The Scandalous Truth About Jesus and His Wealth

I’M ABOUT TO SPEAK A TRUTH that may offend.

It could be considered a bit scandalous. In all honesty, it offended me, too, when I first heard it. I thought, That can’t be right. But everything I’m about to say is based on Scripture. So, hold on. We’re about to do some myth busting.

 Jesus Christ was rich.

If that strikes you as an odd thought, you aren’t alone. I’ve been there. I learned things from religious circles, from the tradition of men, which made the Word of God ineffective in my life. It blinded me to the truth of Scripture. To show you what I’m talking about, let’s start in 2 Corinthians.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9

In the first part of the verse, the Apostle Paul is talking about finances. This is a financial verse, so we don’t want to take it out of context. The word “rich” here is talking about substance, aka money.

Earlier, in 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul instructs us to be like Christ.

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1

You want to be like Jesus, but here’s the problem: your picture of Jesus is probably someone who is poor, homeless, wearing shabby clothes, and trying to find somewhere to sleep for the night. It will be difficult for you to see yourself like Jesus, while accepting that part of that includes being financially prosperous, if that is the picture you have of Him.

In general, Christians tend to present poverty as being holy, but it’s not. Prosperity is a blessing from God. It’s His will for your life.

 In order to believe that, we need to reconcile our struggle between the idea of Jesus being poor, and our desire to be like Jesus, with God’s will for us to prosper. We need to make sense of it, right? To do so, we need to look at the life of Christ and debunk a few misconceptions.

Rich on Earth

 You might do the same thing I used to do. I would read 2 Corinthians 8:9 and assume the “though He was rich” meant Jesus had wealth when He was in Heaven but became poor when He was born as a human. He did have wealth in Heaven. And He does now, too. However, that isn’t what this scripture is saying. The Apostle Paul was referring to financial riches here on earth. Jesus had wealth in the physical, earthly sense. This verse is talking about Jesus having wealth and laying it aside for us.

 He did this with everything He had. He poured Himself out as an offering. He had health, peace, and wealth. Yet, for our sakes, “He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” But He didn’t do that during His first thirty-three years of life on earth. He didn’t become poor until the sacrifice He made for us on the cross.

Jesus was in the lineage of Abraham. He had those covenant rights to be rich on earth. Let’s look at a few aspects of His life that have been misunderstood and illustrate His earthly wealth.

His Birth In the Scriptures, we hear the amazing story of Jesus’ birth and how Mary and Joseph could find no room in an inn. Because they didn’t have a place to stay the night, Jesus was born in a stable. Christians often conclude this occurred due to their lack of funds, that Joseph simply couldn’t afford a room.

However, this had nothing to do with money. During this time, Caesar had commanded a mandatory census, which drew people back to their hometowns, like Bethlehem. With so many out-of-town people needing a place to sleep, all at once, the rooms were all taken. Have you ever tried to book a hotel in a town hosting a huge event? Well, that’s how Jesus ended up being born in a stable, which was a powerful symbol from God of Jesus’ eventual death.

 Jesus, the Lamb of God, would be born where sacrificial lambs are born. Not in a hotel room, but among the animals.

It had nothing to do with money and everything to do with symbolism.

His Visitors

And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:11

 After His birth, while He was likely not much older than a toddler, Jesus was visited by wise men who traveled from afar to see him. When they arrived, they presented three kinds of gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

These are valuable gifts. In fact, the amount of wealth handed to Jesus at that moment has been studied and estimated. In today’s currency, those gifts added up to millions. Maybe even tens of millions.

Many believe Joseph and Mary used those gifts as a way to finance their move to Egypt and escape Herod. Joseph wasn’t able to work at the time while they journeyed, and Jesus was still very young. They needed funds to live on.

 So, why was Jesus given such wealth as a toddler? Because God supplies for His kids. Remember, He pays His child support! Would God have given Joseph and Mary His cherished Son to raise without providing for them? Of course not! Jesus’ family was not poor. That money would have provided for them for many, many years.

His Ministry

Let’s look at what happened after Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus’ feet with a very expensive jar of fragrant oil:

But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. John 12:4-6

During Jesus’ earthly ministry, Judas worked as His treasurer, albeit a corrupt one. A ministry without funds does not need a treasurer!

 Consider that verse six says that Judas, “used to take what was put in it.” Judas had been taking money out of the ministry’s treasury, undetected. To do this—to habitually embezzle without anyone noticing the funds are gone or depleted—there must have been a substantial amount collected. There would need to be a hearty sum to cover that kind of fraud!

So, not only was Jesus not personally poor, due to the gifts given to him as a toddler, supplemented by working as a craftsman—you can’t convince me that the Savior’s carpentry business wasn’t blessed—His ministry had the funds to have regular theft go unnoticed.

 His Travel

 Jesus was always on the move, which meant funds were needed. You can’t travel without money. You’d need the financial means to travel like Jesus traveled.

 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece.” Luke 9:1-3

After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go…”Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.” Luke 10:1, 4

Some teachers will point out these verses and say, “Look! Right here, Jesus told His disciples to leave their money at home! They didn’t need money to do what Jesus called them to do, or to minister the Gospel.”

 Let’s use some critical thinking skills here: If Jesus and His disciples were penniless, why would He have felt it necessary to tell them to leave their money bags, food, and extra clothing at home? He had to give them that specific instruction because they had those provisions! He wouldn’t have had to tell them to do so if they didn’t already have the money, extra food, or extra clothing to leave behind.

 The reason Jesus gave His disciples this specific command was so they would learn to trust God to take care of them. It wasn’t because they didn’t have the resources. His disciples were successful businessmen, fishermen, and tax collectors who were notorious for being wealthy. What does that tell us? The people who followed Jesus had money.

 His command to go on their missionary journeys without the provision they had earned was so they would learn how God the Father takes care of His children. Jesus wanted His disciples to learn to trust in God rather than in their money.

Many ministry organizations have done the same thing to teach their volunteers and employees how to trust God. One specific testimony I heard was from a young person years ago. As an intern with a mission organization, he was given just this challenge.

His group of six were taken out, dropped off in a random location with no money, no transportation, and no food. They were told, “Okay, your destination is at this address,” pointing to the location on a map. “We will see you there!”

This group of young people began by walking down the road. Before evening on that same day, a man stopped his vehicle to ask them why they were walking down the road.

They replied, “We are out here to share the love of Jesus with people!” It turned out that this man was a Christian, an elder in his church. He took this group of kids to his home, fed them, and offered them a place to stay for the night.

 The next day, they set out again. During this week-long “mission trip,” this group of young people never went hungry and always had a warm place to stay. They learned the truth that when we trust in the Lord, He will provide!

And He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?” So they said, “Nothing.” Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack…” Luke 22:35

When the disciples were sent on their journey, they never went without. God provided for them, and they learned the lesson Jesus had set out to teach them. Once they learned what He had taught, He then told them to go ahead and take their money, and their extra supplies. Once they knew that God was their provider, rather than their possessions, they were free to continue to move forward in faith.

So, Jesus had a treasury for His ministry, and those resources were necessary to help provide for Himself and His disciples as they traveled. These verses where He instructed them to go traveling without those resources was simply to teach them to trust God. It was not an indication that they were poor.

 His Clothes

 Jesus did not wear raggedly clothing, barely held together by clothes pins and prayer. Let’s read about what happened to His clothing when He was crucified:

Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says: “They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.” Therefore the soldiers did these things. John 19:23-24

 Jesus’ clothes were so nice that the soldiers who crucified Him split the items among them, and then cast lots to see who could keep the tunic. It was such high quality, they wanted to toss the dice to see who would receive it, which is not something you do with rags.

 Jesus’ tunic was a seamless garment, woven in one piece, top to bottom. This would have been the equivalent of a designer suit in our culture.

His clothes spoke of wealth, not poverty.

His Transportation

 Jesus chose to ride into Jerusalem on a colt that had never been ridden before. He instructed His disciples where to find it and to bring it to Him (Matthew 21:1-9). This wasn’t an old, used donkey. It was a brand-new baby, a valuable mode of transportation.

 In today’s culture, you might think of it like this: Jesus rode into town in a brand-new car, not a used one!

 His Offerings

Not only did Jesus have wealth, but those around Him also gave Him gifts. For example, Mary broke an alabaster jar of oil, a year’s salary, to anoint Him.

And certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance. Luke 8:2-3

 So, there was also a group of women who traveled with Him, ministered to Him, and gave to Him out of their own wealth and provision. God provided these women to help Him during His ministry. As a single man, they must have been a huge blessing to Him (Mark 15:41)

His House

This one is going to surprise a lot of you, but there’s more Scripture to support the idea Jesus had a house than He didn’t. He was a carpenter. It makes sense that He’d have built a place to live.

However, let’s look in Luke where we see the biggest argument against the idea Jesus had a house of His own:

And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Luke 9:58

This is the scripture most use to say Jesus never even had a home. To understand what’s going on here, though, we need to look at the previous verses.

 Starting in verse 56, we learn that Jesus was traveling to another village. In the middle of this journey, He was approached by a man who said, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”

As a way to test his sincerity, in verse 58, Jesus offered a little resistance. He was telling this man that His ministry was a traveling ministry. He was saying that there isn’t always sleeping accommodations on the journey. Rest may happen in a field or a temporary place. He was illustrating to this man the reality of His life. Would the man still follow Him then?

It didn’t mean Jesus didn’t have a home. It meant Jesus was away from home while ministering.

The book of Mark also supports the idea that Jesus owned a home. Jesus invited Levi, aka Matthew, to follow Him. So, he did. In the next verse, we read about the supper that followed. But whose house was it held in?

 As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him. Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. Mark 2:14-15

 In the New King James Version, “Levi” is italicized, meaning it was not in the original text and was added during the translation. Italicized words indicated that the word had been added in order to provide clarity. Therefore, when you read the same verse in the Modern English Version, the word “Levi” is completely left out. It reads, “As Jesus was at supper in his house…”

 We also read the story where Jesus healed the paralytic man, who was lowered through the roof of a house by his four, crazy, dedicated friends. There’s actually a lot of evidence to support the idea that Jesus’ house was the one where the roof was destroyed. And they knew it. That’s why the crowds were gathered there.

So, there’s no conclusive evidence that Jesus did not own a home. Personally, I believe He did.

When you look at His birth, His clothes, His friends, His ministry, and all the details of His life, you can clearly see that Jesus had wealth on earth. Favor attracts wealth. That doesn’t mean He remained wealthy, though.

 For us, He gave up everything.

 He Gave It All

 The idea Jesus walked the earth as a poor man is incorrect. He had enough. He had extra. He was a blessing to people. A giver. He had money to fund His ministry and help people.

Then came the cross.

 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”). Galatians 3:13

 When Jesus willingly went to the cross, He took on the curse of the law. You can read about those curses in Deuteronomy 28:15-68. Jesus died to take on those curses for you and me. I encourage you to go read those curses. They are extremely detailed. In fact, because of the detail of those curses, it will really bless you to realize everything from which Jesus has set you free!

It is so powerful.

 Second Corinthians 5:21 says that God made Him to be sin. He never sinned, yet Jesus became sin on the cross. This perfect Man—sinless, spotless, without blemish—bore the sin of the world.

During His earthly ministry, Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life. He was healthy. He was wealthy. But when He died, He became cursed.

 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9

Jesus became poor on that tree. Before that, He was rich. He lived a life where he had money, abundance, possessions, things. Then He gave everything up.

For you.

 Only Three Days

 Now behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man. He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before. Luke 23:50-53

Some have said that if Jesus was rich, He would have owned a tomb. He would have prepared for His death and His burial before He went to the cross. But He didn’t have His own tomb. He wasn’t buried in a family plot next to His earthly father, or other family. Nope, one was just donated to Him.

 However, I have a different take. I think there are two possibilities of why Jesus didn’t have a tomb, and neither reason is because He couldn’t afford one.

 One reason could be because He was cursed when He died. Not having a family plot to be buried in could certainly be considered a curse. Therefore, He wouldn’t have had His own tomb.

Another reason is one I think is also very likely. Listen, Jesus was only going to need a tomb for three days! Why buy one when your body isn’t going to stay there? There is no such thing as a vacation graves rental! You can’t lease a tomb.

I also find it interesting that it is specifically pointed out that this was a tomb in which no one had ever lain before.

It’s reminiscent of the colt, the brand-new donkey no one else had ever ridden. When Jesus needed something provided to Him, it was quality!

 Either way, the absence of a personal tomb for Jesus was in no way due to a lack of funds. It was either part of the curse, or Him being a good steward of His finances—or both!

The Worst Poverty

What is the definition of poverty? What does it mean to be poor, in the worst sense of the word? This is a topic that has garnered a lot of research. In all the debate and study, poverty is a relative term. What is considered poor isn’t the same on every continent. Through my ministry travels, I’ve seen a stark contrast where what is considered poor in one region of the world might be considered rich in another.

For example, in Asia, I’ve witnessed children who live in trash dumps. They forage through what has been discarded by others for their clothing. That’s poverty. In America, someone might be considered poor if they shop at a discount store for their clothing. There is a huge gap between shopping for clean, used clothing for sale and having to scrounge through a dump to find something to wear.

 Poor does not mean the same everywhere. That’s why they’ve done studies to determine the areas with the world’s worst poverty. There is a certain level of poverty that crosses all cultural and geographic divides. This is the kind of poor that, no matter where you live, you would agree.

What these studies have determined is that nakedness and thirst are the defining characteristics of the world’s worst poverty. It doesn’t matter if you live in Africa, Asia, South America, Europe, or the United States: if you are naked and thirsty, you know poverty.

 The thing about this definition that strikes me is that Jesus knew true poverty.

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” John 19:28

When Jesus was on the cross, He was naked and thirsty. No matter where you live, or what time in history you’ve lived, He faced the same poverty anyone has experienced when He hung on the cross for us. He became poor so that we wouldn’t have to (2 Corinthians 8:9).

 He Changed Everything

 Jesus’ story of poverty doesn’t end there, though. When He freely gave His life, He changed everything. Scripture says the moment Jesus died, the veil in the temple—which separated mankind from the glory of God—was torn in two from top to bottom. Jesus’ death gave us full access to the glory of God.

This was a request Moses made to God, now fulfilled for us all. And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.” Exodus 33:18

 This word for “glory” is kabowd, which means abundance, riches, honor, splendor, and dignity of position. When the veil was torn, God gave us access to His glory, His riches, and His abundance. Jesus died in abject poverty so that we could have access to His riches.

This perfectly illustrates 2 Corinthians 8:9, our key scripture here. Jesus became poor so that, through His poverty, we could be made rich. He experienced true poverty. He was naked. He was thirsty. When He asked for water, they gave him bitter wine. He experienced pain. He took on the punishment of sin. All so we could receive the glorious riches God has for us.

 God wants you rich. Jesus paid this price for you in the most scandalous way by giving up everything and becoming truly impoverished on the cross. He became radically poor so we could be rich. That is God’s will for you today. To live a righteous, holy, healthy, peaceful, and prosperous life.

That is the scandalous truth of the Gospel.