New Testament · Gospel

Luke 16:13

Money and Eternity

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.” Luke 16:13 · Berean Standard Bible

What It Means

Luke 16:13, in plain English

Jesus makes it simple: you can't serve two bosses. You'll end up loving one and hating the other. You have to choose — God or money.

Why it's here

This is the bottom line of everything Jesus just taught about stewardship. Money is a great tool but a terrible master.

Who's speaking

Jesus delivers the final word on the money discussion, and there's no middle ground.

Where it sits in the story

No half-measures, no compromises. Jesus says your heart has room for only one ultimate loyalty. Choose wisely.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

Jesus presents an absolute dichotomy: no servant (oiketēs) can serve two masters (kyriois). The verbs 'hate/love' and 'devoted to/despise' present stark contrasts. God and 'mammon' (mamōna) are personified as competing lords.

Language and setting

This saying appears also in Matthew 6:24 (Sermon on the Mount). In Luke's context, it climaxes the stewardship discourse by forcing a choice between God and wealth as ultimate allegiance.

Voice

Jesus delivers a decisive pronouncement that leaves no room for divided loyalty — a direct challenge to those attempting to serve both God and money.

Significance

Jesus closes the stewardship teaching with an ultimatum: you cannot serve both God and money. One will always win, and you have to choose.

In context

Luke 16:11–15

11So if you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will entrust you with true riches?

12And if you have not been faithful with the belongings of another, who will give you belongings of your own?

13No 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.”

14The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all of this and were scoffing at Jesus.

15So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.

Read all of Luke 16 — A shrewd manager, a rich man in torment, and Lazarus at his gate. Jesus draws a straight line between how you handle money and where you end up.

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