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Summary
- The Gospels record no request by Jesus for money and no payment for his preaching or healing; he told the Twelve, “freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8).
- Before his ministry Jesus worked as a carpenter (Mark 6:3), and his family’s temple offering of two birds was the one the law allowed for those who could not afford a lamb (Luke 2:24; Leviticus 12:8).
- Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna and “many others” supported Jesus and the Twelve from their own means (Luke 8:1–3).
- Judas Iscariot kept the group’s purse, which paid for food and gifts to the poor (John 12:6; 13:29).
- Jesus paid the temple tax (Matthew 17:24–27) and approved of tithing while saying justice, mercy and faith matter more (Matthew 23:23).
Bibliography (Click to show)
- Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (1611), text of Project Gutenberg eBook no. 10 (Leviticus 12:8; 27:30; Numbers 18:21; Exodus 30:13–16; Malachi 3:10; Matthew 4:13; 6:19–24; 8:20; 10:8–10; 13:55; 17:24–27; 20:2; 22:17–21; 23:23; 25:14–30; 26:15; 27:3–7, 57–60; Mark 1:29–31; 6:3, 8, 37; 10:21–25; 11:15–17; 12:41–44; 14:3–8; Luke 2:24; 3:1, 23; 7:36–50; 8:1–3; 9:58; 10:7, 38; 11:42; 12:15–21; 15:8–9; 19:5–9; 22:36; John 2:13–16; 4:8; 12:1–7; 13:29; 19:39; Acts 20:35; 1 Corinthians 9:14, 18; 16:2). https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10
- SBL Greek New Testament, Mark 6:3; Matthew 17:24; 20:2; 22:19; Luke 8:3; John 12:6. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+6:3%3BMatthew+17:24%3BMatthew+20:2%3BLuke+8:3%3BJohn+12:6&version=SBLGNT and https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22:19&version=SBLGNT
- English Standard Version, Matthew 17:24–27 (section heading “The Temple Tax”) and Luke 8:3. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+17:24-27&version=ESV and https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+8:3&version=ESV
- “Jesus.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jesus
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd ed. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1997. Paragraph 2043. https://www.vatican.va/content/catechism/en/part_three/section_one/chapter_three/article_3/ii_the_precepts_of_the_church.html
- Southern Baptist Convention. The Baptist Faith and Message 2000, article XIII, “Stewardship.” https://bfm.sbc.net/bfm2000/
- Doctrine and Covenants 119:4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/119?lang=eng
