Luke 16:13 (KJV)

What does Luke 16:13 mean?

Luke 16:13 says that a person cannot truly serve two masters at the same time, because their loyalties will eventually be divided. Specifically, Jesus says it is impossible to serve both God and "mammon" (a word for wealth or money), since devotion to one will lead to neglect or even rejection of the other.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to his disciples, but the Pharisees and others are listening as well. The setting is a discussion about faithfulness and trustworthiness, especially in handling money and resources. Jesus uses the image of a servant and two masters to make clear that trying to split loyalty between God and wealth is not just difficult, but impossible—the heart will inevitably choose one over the other.

The Greek behind Luke 16:13

• "μαμωνᾶς" (mamōnas): This word, transliterated as "mammon," refers to wealth, riches, or material possessions. Jesus personifies wealth as a rival master, showing that money can demand loyalty much like a person would.
• "δουλεύειν" (douleuein): This verb means "to serve as a slave" or "to be wholly devoted to." The word choice emphasizes total commitment, not just casual service, making the contrast between serving God and serving wealth even sharper.
• "καταφρονήσει" (kataphronēsei): This means "to despise" or "to treat with contempt." Jesus is saying that trying to serve both will not result in balanced respect, but in actual disregard for one of the masters.

Why Luke 16:13 matters

• Luke 16:13 clears up the idea that people can balance devotion to God and the pursuit of wealth without conflict; Jesus insists that true loyalty cannot be divided.
• The verse highlights the personal, almost relational way Jesus describes the pull of money, treating it as a master that competes for a person's heart.
• This teaching fits into the wider passage, where Jesus warns about the dangers of greed and challenges listeners to consider what they are truly living for.