Treasury Treasure
Treasury Treasure [1]
In Old Testament times treasure might be stored in the king's palace ( 2 Kings 20:13 ) or in the Temple ( 1 Kings 7:51 ). In Jesus' day the term also applied to thirteen trumpet-shaped offering receptacles in the Temple court of the women where Jesus watched people make their offerings ( Mark 12:41 ). “Treasure” and “treasury” are also used as illustrations or figures of speech. Israel was God's treasure ( Exodus 19:5 ). This is reflected in the idea of Christians as God's own people ( 1 Peter 2:9 ). A person's memory is a treasure ( Proverbs 2:1; Proverbs 7:1 ). Fear (awe) of the Lord was Israel's treasure ( Isaiah 33:6 ).
Jesus Himself used the term frequently. He contrasted earthly treasures to those of heaven ( Matthew 6:19-20 ). What a person treasures or values determines one's loyalty and priorities ( Matthew 6:21 ). Paul marveled that the treasure of God's revelation of Himself in Christ had been deposited in an earthen vessel such as Paul himself ( 2 Corinthians 4:7 ). See Temple.
Elmer Gray
