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Luke 16:13

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Luke 16:13 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “No servant 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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

No servant 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.
Luke 16:13 — American Standard Version

Context — Luke 16

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
10He that is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much: and he that is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in much.
11If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true [riches]?
12And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another`s, who will give you that which is your own?
13No servant 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.
14And the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things; and they scoffed at him.
15And he said unto them, Ye are they that justify yourselves in the sight of men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
16The law and the prophets [were] until John: from that time the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every man entereth violently into it.
← Luke 16:12Luke 16:14 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“No servant can serve two masters, etc.] (See Gill on “<400624>Matthew 6:24”).”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“can serve--be entirely at the command of; and this is true even where the services are not opposed. hate . . . love--showing that the two here intended are in uncompromising hostility to each other: an awfully searching principle!”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“See the notes at Matthew 6:24. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“And you cannot be faithful to God, if you trim between God and the world, if you do not serve him alone. Mat 6:24. Luke 16:15”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“16:13 No one can serve two masters: Complete love and devotion can be given only to one master.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“servant: Luk 9:50, Luk 11:23; Jos 24:15; Mat 4:10, Mat 6:24; Rom 6:16-22, Rom 8:5-8; Jam 4:4; Jo1 2:15, Jo1 2:16 hate: Luk 14:26 Luke 16:14”
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Related study paths

Read Luke 16 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification