No servant 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. You cannot serve God and mammon.
servant.
Luke 9:50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
Luke 11:23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
hate.
Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Either he will hate the one and love the other,
The language of "hate" and "love" here is a Semitic expression denoting preference and priority rather than emotional extremes. In biblical terms, to "hate" can mean to choose against or to reject in favor of something else. This phrase underscores the idea that one cannot equally prioritize two conflicting interests. The choice between God and worldly pursuits is a recurring theme in Scripture, as seen in Joshua 24:15, where the Israelites are urged to choose whom they will serve.
or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
Devotion implies a deep, unwavering commitment, while to "despise" suggests a disregard or devaluation. This reflects the biblical teaching that allegiance to God requires a renunciation of competing loyalties. The call to devotion is a central tenet of the Christian faith, as seen in Deuteronomy 6:5, which commands love for God with all one's heart, soul, and strength. The contrast between devotion and disdain illustrates the incompatibility of serving both God and worldly desires.
You cannot serve both God and money.”
The term "money" here is translated from the Aramaic word "mammon," which encompasses wealth and material possessions. This statement is a direct challenge to the idolatry of wealth, a common temptation throughout history. The Bible consistently warns against the dangers of materialism, as seen in 1 Timothy 6:10, which describes the love of money as a root of all kinds of evil. This teaching calls believers to prioritize their spiritual relationship with God over the pursuit of earthly riches, aligning with the broader biblical narrative that treasures in heaven are of greater value than those on earth (Matthew 6:19-21).
“No servant can serve two masters.”
• Jesus begins with a household image His listeners knew well. A slave had one owner. Two masters giving conflicting orders would create chaos.
• Scripture consistently presents God as exclusive Lord: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3).
• Paul echoes the same principle: “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey?” (Romans 6:16).
• The line draws a hard boundary: genuine discipleship doesn’t accommodate divided allegiance.
“Either he will hate the one and love the other.”
• In Hebrew thought, “hate” and “love” can express choice and priority (cf. Malachi 1:2-3; Romans 9:13). One master will inevitably win your heart.
• Jesus elsewhere demands primary affection: “Anyone who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:37).
• When the heart gravitates to one master, the other becomes neglected, even resented. Spiritual neutrality is a myth.
“or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.”
• Devotion involves steadfast loyalty and practical obedience (Acts 2:42; 1 Kings 8:61).
• Despising isn’t necessarily open hostility; it can be quiet disregard—treating the other master’s commands as optional (cf. 2 Samuel 12:9).
• The contrast forces a decision: ongoing commitment to one will erode respect for the other. There’s no middle lane in this intersection.
“You cannot serve both God and money.”
• Jesus names mammon—worldly wealth—as the chief rival deity. Mammon offers security, status, and pleasure, promising what only God can truly give (1 Timothy 6:17).
• The Lord consistently warns about riches choking spiritual life (Mark 4:19) and commanding misplaced trust (Proverbs 11:28).
• Practical checkpoints:
– Where does my imagination drift when I’m free to think?
– What drives my major decisions—kingdom advance or financial gain?
– Do I give generously and gladly (2 Corinthians 9:7), proving money serves rather than rules me?
• Serving God means stewarding wealth as a tool, not worshiping it as an idol (Luke 12:33-34).
Luke 16:13 lays out a clear either-or. A servant cannot juggle competing masters; one will capture affection, loyalty, and obedience. Jesus identifies money as the most common rival, urging decisive allegiance to God alone. The verse calls believers to examine where their hearts rest, submit every resource to the Lord, and live with singular devotion that proves Christ, not cash, is Master.
(13) No servant can serve two masters.--See Notes on Matthew 6:24. Here it obviously comes in close connection with the previous teaching. But its occurrence, in an equally close sequence, in the Sermon on the Mount, shows that it took its place among the axioms of the religious life which our Lord, if we may so speak, loved to reproduce as occasion called for them.Verse 13 - No servant can serve two masters... Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Very vividly is this experience brought out in the great parable which immediately follows There the rich man was evidently one who observed the sacred ritual of the Law of Moses: this we learn without doubt from his conversation after death with Abraham. Thus he tried, after his light, to serve God, but he also served mammon: this we learn, too, clearly from the description given to us of his life, from the mention of the gorgeous apparel and the sumptuous feeding. The service of the two was incompatible, and we know from the sombre sequel of the story to which master the rich man really held, and whom - alas for him! - in his heart he despised.