Short answer: evangelicals generally identify the author of Matthew 6:19–21 as the apostle Matthew (also called Levi), one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. He is understood to be an eyewitness and an inspired recorder of Jesus’ teaching (the Sermon on the Mount), writing especially for a Jewish-Christian audience.
Key points an evangelical would emphasize
– Identity and background
– Matthew (Levi) was a Jewish tax collector in Capernaum called by Jesus (see Matthew 9:9; Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27–28).
– As a tax collector he would likely have been literate and familiar with administrative records, making him a plausible author of a written Gospel.
– Apostolic and eyewitness status
– Matthew is numbered among the Twelve (Matthew 10:2–4), so evangelicals regard him as an eyewitness of Jesus’ words and deeds—this lends authority to his reporting of the Sermon on the Mount (which includes 6:19–21).
– Early church testimony
– Church fathers (Papias as quoted by Eusebius, Irenaeus, Origen, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria) attribute this Gospel to Matthew. Evangelicals treat this unanimous early testimony as significant evidence for Matthean authorship.
– Language, date, and audience
– The Gospel as we have it is in Greek, but early comment (Papias) refers to Matthew compiling sayings “in the Hebrew dialect,” which evangelicals interpret variously (an original Aramaic/Hebrew collection behind the Greek text, or Matthew himself composing in a Semitic form before producing/oversight of a Greek version).
– Most evangelicals date Matthew to the 50s–70s AD and see the book as primarily directed to Jewish Christians (hence themes like “Kingdom of Heaven,” fulfillment of prophecy, OT citation).
– Literary/theological emphases relevant to Matthew 6:19–21
– Matthew emphasizes Jesus as the authoritative teacher and fulfillment of Israel’s hope; the Sermon on the Mount presents kingdom ethics (inner righteousness, heart orientation).
– Matthew’s concern with righteous living (not merely external observance) fits the teaching of 6:19–21 about storing up treasures in heaven and the condition of the heart.
– Inspiration and authority
– From an evangelical standpoint, Matthew wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; therefore his recording of Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:19–21 is treated as authoritative Christian teaching.
If you want, I can summarize the relevant early-church references (Papias, Irenaeus, etc.), outline how evangelicals reconcile the “Hebrew dialect” remark with the Greek Gospel, or show how Matthew’s background helps explain specific wording in Matthew 6:19–21. Which would you like next?
