The Sermon on the Mount: Who or What, are You Serving?

In the sixteenth of the series on the Sermon on the Mount, we explore Jesus' words about the perils of trying to serve two masters. Click here for the recording of this 6/29/25 Service, and you can fast-forward to 29:35 to get to the start of the sermon.

Our text comes from Matthew Chapter 6.24

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

Introduction

• It was Bob Dylan who said “you’re gonna serve somebody; it might be the devil, or it might be the Lord, but you’re gonna serve somebody”

• Culturally in the US we value our independence, and yet many of us find ourselves enslaved to all kinds of things- job, family, hobby, material possessions, some kind of idolatry (although we would not call it that)

• This is why it is so hard to make disciples in the US- we don’t need, or have time for, god

Looking at the verse, 24a

• No one can be a slave to douleuō- servant; subjection, to discharge the duties of a  servant, to serve, be occupied in the service of, be devoted, subservient 

• We see slavery as a negative, and understandably so- this is America

• In Jesus’ day, it was a part of everyday culture, to which he is speaking, and which would have made sense to them

• 2 masters, kurios- the gk term we use for lord, or servant to master

• You cannot give total service to two things at once

24b

• Jesus uses exaggeration here to make a point

• You will either hate, miseo- regard with ill-will, to detest, abhor,  in NT to regard with less affection, love less, esteem less

• The one and love (agapao) the other, or

• You will be devoted, antechō- hold firmly to; pay attention to; to hold firmly, cling, or adhere to; to be devoted to any one, to exercise a zealous care for, pay attention to anyone

• And despise katafroneō the other- to look down on, show contempt, disregard

24c

• You cannot serve god and wealth simultaneously

• Mammōnas- assets, riches, mammon

• Note: he is not saying you cannot be wealthy and serve god; he is saying you cannot serve both; one will be subservient to the other

Practical application

1. It is impossible to serve the Lord, and something else, simultaneously- he is jealous

2. Thus, many in the US don’t get discipleship

3. Jesus was, and is, calling for total servitude to His cause

4. This kind of single hearted devotion leaves little room for else

5. Show me how you spend money and time, and I’ll show you what/who you serve