Matthew 6:24

No one can serve two masters: 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 both God and money.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — Jesus, mid-Sermon on the Mount, addressing disciples and listeners, pivoting from the eye-as-light metaphor (6:23) to the "do not worry" teaching (6:25). The verse functions as a hinge: it names the underlying allegiance problem before addressing the surface-level anxiety.

The words — δουλεύειν (douleuein) is the verb for slavery, not employment; it frames the choice as one of ownership, not preference. κύριοις (kuriōis) is the same title used for God throughout the New Testament, so the contrast is between two claims to lordship.

The thread — Luke 16:13 repeats the formula almost verbatim in the parable of the unfaithful steward. James 4:4 and 1 John 2:15 extend the logic beyond money to "the world" as a rival master.

Why it lands — It denies the possibility of a balanced, dual loyalty and forces a single declaration of who owns you. The question is not "how much" but "whom."

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters. 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 both God and money.”
James 4:4 You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.
1 Timothy 6:9 Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.
Joshua 24:15 But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”
Galatians 1:10 Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Matthew 4:10 “Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus told him. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
Romans 6:16 Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness?
Luke 16:11 So if you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will entrust you with true riches?
1 Kings 18:21 Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word.