Money, uses of

Monetary transactions have taken place from the earliest biblical times. Originally precious metals were weighed out; coins were introduced later.

The first mention of money

Genesis 17:12

Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised when he is eight days old, including those born in your household and those purchased from a foreigner — even those who are not your offspring.

The use of money

For the purchase and sale of land

Genesis 23:14–15 See also Jeremiah 32:9–10; Matthew 27:7; Acts 4:34, Acts 5:1–2, Acts 7:16

Ephron answered Abraham, “Listen to me, my lord. The land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, but what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.”

For the purchase and sale of food

Genesis 41:57, Genesis 42:5, Genesis 42:35; 2 Kings 7:16; John 6:5, John 6:7; Revelation 6:6

For other merchandise

Revelation 18:11–13 See also Genesis 37:25; James 4:13

And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because there is no one left to buy their cargo — cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; of all kinds of citron wood and every article of ivory, precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; of cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; of wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; of cattle, sheep, horses, and carriages; of bodies and souls of slaves.

For religious offerings

Exodus 30:11–16 See also Numbers 3:44–48; Deuteronomy 12:4–6; 2 Kings 22:4–6 parallel 2 Chronicles 34:9–11; Ezra 7:15–17

Then the LORD said to Moses, “When you take a census of the Israelites to number them, each man must pay the LORD a ransom for his life when he is counted. Then no plague will come upon them when they are numbered. Everyone who crosses over to those counted must pay a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the LORD. Everyone twenty years of age or older who crosses over must give this offering to the LORD. In making the offering to the LORD to atone for your lives, the rich shall not give more than a half shekel, nor shall the poor give less. Take the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting. It will serve as a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD to make atonement for your lives.”

For gifts to the poor

Matthew 26:9 parallels Mark 14:5, John 12:5 See also Acts 3:3

This perfume could have been sold at a high price, and the money given to the poor.”

For wages

Matthew 20:2 See also James 5:4

He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

For investment and moneylending

Matthew 25:27 parallel Luke 19:23 See also Exodus 22:25; Nehemiah 5:10–11; Luke 6:34–35

Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received it back with interest.

For provision for the future

Ecclesiastes 7:12

For the settlement of disputes

Exodus 21:8–11, Exodus 21:35, Exodus 22:15

For taxes

Matthew 17:24 See also 1 Kings 10:15; Nehemiah 5:4; Matthew 22:17–19 parallels Mark 12:15, Luke 20:22–24

After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?”

For tribute money

2 Kings 15:19–20

For the purchase of slaves

Leviticus 22:11

For bribery

Esther 3:9; Matthew 28:12–13; Acts 24:26

Fortune-telling for money

Micah 3:11; Acts 16:16

Blood money

Matthew 27:6

Money changers

Matthew 21:12 parallels Mark 11:15, John 2:14

Then Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves.