What did Jesus teach about money?
BREAKDOWN
Jesus' teachings on money are multifaceted, emphasizing stewardship, generosity, and the profound spiritual dangers of avarice. He consistently challenged the prevailing materialistic values of his time, urging his followers to prioritize spiritual riches over earthly wealth. A central theme is found in the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus declares, "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 both God and Mammon." (Matthew 6:24). This statement positions money not merely as a resource but as a potential rival god, a competing object of worship (Mammon). He encouraged storing up "treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal" (Matthew 6:20), contrasting the impermanence of material possessions with the eternal value of righteous deeds and devotion to God. This teaching underscores a call for detachment from earthly wealth as an ultimate goal, instead seeing it as a tool to be managed in service to God's Kingdom. Furthermore, Jesus frequently warned about the corrupting influence of wealth and its potential to hinder one's entry into the Kingdom of God. The encounter with the rich young ruler (Mark 10:17-27) is a poignant example, where Jesus instructs the man to sell all his possessions and give to the poor to gain eternal life. When the man departs sorrowfully, Jesus remarks, "It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God." (Mark 10:25). This hyperbolic statement highlights the difficulty that attachment to wealth creates for spiritual progression, as it often fosters self-reliance and lessens dependence on God. While not condemning wealth itself, Jesus consistently condemned the love of money, greed, and the failure to use resources for God's glory and the welfare of others. His teachings on generosity, illustrated through parables like the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) and the Widow's Mites (Mark 12:41-44), advocate for sacrificial giving and compassion for the poor, emphasizing that true wealth lies in one's relationship with God and service to humanity.
KEY TERMS
Mammon
A term of Aramaic origin referring to wealth or material possessions, often personified as a false god or object of worship.
stewardship
The concept that humans are managers, not owners, of the resources God has entrusted to them, with a responsibility to use them wisely and for His purposes.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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 both God and Mammon.
Matthew 6:20
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal;
Mark 10:17-27
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, taking up the cross.” 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 the Kingdom of God.” They were even more astonished, saying to him, “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.”
Mark 10:25
It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.”
Luke 10:25-37
Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” He said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.” But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii and gave them to the host, and said to him, ‘Take care of him, and whatever else you spend, I will repay you when I return.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?” He said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
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 equaled one 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 12:15
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.”
Luke 12:33
Sell that which you have, and give alms. Make for yourselves purses which don’t grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn’t fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys.
Luke 19:8
Zacchæus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have wrongfully exacted anything of anyone, I restore four times as much.”
ORIGINAL LANGUAGE ANALYSIS
Μαμωνᾷ
Mammon
DefinitionWealth, money, property; often personified as a false god.
θησαυρούς
Treasure
DefinitionA storehouse, treasury; a collection of precious things.
πλούσιος
Riches
DefinitionWealthy, rich, abounding in possessions.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
The economic landscape of 1st-century Judea and Galilee was characterized by stark contrasts between extreme wealth and widespread poverty. The Roman occupation brought heavy taxation, levied by Roman authorities and local Herodians, often collected by 'publicans' or tax collectors, who were despised for their perceived collaboration and exploitation. The Temple in Jerusalem also played a significant economic role, functioning as a bank and receiving tithes and offerings. Society was largely agrarian, with a small elite (landowners, merchants, Temple aristocracy) controlling most resources, while the majority consisted of subsistence farmers, artisans, and day laborers, often living on the brink of poverty. Roman currency, alongside local Jewish coinage, circulated. This environment, where many struggled for daily sustenance and the wealthy often flaunted their riches, provided a critical backdrop for Jesus’ radical teachings, which often challenged the status quo by advocating for the poor, condemning greed, and calling for a re-evaluation of societal values from a spiritual perspective.
THEOLOGICAL INSIGHT
Jesus' teachings on money transcend mere ethical guidelines, delving into the core of one's allegiance and spiritual identity. They reveal a theology of radical dependence on God, advocating for a detachment from the transient allure of material possessions. The emphasis on 'stewardship' rather than 'ownership' implies that all resources ultimately belong to God, and humans are entrusted with their management. Money, in this view, is a tool to be used for righteousness, charity, and the advancement of God's Kingdom, not an end in itself or a source of security. The pursuit of wealth for its own sake is deemed idolatrous, as it displaces God from the supreme position in one's heart and hinders the cultivation of virtues like generosity, humility, and trust in divine providence. Therefore, Jesus' teachings are fundamentally an invitation to a transformed worldview, where eternal values dictate the use of temporal resources.
COMMENTARY SYNTHESIS
Rashi (indirect application of Jewish principles) (Jewish)
While Rashi did not comment on the New Testament, his exegesis on the Torah often highlights the importance of 'tzedakah' (righteousness/charity) and 'mishpat' (justice) in the use of resources. The principle that wealth is a blessing from God to be used to support the poor and uphold justice is a consistent theme in Jewish thought, resonating with Jesus' emphasis on generosity.
John Calvin (Christian)
Calvin emphasized that all possessions are gifts from God and should be used responsibly as a form of 'stewardship'. He taught that we are merely managers, not owners, and therefore must use our wealth to glorify God and benefit our neighbors, especially the poor. He strongly condemned avarice and the hoarding of riches, seeing it as a sign of distrust in God's providence.
Clement of Alexandria (Early Church Father)
In 'Who Is the Rich Man That Shall Be Saved?', Clement argues that Jesus did not condemn wealth itself, but the 'passion for riches' and the misuse of wealth. He taught that a truly rich man is one who is rich in God and that material wealth should be used charitably and justly, transforming its possessor into a 'distributor' for the good of all.
Matthew Henry (Christian)
Henry's commentary often stresses the inherent danger of earthly riches, particularly the love of money, which he describes as the 'root of all evil'. He interprets Jesus' warnings as a call to spiritual contentment and a reminder that true treasures are laid up in heaven, not on earth, where they are subject to decay and theft.