Difficult Questions: Was Jesus Poor?

From time to time, we dig into Scripture and seek answers to difficult questions from the Bible. Today, we are asking the question: “Was Jesus poor?”

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. II Corinthians 8:9 (KJV) emphasis mine

Was Jesus poor? The answer is NO, and it is also YES. In actuality, He was not poor; He was very well to do throughout His life and earthly ministry. Yet, He was also poor at one particular time. As the Scripture tells us, He BECAME poor.

Jesus was rich in heaven before He came to earth, and while He was on earth, He was still prosperous. He lived in a house that was His own. He supported His 12 closest disciples and their families, plus He provided for the 70 followers that are also mentioned in the Gospels. A poor man cannot do this. He had a treasurer (Judas Iscariot) to handle the finances and to distribute to those in need. Poor people do not have someone to keep track of their money because they have very little of it to track. Also, if He was poor, He would have had nothing to give to others. You can only give what you have. His clothes were finely made and expensive- so much so that the soldiers at His crucifixion gambled for them. A poor man can’t afford such nice clothes. So, if the Bible says that Jesus became poor, when was this?

When Jesus died on the cross, He became poor. He became poor in our place in every respect. He took our poverty, sins, sickness- all the curse that was upon mankind was laid upon Him when He became a sin offering. He took our sins to make us righteous. He took our sickness to make us whole. He took our poverty to make us rich. He took all of the curse and gave us the blessing. This is called the great exchange. God became man to make mankind the children of God.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:…. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Ephesians 1:3, 7 (KJV)

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (KJV)

Now and forever, we will share in all of Christ’s riches and treasures in heaven. Ephesians 1:7 mentions the riches of His grace, and Philippians 4:19 mentions the riches of His glory. Therefore, we know that there are riches to be found in His grace and in His glory. We can believe and ask to receive them. We can give to reap them. Jesus was not poor, but He became poor at Calvary so we could partake in His great wealth.