Was Jesus rich financially?

[tonychanyt]

I don't think so.

Leviticus 12:

7b “ ‘These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. 8 But if she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’ ”

Jesus' parents couldn't afford a lamb, Luke 2:

22 And when the time of purification according to the Law of Moses was complete, His parents brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord”), 24and to offer the sacrifice specified in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

At the beginning of Jesus' public ministry, he told the rich young man in Matthew 19:

21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

At the time, Jesus would not have much personal possession. He preached what he did.

Jesus' ministry itself wasn't rich either. After Mary anointed Jesus' feet, the ministry's money bag holder/accountant complained in John 12:

4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages. ”

A year's wages were a lot of money to Jesus' ministry.

At the time of Jesus' death, he didn't have much either as John took up the responsibility for Jesus' mother in John 19:

26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Was Jesus rich or poor?

From the numerical monetary perspective, at the time of Jesus' ministry, he lived the lifestyle of a minimalist.

 

[Bobber]

This is something like where one could say YES he was but NO he wasn't ....depending on what you mean.

Now there was his life before his ministry......as a Carpenter.....did he own a house in Nazareth? Keep in mind in our day if you even have a deed to a property....well you're not doing too bad. In that day they probably didn't think of a chunk of land with a house as meaning much....we do today though.....

As you pointed out as a baby, Mary and Joseph got the offerings for sacrifice that the poor would would get. It could be said they didn't have much. If you have the resources of God Almighty at your disposal though.....well you're in a good place. In other words there was no way Jesus was going to starve before he started his ministry.

OK now when his ministry started. Rich? Not in the way that men would think but look.....if you have no stress about your needs being meet knowing that God can supply and will.....how can that not be thought of as being rich? Rich in God.

Think of being in the will of God. You need resources . Look what happened when the fish were multiplied in the boats? So many fish the boats nearly sank. Those fish of course were taken to the market. Or the multiplying of the fish and loaves......putting a dollar figure on that it was 6 months of a man's wages.....let's say a good wage is 100 K a year......that's the equivalent of 60 thousand dollars of wealth...NOT in money but in resources......

then there's favor with God and men.....the Bible says there were wealthy people following Jesus......some of them were influential and they gave of their wealth to support Jesus ministry.

Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. Lk 8:3

Now the above is an amazing verse of scripture. If you're the wife of the manager of Herod's household.....what type of wealth did they have. A high profile manager over all Herod's doings? Must have been worth substantial. So it says these women supported Jesus ministry! To what degree we don't know. And how much was in the bag usually that Judas was over.....he was the treasurer....... it says he would even steal from it's wealth......

So in how we think of money today.....what would generally be there.......what we'd consider today in purchasing power quite few thousand dollars? We don't know. We do know at one time they asked Jesus do you want us to go and buy bread for all of these thousands? Then Jesus was always dispersing money to the poor as well as was his custom for when Judas betrayed the Lord they wondered if he was going to take money to the poor. I don't know. Interesting questions.

And then there's the special words.....Go into the village and you'll see a man with a colt......take the colt (and other words were said) but the favor of God being upon you then God speaks to other people to be a blessing......so in that sense I think Jesus was RICH......God would always provide for him. No worries...no concerns. Or to put it this way.....when you have peace.....you are rich.

 

[Laodicean60]

I imagine a man who could speak things into existence would be rich but he didn't show it.

 

[eleos1954]

I don't think so.

Leviticus 12:


Jesus' parents couldn't afford a lamb, Luke 2:


At the beginning of Jesus' public ministry, he told the rich young man in Matthew 19:


At the time, Jesus would not have much personal possession. He preached what he did.

Jesus' ministry itself wasn't rich either. After Mary anointed Jesus' feet, the ministry's money bag holder/accountant complained in John 12:


A year's wages were a lot of money to Jesus' ministry.

At the time of Jesus' death, he didn't have much either as John took up the responsibility for Jesus' mother in John 19:


Was Jesus rich or poor?

From the numerical monetary perspective, at the time of Jesus' ministry, he lived the lifestyle of a minimalist.

Luke 16:11

“Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?”. True riches are riches of heaven; it is what heaven bestows or gives. The above-cited Scripture makes a distinction between true riches and worldly wealth.

Jesus lived His life according to the riches of heaven ... not earthly ones.