Matt. vi. 24. JSfo man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he ivill hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon.
THE dictates of pure and undefiled religion are so remote from the apprehension of the natural man, and so contrary to his inclinations, that they need to be presented to him with the clearest evidence, and most convincing energy. Hence our blessed Lord continually illustrated his doctrines by images taken from common life, or by truths universally known and acknowledged. The irreconcileableness of the service of God with the service of Mammon is very little considered : the world in general have no idea of it : but the impossibility of being wholly at the disposal of two earthly masters is obvious enough ; because, when their commands interfere with each other, the servant, in obeying one, must disobey the other ; and in cleaving to one, must, virtually, renounce the other. This being acknowledged, we are prepared to confess the same in relation to God and Mammon. It is thus that our Lord introduces and confirms the aphorism before us: in discoursing upon which, we shall shew, L The import of our Lord's assertion —
" Mammon " is a Syriac word, signifying riches ; and it is the great idol to which all the world are bowing down. But as wealth is principally sought for on account of its connexion with pleasures and honour, we need not confine ourselves to the precise idea of riches ; ■ but consider Mammon as signifying the world with all its poor vanities, of whatever kind they be.
But what are we to understand by ''serving" God and Mammon ? Here is the difficulty ; and this is a point that must be determined with much caution and judgment. When our Lord says, " Ye cannot serve God and Mammon,"