Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth
Meaning either treasures that are of an earthly nature and kind,
the more valuable and excellent things of the earth, worldly
wealth and riches; or the things and places, in which these are
laid up, as bags, chests, or coffers, barns and other treasuries,
private or public. Christ here dissuades from covetousness, and
worldly mindedness; an anxious care and concern, to hoard up
plenty of worldly things for themselves, for time to come, making
no use of them at present for the good of others: and this he
does, from the nature of the things themselves; the places where
they are laid up; the difficulty of keeping them; and their
liableness to be corrupted or lost.
Where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through
and
steal.
Garments, formerly, were a considerable part of the treasures of
great men, as well as gold and silver; see ( Job 27:16 ) . So
according to the F13 Targumist, Haman is bid to go
(aklmd yzng tybl) , "to
the king's treasury", and take from thence one of the purple
garments, the best, and raiment of the best silk and these were
liable to be eaten with the moth, ( James 5:2 ) . The word
translated rust, does not here signify the rust of metals, as
gold and silver; by which there is not so much damage done, so as
to destroy them, and make them useless; but whatever corrupts and
consumes things eatable, as blasting and mildew in corn, or any
sort of vermin in granaries: for gold and silver, or money, with
jewels and precious stones, which make a very great part of
worldly treasure, seem to be more particularly designed, by what
thieves break through into houses for, and carry away. So that
here are three sorts of earthly treasures pointed at, which are
liable to be corrupted, or taken away: garments, which may be
destroyed, and rendered useless for wearing; provisions of things
eatable, as all sorts of corn and grain, which may be so
corrupted by smut and vermin, as not to be fit for use; and money
and jewels, which may be stolen by thieves: so that no sort of
worldly riches and treasure is safe, and to be depended on; and
therefore it is a great folly and vanity to lay it up, and trust
in it.