John Calvin Commentary Matthew 6:24

"No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." — Matthew 6:24 (ASV)

No man can serve two masters: Christ returns to the former doctrine, the purpose of which was to draw His disciples away from covetousness. He had previously said that the heart of man is bound and fixed upon its treasure; and He now warns that the hearts of those who are devoted to riches are estranged from the Lord. For most men are accustomed to flatter themselves with a deceitful pretense when they imagine that it is possible for them to be divided between God and their own sinful desires. Christ affirms that it is impossible for any man to obey God and, at the same time, to obey his own flesh.

This was, no doubt, a proverb in common use: No man can serve two masters. He takes for granted a truth that had been universally admitted and applies it to His present subject: where riches hold dominion in the heart, God has lost His authority. True, it is not impossible for those who are rich to serve God; but whoever gives himself up as a slave to riches must abandon the service of God, for covetousness makes us slaves of the devil.

I have inserted here what Luke relates on a different occasion, for, as the Evangelists frequently introduce passages of our Lord’s discourses out of their proper order as opportunity offers, we should entertain no scruple regarding their arrangement.

What is said here with special reference to riches may be properly extended to every other kind of vice. Since God everywhere pronounces such commendations of sincerity and hates a double heart (1 Chronicles 12:33; Psalms 12:2), all are deceived who imagine that He will be satisfied with half of their heart.

Indeed, all confess in words that where affection is not entire, there is no true worship of God; but they deny it in fact when they attempt to reconcile contradictions. “I will not cease,” says an ambitious man, “to serve God, though I devote a great part of my mind to pursuing honors.” The covetous, the pleasure-seekers, the gluttons, the unchaste, the cruel—all in their turn offer the same excuse for themselves, as if it were possible for those to be partly employed in serving God who are openly waging war against Him.

It is undoubtedly true that believers themselves are never so perfectly devoted to obeying God as not to be withdrawn from it by the sinful desires of the flesh. But since they groan under this wretched bondage, are dissatisfied with themselves, and give nothing more than an unwilling and reluctant service to the flesh, they are not said to serve two masters; for their desires and efforts are approved by the Lord, as if they rendered Him perfect obedience. However, this passage rebukes the hypocrisy of those who flatter themselves in their vices, as if they could reconcile light and darkness.