 Various denominations of currency,
one form of money.
(larger image) The bible has quite a lot to say about money and finances, which is evidence that these principles are something God considers important for us to be aware of. Money 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:10 NIV) The money changers  Jesus vertreibt die Händler aus dem Tempel by Giovanni Paolo Pannini
(larger image) The narrative of Jesus and the Money Changers occurs in both the Synoptic Gospels and in the Gospel of John, although it occurs close to the end of the Synoptic Gospels at: The story of Jesus overturning the tables of the money changers in the Temple is related. Jesus goes to Jerusalem for the Passover, the first of three in John, the others being John 7, where he goes to the Feast of Tabernacles, and the final Passover during which he is crucified. He enters the Temple courts and sees people selling livestock and exchanging money. He explodes: So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market! (15-16) John says his disciples remembered Psalm 69:9, "9 For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.", perhaps a bit of wordplay interposing the ideas of "'demanding all my attention' and 'leading to my destruction'" (Miller 204) Whether the disciples remembered this during the incident or afterward is not clear. He is asked to perform a "miraculous sign" to prove he has authority to expel the money changers. "Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up'" (John 2:19). The people believe he is talking about the official Temple building, but the Gospel of John states that Jesus meant his body, and that this is what his disciples came to believe after his resurrection. John then says that during the Passover Seder Jesus performed miraculous signs, but does not list them, that caused people to believe in him, but that he would "not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men". Perhaps John included this statement to show Jesus possesses a knowledge of people's hearts and minds, an attribute of God (Brown et al. 955). This introduces the antagonism between Jesus and "the Jews", as John calls them, a sign perhaps of a non-Jewish audience. This is over the nature of the Temple. The Temple is already destroyed by the time of the writing of the Gospel of John, and John is trying to show right from the start that the old Temple has been replaced by the new Temple, Jesus' resurrected body and the new Christian and Johannine community. This shows to most scholars the split between John's community and Judaism in general. Some of the Dead Sea scrolls also speak of the community as the temple (Brown et al. 954). John mentions the incident with the money changers as occurring at the start of Jesus's ministry, while the synoptic gospels have it occurring shortly before his crucifixion. Some scholars insist that this instead shows that Jesus fought with the money changers twice, once at the beginning and once at the end of his ministry. The incident in the synoptics occurs in Mark 11:12-19, Matthew 21:12-17, and Luke 19:45-48. Perhaps John has relocated the story to the beginning to show that Jesus' arrest was for the raising of Lazarus in John 11, not the incident in the Temple (Brown et al. 954). Jesus said, 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." (Mark 10:25) The Christian concept of stewardship refers to the management of the property or affairs of someone else. It is often associated with personal finances. However, the key is that "our money" is not ours to begin with. It belongs to God. 18 You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. (Deuteronomy 8:18 ESV) Historically, stewardship was the responsibility given to household servants to bring food and drinks to a castle dining hall. The term was then expanded to indicate a household employee's responsibility for managing household or domestic affairs. Stewardship later became the responsibility for taking care of passengers' domestic needs on a ship, train and airplane, or managing the service provided to diners in a restaurant. The term continues to be used in these specific ways, but it is also used in a more general way to refer to a responsibility to take care of something one does not own. God supplies the ability to obtain money. Everything is God's to begin with, so we are then accountable to Him for the acceptable care and use of those possessions untrusted to us. In the same way, stewardship can also refer to Jesus Christ's accountability to God the Father for His followers, who have been entrusted to Him. In Mark 10:23-25, Jesus warns us how hard it is for rich people to enter the kingdom of God: "How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." Jesus was not condemning wealth, but rather, telling us that money can take the place of God in our lives. Another confirmation of this is found at 1 Timothy 6:9: 9-10 But if it's only money these leaders are after, they'll self-destruct in no time. Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after. 1 Timothy 6:9 (The Message) and in another translation, 1 Timothy 6:10 reads: 10 For 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. Greed can lead to war and crime. 1-2 Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don't have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn't yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it. 2-3 You wouldn't think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you'd be asking for what you have no right to. You're spoiled children, each wanting your own way. (James 4:1-2 (The Message) Regarding paying taxes, people have sometimes asked the question, "Did Jesus pay taxes?" The answer is most definitively, yes. 24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the tax?" 25 He said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?" 26 And when he said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free. 27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself. (Matthew 17:24-27) The key to what Jesus is saying here is, "not to give offense to them" (17:27). It is also interesting to note what he says, "From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?" (17:25). Peter felt certain that Jesus was ready to do the right thing. Jesus had the first word, to give Peter confirmation that no thought can be concealed from him. We must never become remiss in our obligations for fear of offending; but sometimes we it is necessary to relinquish our personal worldly interests rather than offending. However.. the money was lodged in the fish, right where Jesus knew it would be. Who, other than our pansophical God could have known? In this, the unlimited power and the servile abjection of Christ need to be recognized simultaneously. If called by providence to be penniless, like Jesus, let us have confidence in his power, and God will furnish a resource to fill the need, according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:27). In terms of obedience to our obligations, as with Peter, he will also help us. And if we are asked to fulfill some unforeseen responsibility that we are not prepared for, we should seek Christ first before we ask others. When we place too much importance on the wealth we obtain, it can cause wrong thinking. 15 Speaking to the people, [Jesus] went on, "Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot." Luke 12:15 (The Message) One of the reasons money is so often mentioned in the bible is that, if we allow it to become too important it can take the place of God in our lives. The prophet Jeremiah, speaking the Word of God: 23 Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth For in these things I delight, declares the LORD." (Jeremiah 9:23-24) The wealth God allows us to obtain can be used for good purposes, which will be added to your heavenly reward: 33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Luke 12:33-34 ESV) God asks us to bring our [full] tithe to the Temple: 8-11"Begin by being honest. Do honest people rob God? But you rob me day after day. "You ask, 'How have we robbed you?' "The tithe and the offering—that's how! And now you're under a curse —the whole lot of you—because you're robbing me. Bring your full tithe to the Temple treasury so there will be ample provisions in my Temple. Test me in this and see if I don't open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams. For my part, I will defend you against marauders, protect your wheat fields and vegetable gardens against plunderers." The Message of God-of-the-Angel-Armies. (Malachi 3:8-10) Jesus gave his approval of tithing, while pointing out the even more important matters of justice and mercy and faithfulness: 23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. (Matthew 23:23 ESV) Solomon, probably the wealthiest king to ever live, tells us that giving to the Lord honors Him: 9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. (Proverbs 3:9 NIV) Godly investment strategies 17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. (I Timothy 6:17-19 ESV) Being content no matter what circumstances you're faced with 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:12-13 ESV) Another reminder who the real owner is: 23 " 'The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants. (Leviticus 25:23 NIV) Trust in God and make him first in your life and he will provide your needs 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33 NIV) Biblical References Old Testament New Testament - Matthew 6:33, 17:24-27, 21:12-17, 21:23-27, 23:23
- Mark 10:23-25, 10:25, 11:12-19, 11:15-19, 11:27-33
- Luke 12:15, 12:33-34, 19:45-48, 20:1-8
- Philippians 4:12-13
- Colossians 1:27
- 1 Timothy 6:9, 6:10, 6:17-19
- James 4:1-2
Additional Reading - Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible Unabridged
- Acts 8:14-15 (Matthew Henry Concise Commentary) on the Whole Bible
When tempted with money to do evil, see what a perishing thing money is, and scorn it. Think not that Christianity is a trade to live by in this world. There is much wickedness in the thought of the heart, its false notions, and corrupt affections, and wicked projects, which must be repented of, or we are undone. But it shall be forgiven, upon our repentance. The doubt here is of the sincerity of Simon's repentance, not of his pardon, if his repentance was sincere. Grant us, Lord, another sort of faith than that which made Simon wonder only, and did not sanctify his heart. May we abhor all thoughts of making religion serve the purposes of pride or ambition. And keep us from that subtle poison of spiritual pride, which seeks glory to itself even from humility. May we seek only the honour which cometh from God. - Matthew 17:24-27, (InterVarsity Press New Testament Commentaries)
Like a good prophet, Jesus knows in advance Peter's question (17:25). He also does not regard the poll tax as binding on himself or Peter (vv. 25-26), but recognizes that the tax collectors may (v. 24). He thus does not rebuke Peter for committing him (v. 25); he wishes to avoid unnecessary cause for misunderstandings (v. 27) that might turn people away from his gospel unnecessarily (compare 5:29-30; 13:41; 16:23; 18:6). Jesus has offended (literally "caused to stumble") members of the religious establishment before (15:12-14), but this is an unnecessary "stumbling - Matthew 17:24, (John Wesley's Notes on the Bible)
Yet that, we may not offend them - Even those unjust, unreasonable men, who claim what they have no manner of right to: do not contest it with them, bat rather yield to their demand, than violate peace or love. O what would not one of a loving spirit do for peace! Any thing which is not expressly forbidden in the word of God. A piece of money - The original word is a stater, which was in value two shillings and sixpence: just the sum that was wanted. Give for me and thee - Peter had a family of his own: the other apostles were the family of Jesus. How illustrious a degree of knowledge and power did our Lord here discover! Knowledge, penetrating into this animal, though beneath the waters; and power, in directing this very fish to Peter's hook, though he himself was at a distance! How must this have encouraged both him and his brethren in a firm dependence on Divine Providence. - 1 Timothy 6:10, (John Wesley's Notes on the Bible)
Love of money - Commonly called "prudent care" of what a man has. Is the root - The parent of all manner of evils. Which some coveting have erred - Literally, missed the mark. They aimed not at faith, but at something else. And pierced themselves with many sorrows - From a guilty conscience, tormenting passions, desires contrary to reason, religion, and one another. How cruel are worldly men to themselves! Additional bible commentaries |