Perhaps the most misunderstood or hardest to adapt biblical teaching is where Jesus says “You can’t serve two masters, where one teacher is God and the other is wealth, or mammon”. We will show you the true meaning of this phrase and what Jesus wanted to convey.
This expression may seem absurd in the eyes of some, since in a very easy way, the majority can have two jobs, two sports preferences, different cars and even several university degrees without any problem.
However, the teachings of Jesus have always had a reason; there is a psychological analysis that we must do to really understand why we cannot serve two masters at the same time. Follow your reading and you will find the answer (with a biblical basis).
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Jesus addresses our psychological tendencies
“You can’t serve two masters”, this statement can be viewed by skeptics from a legal, logical, situational and psychological point of view. Eliminate all other options and stick to your heart, your psyche.
Because legally it is possible to serve two masters, but psychologically, if we put ourselves in a situation where we have to choose, our devotion will exceed one of them. This is what Jesus implied through this statement.
The phrase we are meditating on is part of the “Sermon on the Mount”. Interestingly, we also see this phrase in The Parable of the Cunning Manager. In both cases, it is implied that nothing should be placed before God, be it money or anything else.
Why can’t you serve two masters?
Human nature does not allow us to have the same loyalty towards two things which are completely opposite of each other. While we live in this world, we can master the art of diplomacy, however, we must remember that it is a mundane tactic that does not work with God.
No matter how firmly we deny this fact, the truth is that we have become one with this world when it comes to “serve two masters“. Before developing this statement further, it is important that we understand the real meaning of this teaching of Jesus, as it was intended to be understood.
The biblical text was originally written in Hebrew, and from there it has been translated into the many biblical versions that exist today. The actual meaning of many words has been lost in translation.
The point is that many words, whether of Hebrew or Greek origin, have more than one meaning. Referring to this phrase, the next section will help all of us to restore what was somehow lost in translation.
Meaning of “You cannot serve two masters”
Matthew 6:24 He says:
“No one can serve two masters, because either he will hate one and love the other; or he will cling to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Mammon”.
Luke 16:13 reaffirms:
“No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate one and love the other, or he will dedicate himself to one and despise the other. He cannot serve God and money.”
Both of the aforementioned statements are the same, it’s just that they have been taken from two different versions of the Bible. If you read these excerpts carefully, the only difference you will find is in the last word. While the Standard English Version states that the second master is ‘money’, the King James Version replaces the word with ‘mammon’.
It is not only the difference in the words, but also their perception that somewhat restricts our understanding towards this message of Christ. In order to simplify the process of understanding this verse, we will divide it into four separate sections and, one by one, we will meditate on them.
1. “You cannot serve two masters”
No matter what is found in the scriptures, “Man” or “Servant”, the truth is that humans are servants. Yes, all of us! If we are not servants of a person, so to speak, then we are servants of our ambitions and desires. Each and every man, woman, and child on this planet is dedicated to service.
A man can be a servant from his work, his highly ambitious mindset to accumulate more wealth and fame. A woman may be a servant of household chores and social gatherings, while a boy is likely to be driven by his parents to be a servant of ambition, enslaved to this race of being better than others, being good at both mathematics as in art.
However, while all of us, consciously or unconsciously, have voluntarily agreed to become part of the servants, if we are forced to choose one true master over the others, we always will, always, there will be something that will be preferred over the other.
The word ‘teacher‘ is used of someone who has authority over us, whose commands are binding on everyone, and whose works are what we live for. In short, a teacher is someone we put our faith in, someone whose instructions will guide our lives.
Think about it,who is that teacher who rules your life right now? If you had to put aside the many “important” things (people, duties in life) what will always be your final choice? Remember, your answer should only be one name, because you cannot serve two masters or masters!
2. “Because either he will hate the one and love the other”
The next part of the excerpt states that one of the two lords will be hated and the other will be loved. Practically, it’s not necessary, right? You can have two jobs a day, and both teachers would be fine. You can prefer one over the other, but not necessarily “hate” the other teacher, right? this is where there is a need to understand the true meaning of the word “hate”.
While we perceive hate to be an extreme expression of disgust and detestation, in the Bible, hate means not to dislike but to “love less.” Therefore, the message being conveyed is not confusing, but quite practical: if you serve two masters, you will love one more than the other. You may like both, but you will like one better. This is nothing more than human nature.
Most of us, in certain situations, can find it difficult to choose between the things that are most dear to us. However, if we have to choose, we are forced to weigh the pros and cons of both “masters” and eventually choose one, and that is mostly the option that is more useful, beneficial or rewarding.
So, invariably, a choice separates the teacher you love more from the teacher you “hate” or, so to speak, love less. This, without a doubt, confirms that Jesus was quite right when he said “You cannot serve two masters.”
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3. “Or you’ll cling to one and look down on the other.”
If we read this sentence in one breath, what we come to understand is the fact that of the two masters, we will be loyal to one and therefore despise the other. The word “grasp” denotes a sense of dependency and trust, a clinging behavior where the existence of the servant (us) depends on the beloved master.
Secondly, the word “despise” denotes the act of putting someone/something down, and in this case, it has been used for the other teacher. Here, we notice the contradiction of feelings that man tends to have between two options. While he becomes dependent on one, towards the other he acquires a sense of supremacy, therefore he despises the least loved master.
This sentence also conveys the conflicts that arise with the elections. When we serve more than two masters, we attend to more than one ambition, we desire more than one form of happiness, unconsciously (or even consciously), we tend to compare. As a result of this comparison, we develop a sense of favoritism towards one and eventually the other becomes something to be despised, or even neglected, but we do it because we have to.
we will take a simple example to clarify this. Most of us do not choose Church work over office work. We gladly go to our office parties or gatherings with friends, but we make excuses for Church meetings. We can all agree that there were times when we went to church just because we had to, not because we wanted to.
We’ll somehow make it work, if necessary, at 8am on a Sunday, but we can choose to skip. If we all introspect in our daily lives, we have already chosen the other teacher over our true teacher, who is none other than God!
4. “You cannot serve God and Mammon”
Yes, if we are willing to be God’s children, and if we are willing to serve God, then we cannot serve mammon or, as the Standard Version says, money! Before explaining this point further, it is essential to understand the meaning of the word ‘mammon’.
Mammon is a Syriac word used to denote wealth and possessions. Mammon was the name of one whose idol was worshiped for its power over material wealth. Keep in mind that the two teachers, God and Mammon, are absolute opposites of each other, because the works of one interfere/contradict/go against the works of the other.
Another word we need to focus on is “serve”. In the given context, serving actually indicates being a slave. While the term may sound rather harsh, upon careful understanding and analysis, it is true that we become slaves to the one whom we “serve.”
Take note of the feelings associated with the man he loves: loyalty, dependency, love, service! Service to our master is driven by a need, and because our service satisfies that need, we have become slaves to the preferred master.
What can we learn from this verse?
When we connect the dots of these four separate statements mentioned above, we can clearly see what we have been pretending not to understand all this time. This verse talks about covetousness., the greed that arises from our heart, the greed that neglects heavenly treasures for worldly treasures. This passage shows the characteristics of us humans, Mammon and God.
We are easily tempted and confused by greed, greed that arises when we see the comforts that accompany wealth and material possessions. As Christians, we are well aware of the fact that these earthly treasures as perishable, can easily be taken away/stolen. Nevertheless, the treasures that God has kept for us in heaven they cannot be removed and they are not perishable.
As for mammon, or money, we must remember that everything the earth promises to give us is a mirage, because we think we have gotten enough, but in truth, we have ended up losing a lot. Instead, God’s love for us is divine and takes nothing from us. Our God is merciful, forgiving and kind, but he is also protective and possessive of his children.
Given the nature of human beings, He has already warned us through Christ, our Savior, of the nature of material wealth. And if, despite the warnings, we fail in trust…