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Jesus and Teachings About Money
August 9, 2014

Last week we read verses about how Jesus brought beginnings to those who believe and the poor often look to the beginning of their financial stability. In a world that mostly uses money to establish value in the exchange of goods, it comes as no surprise that Jesus provided teachings on money.

John 2:12-16
After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days. And the Jews' Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

One of the very first teachings of Jesus on money was that faith was not to be used to make money off of others. In the temple were entrepreneurs who sold animals for sacrifice. To assist with the financial transaction were those who could make change and where needed make currency conversions. Who knows what those selling were telling those who were buying. They might have advertised that animals bought in the temple provided a more holy sacrifice and would provide greater favor from God. Perhaps the temple priests received a percentage of sales. We really don't know. We do know this practice caused Jesus to drive them from the temple. Comparing to the modern era, I have often thought of those who use a ministry to sell religious merchandise--books, music, and movies. I wonder how Jesus would react to these.

Matthew 10:8
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Matthew records that spiritually-related deeds should be done without an expectation of payment; yet payment is exactly what is expected when these are done by many ministers and churches. In some cases people are expected to pay the minister directly or somehow offer to the church. Jesus taught do not charge for the performance of spiritual deeds.

1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

The early church knew that money could cause a person to err from the faith and cause much sorrow. Money is not to be made off of others as they pursue a spiritual relationship with God and Jesus; rather we are to consider that we have been freely given a great gift that required payment of a great cost. Out of respect, we are to pay it forward and freely give.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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