The Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 5 - 7
Chapter 6
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.
What does this mean?
Explanation of Matthew 6:24
This passage is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, where He addresses the issue of loyalty and devotion. Here’s a
detailed biblical explanation of each part:
"No one can serve two masters."
- Explanation: Jesus begins with a statement about the impossibility of serving two masters simultaneously. In the
context of servitude, a master demands complete loyalty and obedience. Trying to serve two masters would create
a conflict of interest, as each master would have different expectations and demands.
"Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other."
- Explanation: Jesus explains that divided loyalty leads to favoritism. If a person attempts to serve two masters,
they will inevitably prefer one over the other. Love and devotion towards one master will naturally result in
neglect and even disdain towards the other. This illustrates the impossibility of maintaining equal commitment
to two conflicting authorities.
"You cannot serve both God and money."
- Explanation: Jesus applies the principle to the specific context of serving God and money (referred to as
"mammon," an Aramaic word for wealth or material possessions). He emphasizes that a person cannot be fully
devoted to both God and the pursuit of wealth. Serving God requires complete dedication and prioritizing His
will, while serving money involves pursuing material gain and worldly success. These two pursuits are inherently
contradictory, as the love of money can lead to greed, selfishness, and distraction from spiritual growth and
devotion to God.
Summary:
In this passage, Jesus teaches about the impossibility of divided loyalty. He emphasizes that one cannot serve two
masters, as it will lead to a conflict of interest and preferential treatment. Specifically, Jesus points out that
one cannot serve both God and money, highlighting the incompatibility between spiritual devotion and materialism.
Serving God requires wholehearted commitment and prioritizing His kingdom and righteousness, while the pursuit of
wealth can lead to conflicting values and priorities. This teaching encourages believers to examine their loyalties
and ensure that their devotion to God is not compromised by the pursuit of material wealth.
