How does this verse connect with the First Commandment in Exodus 20:3? Setting the Verse in Context “ No one 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.” (Matthew 6:24) Key Observations from Matthew 6:24 • Jesus frames life as an either–or, not a both–and. • “Serve” is the language of worship and allegiance, not mere employment. • The heart inevitably gravitates to one master; divided loyalty is impossible. • “Money” represents any rival that promises security, meaning, or identity outside of God. Link to the First Commandment • Exodus 20:3: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” • The First Commandment calls for exclusive worship; Jesus applies that principle to the everyday pull of material wealth. • Both passages expose the impossibility of dual devotion—whether to literal idols or to the subtler idol of possessions. • The commandment forbids putting anything “before” God; Jesus identifies money as a chief contender vying for that first place. • The underlying issue in both texts is singular allegiance of heart, mind, and life. Supporting Scriptures • Deuteronomy 6:5—“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” • Joshua 24:14—“Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth. Put away the gods your fathers served…” • 1 Kings 18:21—Elijah: “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him.” • 1 John 5:21—“Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” • Luke 16:13—parallel to Matthew 6:24, reinforcing the same truth. Living It Out Today • Take inventory: where do time, thought, and resources flow most freely? • Replace “money” in the verse with any competing attachment—career, relationships, hobbies—to test allegiance. • Practice first–fruit giving and generous stewardship to dethrone materialism. • Cultivate daily worship—Scripture reading, praise, obedience—as practical expression of “no other gods.” |
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