Related Terms

Over-righteous (1 Occurrence)

Perversity (23 Occurrences)

Declaring (48 Occurrences)

Actions (62 Occurrences)

Commits (39 Occurrences)

Anger (387 Occurrences)

Merely (30 Occurrences)

Murdered (25 Occurrences)

Perishes (14 Occurrences)

Peradventure (35 Occurrences)

Abel (22 Occurrences)

Declared (261 Occurrences)

Perhaps (89 Occurrences)

Blameless (81 Occurrences)

Vindication (14 Occurrences)

Zadok (50 Occurrences)

Encompass (20 Occurrences)

Dare (19 Occurrences)

Pronounced (63 Occurrences)

Practices (80 Occurrences)

Prophet's (22 Occurrences)

Perisheth (15 Occurrences)

Practiseth (4 Occurrences)

Practises (9 Occurrences)

Pursues (15 Occurrences)

Bribe (27 Occurrences)

Condemning (6 Occurrences)

Abraham's (34 Occurrences)

Anyone (514 Occurrences)

Self-righteousness

Stedfastness (17 Occurrences)

Slew (206 Occurrences)

Sweep (34 Occurrences)

Consume (136 Occurrences)

Committeth (22 Occurrences)

Violence (98 Occurrences)

Slay (189 Occurrences)

Sinners (132 Occurrences)

Simply (27 Occurrences)

Perverse (55 Occurrences)

Exult (50 Occurrences)

Spare (80 Occurrences)

Paradise (6 Occurrences)

Plea (35 Occurrences)

Sight (522 Occurrences)

Sinner (88 Occurrences)

Condemn (43 Occurrences)

Spies (22 Occurrences)

Prosperity (66 Occurrences)

Alike (67 Occurrences)

Suppose (47 Occurrences)

Excellent (52 Occurrences)

Surround (39 Occurrences)

Killed (352 Occurrences)

Sure (142 Occurrences)

Branch (60 Occurrences)

Destroy (379 Occurrences)

Saving (37 Occurrences)

Concerned (45 Occurrences)

Shaken (62 Occurrences)

Condemned (49 Occurrences)

Believing (84 Occurrences)

Appointed (385 Occurrences)

Man's (347 Occurrences)

Begging (18 Occurrences)

Death (1610 Occurrences)

Disobedience (49 Occurrences)

Deal (170 Occurrences)

Vexed (37 Occurrences)

Zachariah (6 Occurrences)

Exist (24 Occurrences)

Effectual (8 Occurrences)

Existence (35 Occurrences)

Disturbance (7 Occurrences)

Dishonest (33 Occurrences)

Deceives (14 Occurrences)

Disobeys (4 Occurrences)

Delivers (38 Occurrences)

Righteous: Thirsting Deer
Top of Page
Top of Page