A troubling Bible verse see ? below?

Question

In the book of Matthew Jesus says to sell all you have and give your possesions to the poor. When I heard this as a child this troubled me and still does and My Dad said when I aksed him about it that in this day and age it is hard to do that being he had a large family.

Does that verse apply to today? Does God want us to sell all we have and give to the Poor?

The reason I ask is I realize God owns everything and we are just stewards but I am uable to comply with that verse because we have bills to pay and as of now I am not working.

What was the message our Lord was trying to say in this verse?

Answer 1

One of the things that Yashua was getting across is that materialism can get in the way of following God, as others have shown.

The disciples who followed Yashua during His earthly ministry had already given up much of their wealth and lively hood to travel with Him.

This is a mindset that we must have to truly follow the Messiah. The willingness to let go of everything we own or hold dear at a moment's notice to follow if He calls.

God does not expect you to sell everything you own. He knows that you are out of work and need to pay bills.

God just wants you to understand that He is to be first in your life.

I hope you get back to work soon!

Answer 2

Mother Theresa put it best when a wealthy person tried to donate a guaranteed large sum of money scheduled to arrive every year for her to help the sisters work for the poor. She politely turned the donor away. The reason why was because she realized the blessings of God that always came when she really needed it and did not want the sisters to depend on man but to depend on God with great faith that never failed them. A guaranteed amount of money may look lovely but in the long run they will recieve less because they would expect it and no longer feel the need to rely on God. The same applies to the poor in these times and to all those who help the poor. Give a portion of your blessings but not all of your blessings in life. Take care of the poor but also give them the opportunity to grow in faith so God can take care of them. Not you.

Answer 3

Jesus knew the young ruler He was talking to, put money ahead of everything, He told the one that wanted to go bury his father, to leave everything behind. He asks different things of different people....what do you make more important than Him? He won't ever ask for what you don't have? I gave up family and friends to go spend 8 1/2 years in ministry....and now I'm in a place where I have family and friends, it turned out that was only for a time. You give things to the Lord and He surprises you and you turn around and find He's giving you something you never expected.

Answer 4

I believe Jesus was talking to those who were following Him then...when the word needed to be spread by foot and mouth. Today, we have TV, books, movies - the Internet. You should tithe 10% of what you have and to lend a hand when someone is in need. Even when God is talking about "feeding the hungry", He is talking about the spiritually hungry. Sow seeds of the word. God doesn't expect you to live poor in the streets. He knows that, today, no one would take you seriously if you did and preached His word. Just don't idolize your possessions more than you idolize God and continue spreading the word and tithing to where ever you are taught and you should be fine.

Answer 5

This applies to those who take on the vow of poverty. Many do not know Jesus was a MONK (Egyptian Therapuet, now called the Essenes). Monks take the vow of poverty amongst other vows and much of what Jesus taught had to do with the order he was part of. This order had many Jewish converts who are the same ones that wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls found in caves around Qumran......All one needs do is cross reference all Jesus taught with this order BUT many who know the truth KNOW that to do so would prove Jesus was NOT of the Jewish faith THUS destroying centuries of manmade doctrines Christians believe and have built this religion. Can you imagine the MONEY that has gone into all the buildings built to this religion and what it would mean if all of a sudden "someone" were to expose these doctrines as FALSE. Why do you think there was such a thing as the Crusades and the Inquisition?

Answer 6

if it's the scripture in Matthew 19:21 about the rich young ruler, let me show you what I believe is the answer, you have to read the whole story.
1. the young ruler came and called Jesus good, Jesus said why do you call me good. why do you think Jesus ask him that? I think because Jesus knew his heart and in the young rulers heart he was self righteous..let me explain why.

2. next Jesus said to him you know the commandments, and named a few, when the young ruler asked what must I do. the young rulers reply wasn't Lord who can keep the commandments (for we know no one can) it was; "this have I done since I was a child" I think Jesus was trying to bring him to the realty that he needed a Savior, but he was so self righteous he missed it. when the young ruler proclaimed how good he was at keeping the commandments,

3. then Jesus replied " 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.(well the young ruler was claiming to be perfect)
he left sad because he was rich and this had a hold on him.
so..I think it means rich or poor we need Jesus,
if Jesus would have said to me keep the commandments, when I ask what must I do, I would have said Lord that's impossible. so I think the Lord knew his heart and was trying to bring him to repentance.

Answer 7

Jesus was implying that God must occupy first place in a person's life. The reason He answered in that fashion to the rich, young ruler, is that He knew riches was keeping this young man from salvation. How ironic that Jesus never told the young man he would be poor if he followed His advice. He told him that he would have riches in eternity.

Answer 8

I believe He was talking to the rich young ruler. When the young man said he obeyed all of the law, then Jesus said this. The man left sad. This proves that the man loved possessions (money) more than the Lord. It wouldn't work to sell all we had... then we would need to be cared for.

Answer 9

Give what you can. I also think it's about not growing materialistic. Don't rely on your possessions, and be ready to give anything away if it's going to better serve someone else. Jesus didn't command that we starve, and I'm sure he doesn't want us to leave our kids uncared for, either.

Also keep in mind what Our Lord told us about worrying about material goods. Don't bother. Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all of that will be given to you.

Answer 10

If you are referring to Matthew 19:21, notice that Jesus did not tell ALL of the rich people that he met to give all that they had to the poor; he only told a specific rich person to do this. In case you think that I am just making this up, notice that Jesus meets rich Zacchaeus in Luke chapter 19, but he asks Zacchaeus for nothing more than 1 nights room & board (At dinner, Zacchaeus voluntarily offers only 1/2 of his possessions to the poor, and Jesus accepts. Luke19:8,9).

Jesus seemed to give different tests to different people to see how committed they really were. Some people were asked to give up their lives. Some had to give up their family and friends. And one person was asked to become poor. It appears that each person had a different calling.

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16 Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
17 "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."

18 "Which ones?" the man inquired.

Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.' "


20 "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"

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."

22When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"

26Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

27Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"

28Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
~Matthew 19 (NIV)

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In case you still don't believe me, try reading 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 & 9:1-15 and see what you think of what Paul is trying to say to this church.