Rich & Poor (sources)

• DICTIONARY: see Rich & Poor
• LIST OF SCHOLARLY AND FICTIONAL WORKS: see Category:Rich & Poor (subject)

Survey of ancient sources on Rich & Poor.

Early Christian sources

Gospel of Mark

Mark.10.21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

Mark.12.42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. Mark.12.43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.

Mark.14.5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. Mark.14.7 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.

Gospel of Matthew

Matt.5.3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matt.6.24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Matt.11.5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

Matt.19.21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

Matt.26.9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” Matt.26.11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.

Gospel of Luke

Luke 1:53 -- [God] has filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent away empty

Luke.4.18 “ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

Luke 6:20,24 -- 20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God... 24 But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.

Luke.7.22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.

Luke.8.14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.

Luke.12.16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, Luke.12.21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Luke.14.12 He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. Luke.14.13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, Luke.14.21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’

Luke.16.1 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions.

Luke.16.11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?

Luke.16.13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Luke.16.19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried,

Luke.18.22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23. But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich... 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

19.2 And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. Luke.19.8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”

Luke 21 -- 1 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.

Gospel of John

John.12.5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” John.12.6 He 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.12.8 The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

John.13.29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.

Paul

Rom.15.26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.

2Cor.6.10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

2Cor.8.9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

2Cor.9.9 As it is written, “ He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

Gal.2.10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

Letter of James

James 2:1-9 -- My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? 2 For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, 3 and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, "Have a seat here, please," while to the one who is poor you say, "Stand there," or, "Sit at my feet," 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? 7 Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you? 8 You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

James 5:1-2 -- [1] Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. [2] Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten.

Revelation of John

Rev 2:9 -- [9] I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

Rev 3:17 -- [17] For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. [18] I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

Rev.6.15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains,

Rev 13:16 -- Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,

Rev.18.3 For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”

Rev.18.19 And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out, “ Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been laid waste.