A Biblical-theological Analysis of Matthew 6:19-34 to Clarify the Relationship Between the Christian Disciple and Money Conspectus : The Journal of the South African Theological Seminary, Volume 12, Issue 09, Sep 2011, p. 129 - 159

Abstract

This essay conducts a biblical-theological analysis of Matthew 6:19-34 to clarify what it teaches about the relationship between the Christian disciple and money. One major finding is that Jesus presents money as a rival god that challenges for the allegiance that rightly belongs to the Lord. Jesus also draws attention to the way a proper allegiance to God can be expressed. A second major finding is that money and the Lord are radically different gods. Moreover, there are significantly different consequences to the believer that result from devotion to either money or God. The third major finding shows that the consequences of allegiance to either God or money, needs to be understood in terms of how one's actions affect ones' community.