What Jesus Said About Money, Wealth & Personal Finance (31 Teachings)

It is extremely difficult for the rich to enter the kingdom when wealth rules the heart.

Read the Scripture Matthew 19:23–24; Mark 10:23–25; Luke 18:24–25

King James Version

Matthew 19:23–24

²³Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
²⁴And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Mark 10:23–25

²³And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
²⁴And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
²⁵It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Luke 18:24–25

²⁴And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
²⁵For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Charity should not be performed for applause.

Read the Scripture Matthew 6:2–4

King James Version

Matthew 6:2–4

²Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
³But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
⁴That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Treasure reveals the location of the heart.

Read the Scripture Matthew 6:19–21; Luke 12:33–34

King James Version

Matthew 6:19–21

¹⁹Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
²⁰But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
²¹For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Luke 12:33–34

³³Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
³⁴For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

No one can serve both God and money.

Read the Scripture Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13

King James Version

Matthew 6:24

²⁴No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Luke 16:13

¹³No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Guard against every form of greed.

Read the Scripture Luke 12:15

King James Version

Luke 12:15

¹⁵And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

A person's life does not consist in possessions.

Read the Scripture Luke 12:15

King James Version

Luke 12:15

¹⁵And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Be rich toward God rather than merely storing earthly wealth.

Read the Scripture Luke 12:16–21

King James Version

Luke 12:16–21

¹⁶And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
¹⁷And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
¹⁸And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
¹⁹And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
²⁰But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
²¹So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Faithfulness with worldly wealth is connected to fitness for true riches.

Read the Scripture Luke 16:11

King James Version

Luke 16:11

¹¹If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

Lend without making repayment the condition of mercy.

Read the Scripture Luke 6:34–35

King James Version

Luke 6:34–35

³⁴And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
³⁵But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

Do not store ultimate treasure on earth.

Read the Scripture Matthew 6:19

King James Version

Matthew 6:19

¹⁹Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

Store treasure in heaven.

Read the Scripture Matthew 6:20; Luke 12:33

King James Version

Matthew 6:20

²⁰But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

Luke 12:33

³³Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

Give to the one who asks rather than cultivating a closed hand.

Read the Scripture Matthew 5:42; Luke 6:30

King James Version

Matthew 5:42

⁴²Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Luke 6:30

³⁰Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

Sell possessions and give to the needy when discipleship requires it.

Read the Scripture Luke 12:33; 18:22; Matthew 19:21; Mark 10:21

King James Version

Luke 12:33

³³Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

Luke 18:22

²²Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

Matthew 19:21

²¹Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

Mark 10:21

²¹Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Faithfulness in money is a test of deeper trustworthiness.

Read the Scripture Luke 16:10–12

King James Version

Luke 16:10–12

¹⁰He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
¹¹If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
¹²And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?

Love of money can expose religious hypocrisy.

Read the Scripture Luke 16:13–15

King James Version

Luke 16:13–15

¹³No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
¹⁴And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
¹⁵And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

The rich ruler was called to release the possession that ruled him and follow Jesus.

Read the Scripture Matthew 19:21; Mark 10:21; Luke 18:22

King James Version

Matthew 19:21

²¹Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

Mark 10:21

²¹Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Luke 18:22

²²Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

Sacrifice made for Jesus is not forgotten.

Read the Scripture Matthew 19:29; Mark 10:29–30; Luke 18:29–30

King James Version

Matthew 19:29

²⁹And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

Mark 10:29–30

²⁹And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
³⁰But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

Luke 18:29–30

²⁹And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake,
³⁰Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

The widow's tiny offering can surpass larger gifts because God sees sacrificial proportion.

Read the Scripture Mark 12:41–44; Luke 21:1–4

King James Version

Mark 12:41–44

⁴¹And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
⁴²And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
⁴³And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
⁴⁴For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

Luke 21:1–4

¹And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
²And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
³And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
⁴For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

Do not exploit vulnerable people while maintaining religious appearance.

Read the Scripture Mark 12:40; Luke 20:47; Matthew 23:14

King James Version

Mark 12:40

⁴⁰Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

Luke 20:47

⁴⁷Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

Matthew 23:14

¹⁴Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

Textual note: Matthew 23:14 is not found in some of the earliest manuscripts.

Render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.

Read the Scripture Matthew 22:21; Mark 12:17; Luke 20:25

King James Version

Matthew 22:21

²¹They say unto him, Cæsar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

Mark 12:17

¹⁷And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.

Luke 20:25

²⁵And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which be Cæsar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.

Give from within so external cleanliness is not a substitute for inner generosity.

Read the Scripture Luke 11:39–41

King James Version

Luke 11:39–41

³⁹And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.
⁴⁰Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?
⁴¹But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.

Be willing to renounce all possessions when they conflict with following Jesus.

Read the Scripture Luke 14:33

King James Version

Luke 14:33

³³So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Travel lightly rather than stockpiling money and supplies.

Read the Scripture Matthew 10:9–10; Mark 6:8–9; Luke 9:3; 10:4

King James Version

Matthew 10:9–10

⁹Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
¹⁰Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

Mark 6:8–9

⁸And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:
⁹But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.

Luke 9:3

³And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.

Luke 10:4

⁴Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.

Jesus exposes the tax trap by distinguishing Caesar's claim from God's.

Read the Scripture Matthew 22:15–22; Mark 12:13–17; Luke 20:20–26

King James Version

Matthew 22:15–22

¹⁵Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
¹⁶And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
¹⁷Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
¹⁸But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
¹⁹Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
²⁰And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
²¹They say unto him, Cæsar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
²²When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

Mark 12:13–17

¹³And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.
¹⁴And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Cæsar, or not?
¹⁵Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.
¹⁶And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Cæsar’s.
¹⁷And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.

Luke 20:20–26

²⁰And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.
²¹And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:
²²Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Cæsar, or no?
²³But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?
²⁴Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Cæsar’s.
²⁵And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which be Cæsar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.
²⁶And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.

Woe to the rich who have already received their consolation.

Read the Scripture Luke 6:24

King James Version

Luke 6:24

²⁴But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.

Woe to those who are full now, because they will hunger.

Read the Scripture Luke 6:25

King James Version

Luke 6:25

²⁵Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

Woe to those who laugh now in self-satisfied ease, because mourning will come.

Read the Scripture Luke 6:25

King James Version

Luke 6:25

²⁵Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

The rich fool teaches that material abundance without readiness before God is folly.

Read the Scripture Luke 12:16–21

King James Version

Luke 12:16–21

¹⁶And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
¹⁷And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
¹⁸And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
¹⁹And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
²⁰But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
²¹So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

The dishonest manager teaches shrewd use of temporary resources with eternity in view without endorsing dishonesty.

Read the Scripture Luke 16:1–9

King James Version

Luke 16:1–9

¹And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
²And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
³Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.
⁴I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
⁵So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?
⁶And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
⁷Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.
⁸And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
⁹And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

The rich man and Lazarus teach the danger of luxurious indifference, postmortem reversal, and the sufficiency of revealed warning.

Read the Scripture Luke 16:19–31

King James Version

Luke 16:19–31

¹⁹There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
²⁰And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
²¹And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
²²And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
²³And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
²⁴And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
²⁵But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
²⁶And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
²⁷Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
²⁸For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
²⁹Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
³⁰And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
³¹And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Jesus had Peter pay the temple tax in an unusual way so as not to cause offense.

Read the Scripture Matthew 17:24–27

King James Version

Matthew 17:24–27

²⁴And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
²⁵He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
²⁶Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
²⁷Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

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What Jesus said about Money, Wealth & Personal Finance

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What Jesus said about Money, Wealth & Personal Finance

A Guide for Real Life