Trump and Economics in the Gospels - Rich and Poor

As we approach the election we thought we would complete this series on Trump and Economics in the Gospels first begun in 2017.

Much of what the Gospels speak to surrounds the haves, and the have-nots.  References abound both in direct and indirect mentions of the disadvantages the rich will have, and the relative advantages the poor will receive. 

Mark 10:31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Where’s Trump in these passages? Obviously, being poor is not generally associated with him. To the contrary his persona is the opposite: he is rich.

One of the most famous passages of all is Jesus stating what seems the most empirically provable statement he ever uttered.  No matter the economic system this holds true to today.

Matthew 26:11 For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me!
Many times in the Gospels it is stated that the poor will receive a reward in the afterlife. As we move along in Larazus’ story we get more of what the Gospels have to say on the relative situation between rich and poor; it is not a pretty picture.

Luke 16:22 “Now the poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 16:23 And in hell, as he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far off with Lazarus at his side. 16:24 So he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in anguish in this fire.’ 16:25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus likewise bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in anguish.

It’s not all bad for the rich.  There are several instances where rich folk are seen in a good light.

Matthew 27:57 Now when it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. 27:58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered that it be given to him..

But generally, being rich is seen as a disadvantage, as in this famous passage about the camel and fitting through the eye of a needle.

Mark 10:23 Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” 10:24 The disciples were astonished at these words. But again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 10:25 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.” 10:26 They were even more astonished and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” 10:27 Jesus looked at them and replied, “This is impossible for mere humans, but not for God; all things are possible for God.”

And this in Luke…

Luke 6:24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your comfort already.

​Inheritance is one of the predominant themes throughout the entire Bible, and the Gospels are no exception. One might wonder from the following famous passage what the non-meek will inherit.

Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Of course, Trump is famous for an inheritance of a different kind. 

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Here's the full text from the study:
Rich and Poor
Much of what the Gospels speak to surrounds the haves, and the have-nots.  References abound both in direct and indirect mentions of the disadvantages the rich will have, and the relative advantages the poor will receive. 
 
Mark 10:31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

The Gospels have much to say on the topic.  So we’ll let them speak largely for themselves.

Poor (26)

One of the most famous passages of all is Jesus stating what seems the most empirically provable statement he ever uttered.  No matter the economic system this holds true to today.
 
Matthew 26:11 For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me!

There are many stories and several parables that feature the rich and the poor.  Here is one that also features a discussion of actual coinage, wealth, poverty, and offerings.
 
Mark 12:41 Then he sat down opposite the offering box, and watched the crowd putting coins into it. Many rich people were throwing in large amounts. 12:42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, worth less than a penny. 12:43 He called his disciples and said to them, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the offering box than all the others. 12:44 For they all gave out of their wealth. But she, out of her poverty, put in what she had to live on, everything she had.”

Many times in the Gospels it is stated that the poor will receive a reward in the afterlife.
 
Luke 6:20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said:
“Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God belongs to you.

And similarly…
 
Luke 7:22 So he answered them, “Go tell John what you have seen and heard: The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news proclaimed to them.

This passage shows a rather interesting view of how the poor’s plight can be taken advantage of, in this case by Judas planning to steal the money he was urging for the poor. 
 
John 12:2 So they prepared a dinner for Jesus there. Martha was serving, and Lazarus was among those present at the table with him. 12:3 Then Mary took three quarters of a pound of expensive aromatic oil from pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus. She then wiped his feet dry with her hair. (Now the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfumed oil.) 12:4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was going to betray him) said, 12:5 “Why wasn’t this oil sold for three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor?” 12:6 (Now Judas said this not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money box, he used to steal what was put into it.) 12:7 So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She has kept it for the day of my burial. 12:8 For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me!”

 A most graphic illustration of the poor’s condition is the image of Lazarus, though not his raising from the dead.
  
Luke 16:19 “There was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 16:20 But at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus whose body was covered with sores, 16:21 who longed to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. In addition, the dogs came and licked his sores.


Rich and Riches (26)
As we move along in Larazus’ story we get more of what the Gospels have to say on the relative situation between rich and poor; it is not a pretty picture.
 
Luke 16:22 “Now the poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 16:23 And in hell, as he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far off with Lazarus at his side. 16:24 So he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in anguish in this fire.’ 16:25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus likewise bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in anguish. 16:26 Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us, so that those who want to cross over from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ 16:27 So the rich man said, ‘Then I beg you, father – send Lazarus to my father’s house 16:28 (for I have five brothers) to warn them so that they don’t come into this place of torment.’ 16:29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they must respond to them.’ 16:30 Then the rich man said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 16:31 He replied to him, ‘If they do not respond to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

It’s not all bad for the rich.  There are several instances where rich folk are seen in a good light.
 
Matthew 27:57 Now when it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. 27:58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered that it be given to him..

But generally, being rich is seen as a disadvantage, as in this famous passage about the camel and fitting through the eye of a needle.
 
Mark 10:23 Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” 10:24 The disciples were astonished at these words. But again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 10:25 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.” 10:26 They were even more astonished and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” 10:27 Jesus looked at them and replied, “This is impossible for mere humans, but not for God; all things are possible for God.”

And this in Luke…
 
Luke 1:51 He has demonstrated power with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance of their hearts.
1:52 He has brought down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position;
1:53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty.

Luke continues…
 
Luke 6:24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your comfort already.

And…
 
Luke 9:25 For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but loses or forfeits himself?

Looking more positively is this passage where Jesus apparently finds it acceptable that this particular rich guy only needs to give away half of his stuff.  It may have something to do with Jesus having need of a place to stay…
 
Luke 19:1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. 19:2 Now a man named Zacchaeus was there; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. 19:3 He was trying to get a look at Jesus, but being a short man he could not see over the crowd. 19:4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, because Jesus was going to pass that way. 19:5 And when Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, because I must stay at your house today.” 19:6 So he came down quickly and welcomed Jesus joyfully. 19:7 And when the people saw it, they all complained, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 19:8 But Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I now give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone of anything, I am paying back four times as much!” 19:9 Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this household, because he too is a son of Abraham! 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Inherit (6)/Inheritance (4)
Inheritance is one of the predominant themes throughout the entire Bible, and the Gospels are no exception.
 
Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.


Of course, Trump is famous for an inheritance of a different kind. 

The Parable of the Tenants
Matthew 21:33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a pit for its winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went on a journey. 21:34 When the harvest time was near, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his portion of the crop. 21:35 But the tenants seized his slaves, beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 21:36 Again he sent other slaves, more than the first, and they treated them the same way. 21:37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 21:38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and get his inheritance!’ 21:39 So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 21:40 Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 21:41 They said to him, “He will utterly destroy those evil men! Then he will lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his portion at the harvest.”21:42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.