What Does Mammon Mean When Used In The Bible?

Last updated on: June 23, 2015 at 10:23 am by Jack Wellman

What Does Mammon Mean When Used In The Bible? 2015-06-23T10:23:41-05:00 Jack Wellman

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

What does the word “mammon” mean when used in the Bible? What does this mean to the follower of Christ?

You Cannot Serve Two Masters

The Greek word used for mammon in the Bible is “mamōnas” and means “treasure” or “riches” so when Jesus said “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matt 6:24) He was saying you cannot live your life as you would for as a servant or slave of money and still serve God. The word “servant” Either money is your master or Jesus is. No one has two masters. There were estimates that in the 1st century BC, the slave population ranged from 30 to 40 percent but by the end of the 1st century BC it had skyrocketed to about 35% to 40%. This figured to be about two to three million slaves in all. Now imagine if these slaves had more than one master. It would be inconceivable which makes Jesus’ statement make sense that no one could possibly serve two masters at the same time.

Mammon is Money or Riches

If we look at further Scriptures, we must include what the Bible says about riches and treasure because that is what mammon is and this world only appears once, in Matthew 6:24 which was previously quoted. The word Jesus used for “servant” is “douleuō” and it doesn’t mean servant but actually means “to be a slave of” or “to submit or obey” so anytime you see the word servant used in the New Testament (with only one exception) it means slave and we know this is not only what Jesus said but He knew which word he used and it wasn’t servant but slave. The rest of this study will use the word riches or treasures in the same category that Jesus used the word mammon so that we can see the point He was making in Matthew 6:24 because almost every other translations (except the King James) doesn’t use mammon but riches, money, or treasure but they are, in essence, the very same thing.

Jesus Echo’s Matthew 6:24

In Luke 16:13 Jesus says almost the very same thing where He said “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Instead of being a slave to either money or God, Jesus uses the word “devoted” which is close to the same things as being a slave. If someone devotes their life to something, that means that they pour everything that they have and everything that they are into whatever it is that they are devoted to. To be devoted is to have a powerfully strong affection or attachment to something or someone. Devotion can be seen as a deep, abiding love. Paul warned Timothy about a love of money, writing that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Tim 6:10). The root of all kinds of evil is not money…it is the love and devotion of money to the point of becoming its slave.

Your Heart’s Location

Where you really treasure is really where your heart is at. We can say we love God but if our life reveals that it’s all about the pursuit of wealth, our life shows where our heart is really located. Jesus tells us “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” (Matt 6:19) because the Christian is not to be “a lover of money” (1st Tim 3:3) but of God. People can own a lot of money but the truth is that the money can really own them. They might claim they own possessions but really their possessions own them. Paul warned Timothy that “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction” (1st Tim 6:9). No wonder the author of Hebrews admonished us by writing “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb 13:5). In the very last letter that Paul wrote he prophesied that “people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy” (2nd Tim 3:2) and that is even more like the world today than it was in Paul’s day. What we treasure is where our heart’s devotion lays and if you’re looking for where someone’s heart is at, you can usually follow the money trail. Jesus said “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt 6:21). If you look at someone’s checkbook ledger or credit card statement because that should easily tell you where there heart really is at and where it’s not.

Conclusion

Where is your heart at? Where does your devotion lay? What do you treasure most? It is God or is it money? To check for sure, examine your expenditures and you will discover where your heart, your mind, and your soul is at because the truth is “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matt 6:24).

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Blind Chance or Intelligent Design available on Amazon.

Previous Post

June 18, 2015

What Does Vindicate Mean In The Bible?

Next Post

June 18, 2015 What Does Begotten Mean When Used In The Bible?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Bible Answers Bible Definitions Bible Story Bible Study Bible Verses Christian Books Christian Entertainment Christian Fathers Christian Mothers Christian Quotes Devotional Famous Christians Music News Parables Prayers Quotes Sunday School Lesson Uncategorized Youth Sermons

Select a Month October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

According to 1 John, if we claim to be without sin, what do we do?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us Blaspheme the Holy Spirit Lie to God Mock the sacrifice of Christ