Matthew 6:24

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.

Note: Definition of “serve” and “money“. This verse summarizes the point of verses 19-24. Colossians 3:5 clarifies that desire for more wealth (i.e. greed or covetousness) is idolatry.

Similar Old Testament Verses

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Deuteronomy 6:5

You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them….

Exodus 20:3-5

Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Comments

2 responses to “Matthew 6:24”

  1. Philip Gibson Avatar
    Philip Gibson

    Prosperity gospels are such a challenge for our culture. What are we to do with these passages and capitalism? No doubt, humans are homo economicus species. Yet, Paul suggests we should live in commune-like societies sharing equally among one another. This, of course, has never worked throughout human history, but we keep trying. Anarchy, dictatorship, representative governance, followed by revolution has been the cyclical nature of civilization for the past 5000 years. It appears this is not likely to change any time soon. Thus, we must not completely understand these passages.

  2. Bruce Powers Avatar
    Bruce Powers

    Jesus was talking about the heart in these verses. We can’t think that we can love, serve God and love money at the same time. We just can’t. Our money should serve God.

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