Matthew 6:24Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

For if one were to give himself up in despair as having been made a slave to riches, namely, by loving them, he may hence learn, that it is possible for him to change into a better service, namely, by not submitting to such slavery, but by despising it.

Among the Jewish people, wealth is referred to as mammon, which He calls a lord due to the frailty of those it ensnares. But what of it? Were not figures like Abraham and Job wealthy? Indeed, they were affluent, yet they served not their riches; rather, they ruled over wealth and shared generously with the needy. You cannot work for God and for mammon, for God commands not only the avoidance of illicit possessions but also the giving of one’s own. In contrast, mammon not only discourages sharing what is one’s own but also encourages the pursuit of ill-gotten gains. God instructs us to temper our desires, while mammon incites indulgence; God calls for purity, whereas mammon beckons towards immorality, and so forth.

However, the pursuit of earthly wealth morphs one into a wretched servant enslaved by countless anxieties, uncertainties, and sins. And what is the ultimate gain? After a fleeting indulgence governed by sorrow, one remains completely stripped after death, losing the heavenly inheritance alongside earthly riches. Yet, some may argue, is it not feasible to possess wealth while serving God? To possess riches and to labor for riches are distinctly different paths. Abraham, the patriarch of faith, had possessions, yet he was not bound by them; he willingly sacrificed his beloved son Isaac in love for God. After making that offering, would he have hesitated to part with his wealth for the service of the Lord, to whom his entire heart belonged? Job was prosperous, yet he was not a captive to his wealth; he could boldly declare before the Lord that he had aided the needy and rescued the orphan, bringing the blessing of the doomed upon himself, and the mouth of the widow would praise him. Job declared, “I myself was naked when I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord forever.” Earthly riches are also manifestations of God's grace. When God freely bestows upon us the treasures of heaven, will His mercy withhold earthly gifts that serve our souls' benefit? As St. Paul teaches, your whole being may be worldly, present, or future, depending on whether your heart belongs to Christ. The Father in heaven blesses the honest endeavors to acquire earthly wealth, so long as our primary pursuit remains the salvation of our souls. He honors our diligence and hard work, provided we shun deceit and cunning. He blesses prudence in household management when we keep our hearts open to aiding others. God’s paternal mercy extends to our innocent pleasures as long as they aim for His glory, devoid of excess or indulgence. He blesses our storages and resources, yet not when our hearts cling solely to them, but rather to Him. Consequently, the Holy Spirit, speaking through the King-Prophet David, offers us vital counsel: “If riches flow, do not attach your heart to them.” Let our hearts, dear brethren, rest where our true treasure lies—the treasure of life, glory, and eternal joy, hidden with Christ in God. Amen.

God encourages His servants to be generous and compassionate, while mammon promotes greed and a lack of mercy. The Lord desires His servants to fix their thoughts and affections on heavenly things, whereas mammon draws one's mind and heart to earthly matters. Thus, it is impossible for one to serve both; one will either disdain mammon and cherish God, or cling to mammon and reject God. The Lord reiterates this truth to illustrate that it is too simple to switch allegiance from one master to another, thereby leaving the greedy without justification for their choices. Just as one may cling to mammon while disregarding God, so too can one choose to despise mammon and love God, regardless of past commitments. It is essential to understand these words: one can either hold on to one master or neglect the other. This means that a servant of God will not be consumed by the desire for wealth, while a servant of wealth will disregard God. The Lord anticipated the objection of the greedy, who might argue, “How can I turn my back on mammon when I, as a human, require food, drink, and clothing? These essentials are not always readily available. Therefore, necessity compels me to prepare and provide for my future and for times of need.” Though the Lord did not directly address this concern, He counters it by saying: "For this reason I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or drink, nor about your body, what you shall wear; is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?"

“Mammon is all unrighteousness,” explains Blessed Theophylact, “and unrighteousness is the adversary. When we yield to the devil's influence, we effectively make him our master; similarly, we can elevate our desires to an idol status, thus rendering ourselves incapable of serving God while pursuing wealth.” Blessed Augustine asserts, “A person will either despise God and be devoted to the adversary or fervently serve the adversary, neglecting God. This is the plight of sinful individuals, who rarely admit that they favor Satan and abhor God.” St. Philaret states, “If you are enslaved by earthly concerns, you cannot simultaneously be a servant of God.” Furthermore, St. Chrysostom teaches, “God has definitively stated that the service of God and mammon cannot coexist. Mammon entices individuals to steal, while God instructs them to give generously; God promotes a pure life, while mammon advocates for immorality; mammon encourages drunkenness and excess, whereas God calls for self-control; God advises us to disregard earthly possessions, while mammon urges attachment to them. How, then, can one claim that the service of God can be harmonized with that of mammon?” It is not merely the love of wealth that is detrimental, but also an excessive worry over even the most basic necessities. Therefore, I urge you: Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or drink, nor about your body, what you will wear.

This principle holds true in the everyday lives of individuals, as one cannot simultaneously be committed to God and pursue earthly possessions. Just as the heart cannot be split in its affections, it is impossible to serve both God and riches. If one's focus becomes solely the accumulation of worldly wealth, this engrossing pursuit will divert attention from God, thereby neglecting the preparation for entry into the Kingdom of Heaven. Moreover, should the desire for riches evolve into an all-consuming passion, it will foster animosity towards anything that stands in the way of one's avarice.

Zeal is the manifestation of love, while neglect signifies a lack of love or even hatred. The metaphor of the two masters, each demanding loyalty from the servant, represents God and mammon. Mammon, a term originating from a Syrian deity associated with earthly wealth, symbolizes worldly possessions. Although the Jewish people historically engaged in the worship of foreign gods, they seem to have repurposed this term to refer more broadly to material wealth.

A pursuit of earthly possessions is incompatible with genuine service to God; however, wealth can be a divine blessing when viewed appropriately and does not hinder one’s devotion to God. Biblical figures like Abraham and Job exemplify this principle. While it is said to avoid mentioning the rich, it is important to recognize those who serve wealth rather than God. Job, for instance, was affluent but did not serve mammon; he ruled over his wealth instead of allowing it to dominate him. He utilized his riches to assist others, demonstrating stewardship rather than indulgence.