** Are we really commanded to give up all our possessions?

Give up all of your possessions? – a study of NT examples.

Context, context, context, class.

Yeshua first gives a parable to make His point clear.

Luk 12:15 And he [Yeshua] said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Luk 12:16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Luk 12:17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
Luk 12:18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
Luk 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
Luk 12:20 But Elohim said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Luk 12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward Elohim.

This man had enough for himself and then some – but apparently it never crossed his mind to distrubute his excess to the poor, widow, and fatherless.  That is what we are supposed to do with our EXCESS goods and belongings – not ALL our goods and belongings.  This is the proper context to interpret the rest of the speech.  Yeshua never says make yourself a poor beggar, he says do not hoard things and keep them because you are AFRAID that you will need them in the future – when the future gets here, Elohim will provide.

Luk 12:22  And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
Luk 12:23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
Luk 12:24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
Luk 12:25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
Luk 12:26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
Luk 12:27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Luk 12:28 If then Elohim so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Luk 12:29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
Luk 12:30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
Luk 12:31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of Elohim; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

So don’t worry about whether or not you’ll have what you need LATER, instead worry about what you can be doing NOW to help those in need.

Luk 12:33  Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
Luk 12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

This does not say to sell EVERYTHING you own.  It means that if you waste your income collecting cars, or furs, or jewelry, or knicknacks, or any other earthly treasure to collect and hoard, then you are not in Elohim’s will.  Anything you don’t need yourself to live on should be given to the poor.

Some people make it sound as if the early believers were engaged in a big ponzi scheme racket, selling all their shops and businesses and going to live on a commune.  Then, having exhausted all their resources, then having to lure in more and more “members” to keep everyone from starving since they no longer have a means of income for food.  This is an idiotic idea of what life was like.  Income in this era was derived almost exclusively from privately owned farms, shops, and businesses – there was no Toyota plant down the road to go get a job in.  They have to make their own living by farming, manufacturing, selling, and buying – and they didn’t all live out of town in some happy commune.  The fact that believers are continually described as meeting in so-and-so’s house shows that they most certainly did own property and continue to operate their shops, farms, and businesses – otherwise they would ALL have been poor and starving.  This is not good stewardship of their resources.  For an example of good stewardship, go to Proverbs 31.

Give all your possessions? Luke 14

Since some persons here keep insisting on taking texts out of context, let’s analyze Yeshua’s speech in the latter part of Luke chapter 14.

First, we have a parable:

Luk 14:16  Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
Luk 14:17  And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
Luk 14:18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
Luk 14:19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
Luk 14:20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
Luk 14:21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
Luk 14:22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
Luk 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
Luk 14:24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

This is the preface of the comments Yeshua make next.  The moral of the story is clearly not that these people got married, owned fields, or any of that – no, the moral of the story is that they let their worldly concerns interfere with their obligations to Elohim.

Luk 14:25  And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
Luk 14:26  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Some who post from Luke 14 conveniently leaves this passage out of his cut and pastes, but it is part of the context and we need to read the entire passage in context.  So there are two ways to interpret this:

a) Literally – every  man among you needs to walk away from his wife, children, siblings and parents and engage in uninterrupted full time ministry.  Anyone who insists on a literal interpretation of the rest of this speech must also interpret this passage literally.

b) This is hyperbole – a purposeful exaggeration – for the purpose of emphasizing the point of the parable He just told them – not even your close family should interfere with your religious obligations.  This is the OBVIOUS and CORRECT interpretation.

Luk 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

If you’re too afraid of losing your family, your friends, your community, your “church” or too afraid of being different or not following the herd, then you’re putting these things above your faith in Yeshua and your obedience to Elohim.

Luk 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Luk 14:29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
Luk 14:30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

As Yeshua says elsewhere – he didn’t come to bring peace, but a sword.  You have to put your obedience to Elohim and your Faith in Yeshua first, ahead of everything else, even if it does mean you have to sacrifice.

Luk 14:31  Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
Luk 14:32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

A parallelism to the immediately previous illustration.

Luk 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

As above, there are two ways to interpret this verse:

a) Out of context and uber literally – so get rid of all of your personal possessions immediately – and that means ALL personal possessions, your car, your computer, your dishes, your furniture, etc.  All means all.  So you must sell everything and enter full time ministry as a traveling vagabond, because you have to forsake all that you have.

b) IN CONTEXT – not denying that yes, if it becomes necessary, you must be willing to abandon your possessions – much in the way pre-holocaust people left houses full of goods and shops full of merchandise and fled for their lives.  You cannot elevate your possessions above listening to what the Ruach HaKodesh tells you to do.  But the vast majority of the time we are not called to become homeless wandering vagabonds doing itinerant missionary work with no income or support.

Luk 14:34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
Luk 14:35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

If you are too narrow minded about interpreting scripture, then you have lost your salt – and you certainly cannot insist that one phrase in a contextual passage be interpreted literally while the rest do not.  So you can’t have it both ways – hate your family (which obviously violates other passages of the writings of the talmidim, which say clearly to LOVE your spouse and HONOR your parents) and sell everything you own OR be sure and put your service to Elohim first and foremost in your life.

I don’t think any intelligent person here thinks Yeshua meant to literally hate your family, so he obviously didn’t mean you have to literally not own a single thing.

I once had a person protest that the early followers of Yeshu must have been “sharing land” and that’s how they didn’t all become destitute. They insist on the “happy commune” story.

The tax rolls of the roman government prove they weren’t “sharing land.”  The governments of that time had no concept of the idea of “sharing land.”  Somebody owes taxes on that land – an individual somebody who can be thrown into jail if they didn’t pay.  Even synagogues were built on private land in those days.  I believe there is mention of this in the Brit Chadashah – a certain gentile built a synagogue for them.

Luk 7:2  And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.
Luk 7:3  And when he heard of Yeshua, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
Luk 7:4  And when they came to Yeshua, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:
Luk 7:5  For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.

Also, this idea of selling all your property was clearly not taught by Yeshua during his lifetime. There are numerous examples of him visiting private homes, even the private homes of his own disciples, and no mention is ever made of him telling them to sell them.

Mar 1:29  And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John…

Why didn’t Yeshua tell Simon and Andrew’s father to sell his house if that was his commandment to all his followers?

Luk 4:38 And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.

Why didn’t Yeshua rebuke Simon Peter for owning a home?

Yeshua didn’t rebuke the man with the “upper room,” either.  Etc., etc.  If this really was a teaching of Yeshua’s, then you have to show that he applied it himself, and that it was applied consistently to all his followers.  Neither burden of proof can be met.

Possessions again Acts 2

This passage in the book of Acts takes place AFTER the death of Yeshua.  Therefore it is clear that the apostles had by this time LEARNED the proper context and teaching of Yeshua in that proper context.  Yeshua in his parables in Luke told them to sell their EXCESS goods and give to the poor, not to hoard things or money because they are worried about the future.  The apostles put this teaching into practice, by asking new believers to sell their goods in order to provide for the poor.

Act 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Act 2:43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
Act 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
Act 2:45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
Act 2:46  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Act 2:47  Praising Elohim, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

NOTICE CLASS:  “breaking bread from house to house”

They did NOT sell their homes and businesses, their farms and shops.  They sold things they didn’t need to live on to make sure other people in the community had what THEY needed to live on.

AGAIN NOTICE, on a somewhat unrelated note:  “they continued to meet daily with one accord at the Temple.”

What?  If they weren’t “Jewish” anymore, why where they going there?  Wasn’t all that old stuff done away with?

Nope.  They worshipped in Jewish worship according to Jewish commandments in the place of Jewish relationships with Elohim and learned Jewish Torah – every day at about 5am – the daily Sacharit service.  Then they “broke bread” at someone’s house to meet for breakfast.  And in the evening, dusk, at Ma’ariv, they did it again, then went to someone’s house to meet and eat dinner.

This is very, very plain.  They went to the Temple to worship and to learn “Moshe” – the Torah.  Then they met together to eat and talk and take care of the business of the believing community (ie collecting alms, etc.).  Between the morning and evening Tamid they worked all day.  After the evening meeting of the bretheren they went back to their privately owned homes and slept.  There is no happy commune living away from Judaism here – none at all.  They were practicing Judaism daily, not trying to get away from it.

Still more possessions Acts 4-5

Again, the apostles had learned halacha from Yeshua and knew that people who had excess possessions were to sell them and provide for the needy among them.  Wealthy persons who owned multiple tracts of land also became believers occasionally.

Act 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
Act 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
Act 4:34  Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
Act 4:35  And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
Act 4:36  And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
Act 4:37  Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

This does not say they sold everything they owned – it has already been proven that they continued to own homes and shops and farms and businesses to provide livings for themselves and the poor among them.

All this proves is that the wealthy who had far more than they needed were able to sell land and houses in order to supply the needs of the widows, the fatherless, and the elderly.

Act 5:1  But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
Act 5:2  And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Act 5:3  But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Ruach HaKodesh, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Act 5:4  Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto Elohim.
Act 5:5  And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
Act 5:6  And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
Act 5:7  And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
Act 5:8  And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
Act 5:9  Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of Adonai? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
Act 5:10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

We see clearly that Peter told them they had no obligation to sell the property – it was theirs to administer as they chose.  What they died for was Lying about the price they had sold the property, and for breaking their vow to Elohim.

Think about this, class.  They did exactly what the parables in Luke told by Yeshua taught should not be done – FEARING for the future and therefore hoarding something.  They lied about the price they sold the property for because they were afraid to give over all the money, thinking they might need it in the future.  Elohim said not to worry about the future.

NOW, CLASS, THIS IS IMPORTANT so listen up.  Not only did they tell a lie, but they violated the Torah:

Num 30:2  If a man vow a vow unto Adonai, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

Clearly, they were in violation of Torah when they claimed to have vowed the entire price of the excess land they sold, but then held back part of the proceeds.

Deu 23:21 When thou shalt vow a vow unto Adonai thy Elohim, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for Adonai thy Elohim will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.
Deu 23:22 But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.
Deu 23:23  That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto Adonai thy Elohim, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.

As it says here plainly, they were NOT obligated to give the land, but having SAID they would do so, it became a binding vow and they were liable to Elohim for failing to uphold their vow.

And sin is the transgression of the Torah. (1 John 3)
And grace is not license for sin (Romans 6)

THEREFORE, GRACE IS NOT LICENSCE FOR TRANSGRESSING THE TORAH.

And, the wages of sin is death. (gospel of john 3)

THEREFORE, THE WAGES OF TRANSGRESSING THE TORAH IS DEATH.

All things in common in this day and age

I have yet to see any christian church that doesn’t have a parking lot full of expensive cars they don’t need, women wearing all sorts of jewelry they don’t need, expensive designer clothes when no-label stuff would do fine, vacations to here, there and everywhere, “collections” of china knick-knacks, dolls, stuffed toys, and all sorts of other things…  Tens of thousands of dollars worth of “stuff” using money that would have been much better spent helping the poor either in their own congregation or in their community in general.   In truth, the orthodox Jewish community is a lot closer to the idea than the churches are.

Anciently, it is clear that the apostles took up collections for the poor and gave them money for what they needed – in those days only the super-rich had more clothes, furniture, dishes, etc. than they actually needed.  Household goods were simple.

The question we have to ask ourselves today is just how to define “all things in common.”  The anabaptists apparently define it as having the religious cult be the legal property owner of all things, but the more likely correct interpretation is that all families in the sect should have the same types of amenities socially – what “socialism” was truly supposed to be in the first place.  In this day and age, it would mean making sure every member family had a car, had a computer and internet, had their water and electricity and phone bills up to date.  It would mean making sure everyone has a vacuum, a washing machine and a dryer, and maybe even an automatic dishwasher.  To have “all things in common” is to completely eliminate jealousy and envy by making sure every family has what every other family has.

What you “need” to live in this day and age and be part of a community is far different than it was 2000 years ago.  Today, in order for both kids and adults to be minimally educated, trained, function and be able to make a living in the world, the requirements are different.  That might mean you need to “tutor” member children who aren’t doing well in school, or even “tutor” adults whose academic skills are lacking for whatever reason, teach computer skills, etc. for free to members of your congregation.

It means when someone is overwhelmed, or old, or sick, then you need to go to their home and do their chores for them- again for free.  It means your members need to take care of painting and maintaining the yards of the elderly, doing odd jobs for each other so no one has to spend money on plumbers or electricians or carpenters if there are members of the assembly who can do these things for their fellows in their spare time.  A real congregation should do things for each other so that no one has to skimp on groceries due to having to pay the HVAC guy – odds are there should be an HVAC guy in your congregation.  This is what was meant by “all things in common.”  Whatever things, skills, and services you can do you should do for free to any member of your assembly.  Whatever excess you have is given to the poor and needy. Nobody should waste money on status symbols.

And I have yet to see any church do these things.