Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Matthew 6:20

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

For the present He signifies the hurtfulness of the treasure here, and the profit of what is there, both from the place, and from the things which mar it. And first, what things they most fear, from these He urges them. For "of what art thou afraid?" saith He: "lest thy goods should be spent, if thou give alms? …

Homily on the Gospel of Matthew 20 ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

If, therefore, the heart be on earth, i.e. if one perform anything with a heart bent on obtaining earthly advantage, how will that heart be clean which wallows on earth? But if it be in heaven, it will be clean, because whatever things are heavenly are clean. …

Sermon On The Mount 2.13.44 ↗

Hilary of Poitiers

But the praise of Heaven is eternal, and cannot be carried off by invading thief, nor consumed by the moth and rust of envy.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Having set forth earthly instability, he sets forth the stability of the heavenly treasure. Hence lay up to yourselves treasures, i.e., accumulate a multitude of rewards in the heavenly places. And it should be noted, according to Augustine, that this is not to be understood of the corporeal heaven, because we should not fix our heart on any evil corporeal thing, nor have our treasure there. Hence in heaven should be understood as in spiritual goods, i.e., in God himself: "The heaven of heaven is the Lord's" (Ps 115:16). …

Commentary on Matthew ↗