Luke 16:13No 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. You aren't able to serve God and mammon."
The setting
Judea, ~30 AD. Jesus delivering a hard truth to money-loving Pharisees and disciples. Modern-day West Bank, Palestine.
The emotion here: urgent and direct, forcing an uncomfortable choice
The original word
mamōnas (μαμωνᾶς) — personified wealth, riches treated as a deity demanding worship
Why it matters
Mammon was originally an Aramaic word meaning 'what you trust in' — Jesus made it a proper name
Read with care
What most readers miss in Luke 16:13
Jesus uses 'mammon' as a PERSON — he's saying money isn't just a tool, it's a rival god demanding allegiance
Common misconceptionPeople think Jesus is against having money, but He's warning against money having you — it's about who gets your ultimate loyalty.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Luke 16:13
Bible Genome reading
Luke 16:13 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Luke 16:13 comes from the book of Luke, written during the gospel period. These words are attributed to Jesus. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include loyalty, choice. Notable phrases: serve two masters; God and mammon.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does Luke 16:13 mean to you, today?
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