Matthew 6:24 24No 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.
Jesus emphasizes further the need to keep the right priorities. He sets up a contrast using the simple pattern of either/or. The choice is about whom we will allow to be our master. The word for masters (kyriois) is the same translated as “Lord.” We cannot have divided loyalty between two lords. The context of this saying narrows this principle to our treasures. These verses are the third set of illustrations Jesus uses to help his disciples learn the kingdom lifestyle, especially when it comes to money. Money (mamōna) comes from an Aramaic word meaning wealth, property, or what sustains a person. The mention of this word at the end of verse 24 prepares for the following passage where Jesus discusses being worried about “mamon.”
We tend to worry a lot about our possessions, partially because we have to work so hard to obtain them, and they can be so easily taken from us. There is nothing essentially wrong with wealth or property as long as it is kept in the right place in our lives. The problem is when material things take our focus away from God and replace God. Idolatry has been a problem of humanity since the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. In verses 22-23, Jesus challenges disciples to have clear vision. We have two eyes but focus on one thing. It is difficult to have things of the world and keep our focus right. If we have double vision, we will stumble and fall. We all struggle to keep our priorities in the right order. If our focus is put on God, then the other things in life will fall into their proper place. Our whole life will have better focus.
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