Riches in Secret Places

I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord. Isaiah 45:3

My friend, Vicky, is one rich person. She’s got it all, yet she sits paralyzed in a wheelchair, having been shot in an attempted rape many years ago. At first, this tragedy plunged her into dark despair. Yet during her darkest hour, she discovered rich, spiritual treasure. She was able to mine precious insights hidden in secret places. Through her affliction, Vicky found the seven-fold riches of God.

In Ephesians 3:8 she discovered she was blessed with “the unsearchable riches of Christ.” 

In Romans 2:4, she found “the riches of goodness.” 

Treasure, Treasurer, Treasury - In The New Testament

II. In the New Testament.

1. Gaza:

There are two words translated "treasure": Gaza is of Persian origin, meaning "treasure." Found only once in Acts 8:27 concerning the Ethiopian "who was over all her (Queen Candace's) treasure." In the compound gazophulakion, "guarding of gaza," the same word appears and the compound is translated "treasury" in Mark 12:41, 43 parallelLuke 21:1 John 8:20.

See TEMPLE; TREASURY (OF TEMPLE).

2. Thesauros:

The word thesauros means literally, a "deposit," so wealth and treasure. Evidently throughout the New Testament it has a twofold usage as describing

(1) material treasure, either money or other valuable material possession, and

(2) spiritual treasure, e.g. "like unto treasure hid in a field" (Matthew 13:44); "good treasure of the heart" (Matthew 12:35).

Other references to material treasure are Matthew 6:21; Matthew 13:52 Luke 12:21, 34, etc. References to spiritual treasure are Matthew 19:21 Mark 10:21 Luke 6:45; Luke 12:33; Luke 18:22; plural Matthew 6:20 Colossians 2:3.

In Matthew 27:6 the word for "treasury" is korbanas; compare the Revised Version margin.

See CORBAN.


International Standard Bible Encyclopedia


http://bibleencyclopedia.com/treasure.htm