What did Jesus teach about money?
BREAKDOWN
Jesus Christ's teachings concerning money were profoundly counter-cultural, challenging the prevailing attitudes towards wealth in the ancient world and echoing Old Testament principles of stewardship and generosity. He did not condemn wealth itself, but rather the love of money, covetousness, and the idolatry associated with it. Central to His message was the prioritization of the Kingdom of God over material possessions. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explicitly stated, "Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21). This teaching emphasizes an eternal perspective, shifting focus from perishable earthly gains to imperishable heavenly rewards. Furthermore, He declared, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve God and Mammon" (Matthew 6:24), highlighting the spiritual impossibility of divided loyalties between divine devotion and material obsession. Various parables and encounters further illustrate Jesus' perspective. The Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21) condemns the hoarding of wealth for selfish pleasure without regard for God or others, illustrating the vanity of earthly security in the face of eternity. The encounter with the Rich Young Ruler (Matthew 19:16-30, Mark 10:17-31, Luke 18:18-30) reveals how wealth can become a barrier to discipleship when it serves as an idol, preventing a person from fully committing to Christ. Jesus remarked, "It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom" (Matthew 19:24), not to say that wealth itself prohibits entry, but the attachment to it. Conversely, the story of the Widow's Mite (Mark 12:41-44, Luke 21:1-4) extols sacrificial giving, valuing the heart behind the offering more than the sum itself. Jesus taught that money is a tool for stewardship, a means to show love for God and neighbor, and a test of one's true allegiance, rather than an end in itself or a source of ultimate security.
KEY TERMS
Kingdom of God
The sovereign reign and rule of God, manifest in Jesus Christ and realized in the lives of believers, which stands in contrast to earthly kingdoms and possessions.
Mammon
An Aramaic word personifying wealth or material possessions, used by Jesus to denote riches as a master that can compete with God for one's loyalty.
Stewardship
The biblical principle that humans are entrusted by God with the care and management of resources, including money and possessions, and are accountable to Him for their use.
Sacrificial giving
The act of giving generously, often beyond one's immediate means or comfort, demonstrating a heart's devotion to God and others over personal accumulation.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Matthew 6:19-21
“Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve God and Mammon.
Luke 12:13-21
One of the multitude said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbiter over you?” He said to them, “Beware! Keep yourselves from all covetousness, for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses.” He spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully. He reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I don’t have room to store my crops?’ He said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. I will tell my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.’’ But God said to him, ‘You foolish one, this night your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared—whose will they be?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Matthew 19:16-30
Behold, one came to him and said, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” He said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “You shall not murder.’ ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ‘You shall not steal.’ ‘You shall not give false testimony.’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ And, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” The young man said to him, “All these things I have observed from my youth. What still do I lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he was one who had great possessions. Jesus said to his disciples, “Most certainly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.” When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Then Peter answered him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell you that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive one hundred times, and will inherit eternal life. But many first will be last; and last first.
Mark 10:17-31
As he was going out into the way, one ran to him, knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except one—God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not give false testimony,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and mother.’” He said to him, “Teacher, I have observed all these things from my youth.” Jesus looking at him loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack. Go, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But his face fell at that saying, and he went away sorrowful, for he was one who had great possessions. Jesus looked around, and said to his disciples, “How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into the Kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answered again, “Children, how hard is it for those who trust in riches to enter into the Kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.” They were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus, looking at them, said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” Peter began to tell him, “Behold, we have left all, and have followed you.” Jesus said, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or fields, for my sake, and for the sake of the Good News, but he will receive one hundred times more now in this time, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last; and the last first.”
Luke 18:18-30
A certain ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one—God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not give false testimony,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’” He said, “I have observed all these things from my youth.” When Jesus heard these things, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have, and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. Jesus, seeing him, said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into the Kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to enter through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.” Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” Peter said, “Behold, we have left everything and followed you.” He said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or parents, or brothers, or wife, or children, for the Kingdom of God’s sake, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life.”
Mark 12:41-44
Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury. Many who were rich cast in much. A poor widow came, and she cast in two small brass coins, which amount to a quadrans. He called his disciples to himself, and said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are casting into the treasury, for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on.”
Luke 21:1-4
He looked up, and saw the rich people who were putting their gifts into the treasury. He saw a certain poor widow casting in two small brass coins. He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all of them, for all of these put in gifts to God from their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, put in all the livelihood that she had.”
ORIGINAL LANGUAGE ANALYSIS
μαμμωνᾶς
Mammon
DefinitionWealth, money, property, riches.
θησαυρός
treasure
DefinitionA place for keeping valuable things; a treasury, storehouse; collected riches, a treasure.
πλούσιος
rich
DefinitionWealthy, opulent, abundant in means.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
The economic landscape of 1st-century Judea and Galilee was characterized by significant social stratification, largely due to Roman occupation and Hellenistic influences. The Roman taxation system, including direct taxes (tributum soli on land, tributum capitis on persons) and indirect taxes (customs duties, market taxes), placed a heavy burden on the populace. Publicans, or tax collectors, were often reviled for their perceived extortionate practices. Most of society was agrarian, with a large peasant class struggling to make ends meet, susceptible to debt and land loss, while a smaller elite, including wealthy landowners, merchants, and priests, accumulated significant wealth. The Temple in Jerusalem also functioned as a financial center, receiving offerings and housing treasuries. Against this backdrop, Jesus' teachings on wealth challenged both the acquisitive desires common among the rich and the desperation often felt by the poor. His emphasis on generosity, detachment from material possessions, and prioritizing the spiritual over the temporal would have been particularly radical in a society where economic security was precarious and status often tied to possessions.
THEOLOGICAL INSIGHT
Jesus' teachings reveal that money is not inherently evil, but its improper handling and the heart's devotion to it can become a powerful rival to God. It functions as a litmus test for true discipleship, revealing one's ultimate allegiances and priorities. The proper theological understanding is that all possessions are ultimately God's, and humanity is entrusted with their stewardship, called to use resources for the glory of God and the welfare of others, not for selfish accumulation or idolatry.
COMMENTARY SYNTHESIS
Rashi (on Exodus 20:3, 'You shall have no other gods before me') (Jewish)
While Rashi does not comment directly on New Testament passages, his commentary on the Ten Commandments, particularly the prohibition against other gods, provides a foundational Jewish understanding that informs Jesus' teaching on 'Mammon.' Rashi emphasizes that any object or desire that takes precedence over God in one's life becomes an idol. This aligns with Jesus' warning against serving wealth as a master, as it directly competes with the service due to God alone.
Matthew Henry (on Matthew 6:24) (Christian)
Henry emphasizes that serving God and mammon simultaneously is an utter impossibility because their demands are fundamentally contradictory. He states that 'Mammon' signifies riches as a god, showing that the pursuit of worldly wealth as a primary aim is a form of idolatry that alienates the heart from God.
Augustine of Hippo (Sermon on the Mount, Book II) (Christian)
Augustine interprets the command to 'lay up treasures in heaven' as a call to detachment from earthly goods and a commitment to spiritual riches. He argues that avarice is a spiritual disease that binds the soul to the earth, preventing it from aspiring to heavenly realities. For Augustine, true wealth lies in virtue, faith, and charity.
The Didache (Chapter 4) (Early Church Father)
The Didache, an early Christian treatise, instructs believers to 'share all things with your brother; and do not say that they are your own.' This counsel reflects the early church's communal understanding of possessions, advocating for a spirit of generosity and mutual support, which resonates strongly with Jesus' teachings against covetousness and for sacrificial giving.