NO ONE CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS

Passage: Matthew 6:19-24

Key verse: 24

NIV

Treasures in Heaven(A)

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,(B) where moths and vermin destroy,(C) and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,(D) where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.(E) 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.(F)

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,[a] your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy,[b] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.(G)

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 6:22 The Greek for healthy here implies generous.
  2. Matthew 6:23 The Greek for unhealthy here implies stingy.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven

19 (A)“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where (B)moth and rust[a] destroy and where thieves (C)break in and steal, 20 (D)but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 (E)“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 (F)but if (G)your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

24 (H)“No 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 (I)money.[b]

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 6:19 Or worm; also verse 20
  2. Matthew 6:24 Greek mammon, a Semitic word for money or possessions
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Where is your treasure? (19-23)

Treasures on earth cannot last forever: Cars break down; clothes get old or out of style; houses become a burden; money loses its value; people disappoint us. More importantly, if our treasures are in heaven, our hearts are turned to God. If our treasures are on earth, our hearts are earth-bound. If our treasures are in heaven, then we can have spiritual eyes to see people and the world from God's point of view. If our hearts are fixed on the things of the world, we are spiritually blind.

2. You cannot serve God and money (24)

The Pharisees thought that they could have the peace that comes from God and also enjoy the world. They did not seek to please God--they only wanted benefits from him. Jesus said that no one can love God and money at the same time. We must choose between them. If we love and serve God, we can rule money. If we love money, it rules us, and we cannot serve God.

Prayer: Lord, give me eyes to see people and things from your point of view and help me to give you first place in my heart.

One Word: Love God, not money