Hebrews 10:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

So everyone in this world labors not without purpose. First he looks toward the result for which he begins the labor, and toward the fruit that follows from the labor. Then he begins to work.

For no one begins or does anything without purpose and intention.

Beloved Christian, you also should imitate such laborers, who labor for temporal goods. They labor while looking toward corruptible and quickly passing good.

You, with the eye of faith, look toward eternal blessings, those “which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor 2:9).

Labor and sow with hope of receiving these blessings. Look toward that harvest which will be at the last day.

In that harvest, not earthly but heavenly fruits are gathered, not corruptible but incorruptible, not temporal but eternal. Therefore now, on earth, while there is time, and while the sowing and its proper season have not passed, sow your seeds.

Then, in the time of that harvest, you will reap the fruits.

Farmers and others who labor for earthly goods are often deceived in their hope. A good fruit does not always appear, and men do not always receive what they desire and for which they labor.

But one who seeks eternal blessings with faith, hope, and diligence is not deceived. He receives them, because “He who promised is faithful” (Heb 10:23).

You also labor and sow now. Sow with faith and hope. Do not fear: the seed will not perish.

You give into the hands of the poor, but what is given is found in the hands of Christ. It will return to you with great increase.

Set in your mind and firmly fix in your memory that your fatherland and your home are in heaven.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Mt 6:19-20).

Do not be anxious. There the hidden treasure will remain wholly intact. On the last day it will be brought forth and declared before the whole world.

It will be given to you, and it will remain inseparably with you unto the ages of ages.

From this it follows, first, that you will show that in soul, mind, and heart you have gone out of this world. Though you live bodily in the world, you have your citizenship in heaven.

You may say with the Apostle, “Our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also await the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 3:20). “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Mt 6:21).

By your spirit, heart, and thoughts you will necessarily dwell where your hidden treasure is.

Second, you will receive it in its time. On that day you will hear from Christ: “Beloved, behold your treasure, which you hid not on earth but in heaven, according to My word.

“Behold, it is given back to you whole. Receive it and take comfort in it. Be rich not with corruptible wealth, but with incorruptible wealth.”

Third, treasure hidden on earth brings fear and sorrow to the one who hides it. He fears that it may be stolen.

But when you hide your treasure in heaven, you are freed from this fear and sorrow. You will be free, calm, and peaceful in soul, which is a very great good for the soul.

Christian, wherever you turn your thought, you will not have peace unless you send your treasure ahead to that fatherland and home.

Hide it in the earth, lock it in a room and chests, entrust it to guards, or squander it on whims and luxury. Still, you will not escape tormenting concern over it.

Always and everywhere, wherever you may be, care, sorrow, and fear will be with you. Like a worm within wood, this evil will devour and torment your heart and soul from within.

Thus you will suffer from a twofold evil: you will sin and you will be tormented. But when you send it to heaven through the hands of the poor and needy, you will be freed from this evil.

For this reason, believe the word of Christ: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Transfer your treasure from earth to heaven, and there your heart will dwell with your treasure.

What is dearer and sweeter than this: to live bodily on earth, but to be in heaven in soul and heart?

O Jesus, Light of the eyes of our soul! Open the eyes of our soul, that we may see these blessings “which Thou hast prepared for those who love” Thee, and seek them with desire and diligence.

Beloved Christian, if you saw even a small portion of these blessings, then, despising everything in this world, you would hasten toward them with great longing.

But believe, I beg you, the true word of God, which is more certain than every vision, and seek them.