Christianity
Matthew
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:”
← All parallels
ParallelsA comparative study
ChristianityJudaismIslam
On Treasure in Heaven
This motif appears across Abrahamic traditions as a critique of material accumulation in favor of eschatological security. While all three traditions warn against the impermanence of earthly wealth, they diverge on the mechanism of storage, ranging from internal disposition to charitable expenditure. Scholarship notes that Christian texts often emphasize the heart's attachment, whereas Islamic texts frequently quantify the return on spiritual investment. Jewish wisdom literature tends to focus on the ultimate futility of wealth at death rather than active storage.
What every account tells.
- iMaterial wealth is subject to decay or loss.
- iiSpiritual value persists beyond physical death.
- iiiDivine judgment evaluates economic stewardship.
- ivBelievers are exhorted to prioritize the afterlife over the present world.
How each tradition tells it.
Christianity
The focus is on the orientation of the heart, where storing treasure is synonymous with loving God rather than Mammon. This internalization contrasts with external acts of charity found in other traditions.
Judaism
Wisdom texts emphasize the inevitability of death rendering wealth useless rather than a method to accumulate merit. The focus remains on the fate of the righteous versus the wicked in the grave.
Islam
The parable of the grain illustrates a multiplicative return on charitable spending rather than simple hoarding. This reflects a legalistic framework where specific acts of sadaqah generate measurable spiritual capital.
Read the passages as one.
Judaism
Proverbs
“Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.”
Judaism
Psalms
“Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;”
Islam
Surah 2: Al-Baqarah (The Cow)
مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمۡوَٰلَهُمۡ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنۢبَتَتۡ سَبۡعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنۢبُلَةٖ مِّاْئَةُ حَبَّةٖۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُضَٰعِفُ لِمَن يَشَآءُۚ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
“The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing”
Islam
Surah 3: Ali 'Imran (Family of Imran)
زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ ٱلشَّهَوَٰتِ مِنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ وَٱلۡبَنِينَ وَٱلۡقَنَٰطِيرِ ٱلۡمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ ٱلذَّهَبِ وَٱلۡفِضَّةِ وَٱلۡخَيۡلِ ٱلۡمُسَوَّمَةِ وَٱلۡأَنۡعَٰمِ وَٱلۡحَرۡثِۗ ذَٰلِكَ مَتَٰعُ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَاۖ وَٱللَّهُ عِندَهُۥ حُسۡنُ ٱلۡمَـَٔابِ
“Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire - of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allah has with Him the best return”