Trump & Economics In the Gospels - Dwellings

Chapter 7 - Dwellings

​The Gospels are full of houses.  They are mentioned seemingly at all times and in all books.  The disciples had them.  Jesus’ friends had them, as did his enemies.  Everyone but Jesus himself seemed to have one.

Donald Trump certainly is famous for his dwellings – and achieved much of his wealth through their building. He currently lives in perhaps the most famous house of them all: The White House. Building homes is the family business, though the Trumps have certainly diversified. This particular section of the Trump and the Gospels study seems, therefore, particularly prescient somehow.

From an economics standpoint it would seem pretty obvious that homebuilding, like today, was a cornerstone of economic activity.  As is seen in the chapters on labor and produced goods it is also apparent that tools and jobs were abundant in the home building sector, if you will.

​Lastly, the Gospels never seem to disparage the owner of a home for owning it, as one might expect given the statements that one should sell everything and give to the poor.  Houses seem to be exempt.  Folks gotta live somewhere after all.

​Houses (125)/Home (45)/Residence (8)
Gospel Celebrities’ Houses
Several iconic figures in the Gospels are mentioned specifically as home owners.

Peter’s House
Matthew 8:14 Now when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying down, sick with a fever

Matthew’s House
Matthew 9:10 As Jesus was having a meal in Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Jesus and his disciples

Simon’s House
Luke 7:44 Then, turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house. You gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

Jairus’ House
Luke 8:41 Then a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue, came up. Falling at Jesus’ feet, he pleaded with him to come to his house,

Simon the Leper’s House
Matthew 26:6 Now while Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper,

Lazarus’ House
John 11:20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary was sitting in the house.

Mother Mary
Luke 1:56 So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.

Zechariah’s House
Luke 1:39 In those days Mary got up and went hurriedly into the hill country, to a town of Judah, 1:40 and entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.

House Divided Against Itself
Houses are also mentioned metaphorically time and again in the Gospels as in this famous passage. Quite a potential analogy regarding the present situation of the United States’ populace.
 
Matthew 12:25 Now when Jesus realized what they were thinking, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and no town or house divided against itself will stand.

A Prophet in His Own House
Many can also relate to this seemingly axiomatic phrase. Trump and NYC?
 
Matthew 13:57 And so they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own house.”

Stay Alert – the Owner of the House Will Return
Again, a house is used to make a point allegorically.
 
Mark 13:34 It is like a man going on a journey. He left his house and put his slaves in charge, assigning to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to stay alert. 13:35 Stay alert, then, because you do not know when the owner of the house will return – whether during evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or at dawn –  

No Place To Lay His Head
Quite the opposite of Trump, apparently, Jesus himself had no house of his own.
 
Luke 9:58 Jesus said to him, “Foxes have dens and the birds in the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

All will go to their own home, except Jesus.
 
John 16:32 Look, a time is coming – and has come – when you will be scattered, each one to his own home, and I will be left alone. Yet I am not alone, because my Father is with me.

The Governor’s Residence
Much took place at the Governor’s residence. Trump Tower perhaps?
 
John 18:28 Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the Roman governor’s residence. (Now it was very early morning.) They did not go into the governor’s residence so they would not be ceremonially defiled, but could eat the Passover meal

Household (10)
Households are very important in modern finance, especially as it pertains to taxable entities at the personal level.  In the Gospels households are similarly mentioned as perhaps the most intimate group of importance. The Trump household is constantly deliberated by seemingly the whole of the U.S. electorate, reality TV fans, celebrity watchers, the world, etc., etc., etc.
 
John 4:53 Then the father realized that it was the very time Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live,” and he himself believed along with his entire household.

​And somewhat ominously…
 
Matthew 10:36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.

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