Was Jesus Poor?

There’s much argument about whether Jesus was poor or not. Of course he wasn’t poor, he was God and owned everything. But aside from that, when we look at his manhood on earth, I think there’s obvious examples in the bible that illustrate that he was poor, and other times it illustrates that he was rich. One example that comes to mind that seems he was poor, is when peter came to Jesus and asked about paying the temple tax. Instead of Jesus pulling out his nice thick leather wallet and flipping the cash to Peter, Jesus performs a necessary miracle in order to conjure up the cash. An example that illustrates Jesus wealth is the account of his expensive cloak being rolled for dice and wagered on, while he’s being crucified. So, was Jesus rich? Yes. Was he poor? Yes.

Come on! To argue about whether Jesus was rich or poor, is it worth it? He owned every piece of ground that he walked on while on earth, even his cross. But at the same time the bible says he became poor like us and came from his riches to poverty. You see we don’t know what rich is.

1 Corinthians 8:9
that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich

For thirty-three years Jesus came down from the riches he had and lived with the poor. Yeah, he could have been rich on earth, and yes, he could have been poor. But the point is no matter how rich he was on earth he adopted poverty. The goal for every believer is to adopt poverty in some way. I can’t explain or describe to you how. What riches have you given up for the sake of others?

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8 Responses to “Was Jesus Poor?”

  1. daril caldwell says:

    hey jesus was no rich man while he was on earth this the gopel of greed paul said in 1 timothy 6:5 flee from people who think that godliness is gain.

  2. Gonzalez says:

    I suppose u think Jesus was homeless too right? Then look at John 1:37-39 When was the last time u seen a poor homeless man w/a treasurer? John 13:29 And if Jesus was poor then the oinment wouldve been for Him and would not have been any comment made about it John 12:3 God Bless!

  3. tithe says:

    Gonzalez,
    I don’t know who your comment was directed towards, but as the blog author, i am well aware of those passages. The thing to remember about Jesus is that he never took more than he needed on earth.

  4. Q: Show me in the New Test that Jesus was rich?

    In the New Test that Jesus was poor not rich.

  5. Gwaine says:

    Hi Thomas,

    The context of Jesus being “poor” in the NT does not point to poverty or penury as is commonly thought of today.

    I think the article provides a much needed balance that many Christians often miss, especially when they argue immoderately to one extreme or the other. ‘So, was Jesus rich? Yes. Was he poor? Yes.‘ His passion was not about living in penury or affluence.

    We see just about the same thing in Paul’s life and ministry, who declared that he was instructed “BOTH to be full and to be hungry, BOTH to abound and to suffer need” (Philippians 4:12). In whatever state he found himself, he learned to be content (verse 11).

    As far as I’m aware, Scripture does not command any believer to deliberately pursue a life of affluence as his “goal”; nor is anyone commanded to pursue a life of penury. In practical living, we’re exhorted to “USE the world”, but “as NOT ABUSING it” (cf. 1 Cor. 7:31). While doing so, one should ever be mindful of one thing: “for the sake of others” – which the article points us to.

    In all things, please people, we should always endeavour to avoid being unnecessarily polarised.

    Regards.

    • daril caldwell says:

      hey dont you know these people who promote this doctrine of jesus being rich is garbadge & prosperity pimps promote it to support there lavish lifestyle and they are the only one that are profiting

  6. In the NT. Jesus was poor! Not rich!!!

    Thomas Dickensheets’s last blog post..1

  7. Gonzalez says:

    Show me that in scripture… :D

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