Matthew 6:24 kjv
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Matthew 6:24 nkjv
"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Matthew 6:24 niv
"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Matthew 6:24 esv
"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Matthew 6:24 nlt
"No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.
Matthew 6 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Josh 24:15 | "choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” | Choice of whom to serve exclusively |
| Deut 6:13 | "You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him; and by His name you shall swear." | Command to serve God alone |
| Lk 16:13 | "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other... You cannot serve God and mammon." | Direct parallel passage |
| 1 Kgs 18:21 | "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” | Divided loyalty condemned |
| Matt 6:33 | "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” | Prioritizing God's kingdom over material goods |
| 1 Tim 6:10 | "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil..." | Warning against the dangers of avarice |
| Heb 13:5 | "Let your conduct be without covetousness, and be content with such things as you have.” | Contentment vs. covetousness |
| Phil 3:19 | "...whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things." | Earthly focus leads to destruction |
| Col 3:1-2 | "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above... Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” | Heavenly vs. earthly mindset |
| Rom 8:5 | "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” | Spiritual vs. carnal focus |
| Jas 1:8 | "...he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” | Instability from divided loyalty |
| Jas 4:4 | "Friendship with the world is hostility toward God.” | Conflict between God and the world system |
| Matt 13:22 | "Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word...” | Worldly cares hindering spiritual growth |
| Luke 12:15 | "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." | Warning against covetousness and materialism |
| Isa 43:10 | "Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me.” | God's exclusive nature |
| Prov 23:4-5 | "Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.” | Ephemeral nature of wealth |
| Eccl 5:10 | "He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance, with its income.” | Dissatisfaction of materialism |
| Matt 19:23-24 | "it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven... it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” | Difficulty of wealth hindering salvation |
| Luke 4:8 | "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.” | Command for exclusive worship and service |
| Phil 4:19 | "And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” | Trust in God's provision instead of wealth |
| Prov 4:23 | "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” | Heart as the center of allegiance |
Matthew 6 verses
Matthew 6 24 Meaning
Matthew 6:24 declares an absolute truth about ultimate allegiance: a person cannot be wholly devoted to two competing ultimate authorities or objects of affection. It illustrates that where two masters claim absolute control, one will inevitably be prioritized, leading to the neglect or rejection of the other. Specifically, it contrasts God, the sole rightful Lord, with "mammon," which personifies material wealth and all that earthly possessions represent when they become an object of supreme trust, pursuit, or devotion, asserting that genuine service to one excludes service to the other.
Matthew 6 24 Context
Matthew 6:24 is positioned within the Sermon on the Mount, a foundational discourse on the ethics and principles of the Kingdom of God. Specifically, it concludes a section (6:19-24) where Jesus addresses the disciple's treasure and focus. Verse 19-21 urges laying up treasures in heaven rather than on earth due to their perishable nature and the heart's natural inclination to follow its treasure. Verse 22-23 then speaks metaphorically about the "eye" being the lamp of the body, signifying that one's inner vision or singular focus determines spiritual well-being. Matthew 6:24 acts as the concluding principle, summarizing the irreconcilable difference between a focus on heavenly treasures (God) and earthly treasures (mammon), setting the stage for the subsequent exhortation against worry (6:25-34) by showing why true devotion to God liberates from such anxiety. The historical context reflects a society where allegiance to a master meant total dedication and ownership, providing a powerful analogy for spiritual commitment.
Matthew 6 24 Word analysis
No one: Greek: Ouadeis (οὐδείς). This is an absolute negation, leaving no room for exception or compromise. It signifies an inherent impossibility rather than merely a difficult task.
can serve: Greek: dynatai douleuein (δύναται δουλεύειν). Dynatai means "is able," indicating inherent capacity. Douleuein means "to serve as a slave," highlighting involuntary servitude, absolute submission, and complete devotion to one's master. It's not about part-time employment but being fully owned and directed.
two masters: Greek: dysi kyriois (δυσὶ κυρίοις). Kyrios means "lord," "master," or "owner," implying full authority, rights, and ownership over a servant. In the ancient world, a slave could only have one master. Serving two masters concurrently was legally and practically impossible due to conflicting demands and loyalties. This illustrates the total allegiance demanded by each.
for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other: This elaborates on the consequence of attempting dual allegiance. "Hate" (miseo) and "love" (agapao) here refer to intense preference or absolute devotion and intense rejection or severe disinterest. "Be devoted" (antechomai) implies holding fast to, clinging to, or supporting with zeal. "Despise" (kataphroneo) means to treat with contempt, to disdain, or to disregard completely. These strong terms emphasize the mutually exclusive and polarizing nature of ultimate loyalties. There is no middle ground or balanced approach; one allegiance will triumph at the expense of the other.
You cannot serve God: Greek: theō douleuein (θεῷ δουλεύειν). Theos refers to the one true God, highlighting His supreme and singular claim to absolute devotion. Serving God implies unconditional surrender, obedience, and prioritization of His will above all else.
and mammon: Greek: kai mamōnā (καὶ μαμωνᾷ). "Mammon" is derived from the Aramaic word mamona, meaning "wealth" or "riches." While not inherently evil, it is personified here as a rival master because it can exert a powerful, demanding influence, drawing allegiance away from God. This personification elevates wealth from a mere possession to a competing deity, symbolizing the human tendency to trust, seek, and value material gain and security above the divine.
"No one can serve two masters": This opening phrase sets up the absolute impossibility of divided allegiance. It’s a foundational truth presented as a given, requiring an exclusive choice.
"hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other": These parallel phrases (chiasmus) underscore the inevitable, passionate, and decisive shift in loyalty. They highlight the heart's natural inability to truly love and pursue two conflicting supreme interests simultaneously, resulting in a forced choice where one is cherished and the other abandoned.
"You cannot serve God and mammon": This directly applies the general principle to the specific, critical conflict between spiritual allegiance to the Creator and idolatrous devotion to material wealth. It is a direct prohibition, making clear the mutually exclusive nature of these two ultimate life orientations.
Matthew 6 24 Bonus section
This verse articulates a spiritual law regarding loyalty, similar to physical laws of impossibility. It’s not that God forbids us from having money, but from serving money. The problem is not wealth itself but making wealth one's master and object of ultimate trust. This aligns with the Jewish emphasis on the Shema (Deut 6:4-5), which commands exclusive love for God with all of one's heart, soul, and might, leaving no room for a rival master. The force of "hate" is a Semitic idiom often used for putting something in a place of lower preference, emphasizing that one must love God more than anything else, effectively treating rivals with profound disdain compared to the exclusive devotion offered to Him. The demand for singular allegiance is non-negotiable in the Kingdom of God.
Matthew 6 24 Commentary
Matthew 6:24 delivers a pivotal truth concerning exclusive devotion, serving as the capstone for Jesus' teaching on treasures. It reveals that allegiance cannot be divided because two ultimate authorities make absolute and conflicting demands on the heart, time, and resources. To truly serve God means His will and kingdom come first in every decision and desire, while "mammon" (material wealth, possessions, and the pursuit thereof) demands ultimate trust and security from its adherents. The conflict is internal; one's love and loyalty will always gravitate fully toward one over the other, leading to a profound polarization of affections—loving and being devoted to one, while hating or despising the other. This isn't merely a suggestion but an absolute spiritual impossibility. The implications are profound, calling for a radical reorientation of priorities where God alone is supreme, safeguarding against the idolatry inherent in valuing temporal security over eternal righteousness.Practical examples include:
- Prioritizing career advancement and financial gain over commitments to worship or Christian service.
- Making moral compromises in business for increased profit.
- Spending excessive time and energy accumulating possessions instead of spiritual growth or helping others.