Jesus and Economics: Three Episodes (Biblical Economics, Part 7)
By Ben Quine
**This article is part of a series written by Ben Quine that takes us through the whole of Scripture to discover how God set up an economy for His people, and how His timeless economic principles apply to us today.
In addition to being the central figure of all history, Christ Jesus is also one of the most controversial. Some believe Christ was “a good moral teacher.” According to others, “he was an ideal; an example.” But sadly, few outside or even inside the Church have ever taken the time to listen to what he actually taught! Jesus Christ is the incarnate Son of God, the perfect sacrificial lamb who came to take away the sin of the world and reconcile sinners to their holy Creator. But he didn’t only teach the Gospel, the way of spiritual salvation. Jesus also taught about how to live life here on Earth, before reaching Heaven. And he taught extensively on money.
Let’s look at three key moments from the gospels to learn the most vital elements of Jesus’ lessons on money…
1. The State and Taxes
Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. (Matthew 22:15-16)
Plots against those who follow God are nothing new, and the religious leaders of his day frequently conspired against Jesus in their attempts to attack him. This passage presents the unlikely partnership between the Pharisees and the Herodians — unlikely, because the religious Pharisees were obsessed with following God’s Law and their own traditions, but the political Herodians supported the wicked rule of King Herod because they believed in using political and personal compromise to achieve peace at any price. The two groups began their approach by using flattering words, in an attempt to bring down Jesus’ guard.
Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” (Matthew 22:17)
Was paying taxes to Caesar an affront to the living God? God had given Israel the land. He had required in His Law that Israel pay a poll-tax (or census tax). Was paying the Roman tax elevating Rome to the place of God? Was allowing tribute to a foreign king tantamount to rejection of God as the sovereign? If Jesus were to answer affirmatively, he could be accused of teaching disobedience to God’s Law. But if he answered negatively, he could be accused of teaching sedition against Rome. The question was a two-way trap.
But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? (Matthew 22:18)
Jesus didn’t mince words; the Pharisees and Herodians were hypocrites with evil intentions.
Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away. (Matthew 22:19-22)
Jesus’ brilliant answer disappointed those hoping to trap him, and also established essential Economic truth. According to Jesus, Caesar (or the State) has legitimate right to impose taxes. This of course is perfectly consistent with Old Testament Law and what God had foretold that Israel’s kings would do. But Jesus insists that Caesar (or the State) does not have a legitimate right to own everything — the coin currency bore Caesar’s image, and was subject to his authority. But as humans who bear the image of God, we are to render to God everything that we are, and everything that we do.
Jesus eludes the trap of both the religious leaders (the Pharisees) and the government leaders (the Herodians) by asserting that an individual’s private offerings to God and the State’s right of taxation are both moral. In short, Jesus reinforces Biblical concepts of private ownership of goods, private control of capital, and the State’s right to taxation.
2. Equity
One of the biggest issues confronting our culture today is the question of equity. Is it morally right for a person to have more than someone else? What is the responsibility of the individual, the Church, and the government to ensure that there is equality of economic outcomes in society? Let’s look at what Jesus said…
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” (Luke 12:13)
Here we see the request: A man feels that he has been treated unfairly by his brother over the inheritance. According to Jewish tradition, the firstborn son would receive a double portion of the inheritance.
But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you? And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:14-15)
Jesus could have ordered an equal distribution of wealth at this juncture, but he never did. In fact, since the desire to equalize possessions or wealth may spring from a heart of greed or covetousness, Jesus urged us to remember the 10th Commandment, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s” (Exodus 20:17).
And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:16-21)
Consistent with the rest of Scripture, Jesus never taught equality of outcomes. Instead he condemned covetousness and offered a parable of warning. He did not condemn wealth — he taught that each person must be in a right relationship and standing with God.
3. Generosity and the Shared Purse
Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. (John 12:1-3)
In this passage we see Mary, the sister of Lazarus, worshiping Jesus by presenting him with a precious gift.
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” (John 12:4-5)
Judas objected to Mary’s action, insisting that the money for the perfume should have been given to the poor.
But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” (Mark 14:6-9)
Jesus commended Mary for her offering, and affirmed both her right to choose what to do with her possessions, and the wisdom and faith of her gift.
The gospel of John also gives us some insight into Judas’ motives…
[Judas] said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. (John 12:6)
The thief Judas wanted to steal her money, so he used the guise of claiming to care for the poor! Jesus cared deeply for the poor, but, as was a constant theme of his teaching, he emphasized individual responsibility, choice, and rewards for wise decisions.
The apostle John reminds us all to be wary of those who use advocacy for the poor in an attempt to control a shared purse.
Jesus’ life and teachings were extremely confrontational, and by studying the gospels we see that he didn’t back down from pointing out the evil intent of his opponents or addressing sensitive topics like salvation or economics. Christ confirmed Scripture’s teachings on private property, individual control of capital, the government’s right to taxation, and the individual’s responsibility to pay taxes. We also see the gospel’s warning against the economic pursuit of equity (equality of outcomes) and the warning against keeping a shared purse.
But Jesus also emphasized one other thing in regards to money: the heart. We’ll look at that in our next article…
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ABOUT BEN
Connect with him at Cornerstone Curriculum
Ben Quine, the second son of David and Shirley Quine, was blessed to grow up with a Charlotte Mason/Dr. Schaeffer/Biblical Worldview education -- a tremendous gift! Through the years, Ben has served as a Cornerstone consultant, assistant, and co-author. He has written several Bible studies for the Answers for Difficult Days series, which equips churches to address the issues our culture is wrestling with today, from the foundation of Scripture. Ben is also the editor of The Worldview Library, editions of classical literature with student helps that afford the reader a deeper understanding of the concepts presented in each work.
Trained as a classical pianist and instructor, Ben is committed to inspiring his students with the love of great music and equipping them with the tools to perform at the highest level. This training has resulted in his students' successful performances from local festivals and competitions to Carnegie Hall.
Ben loves Shakespeare, Dickens, photography, listening to recordings of "the great pianists", running, biking, and spending time with his wife Julie and their three sons.