How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)
Quote #7
Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me. (NRSV 18:22)
[…] sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. (KJV 18:22)
Sure, God will compensate the poor for their miseries in the future, but Jesus also wants people in the here and now to do something.
Quote #8
Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much." (NRSV 19:8)
And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. (KJV 19:8)
Being rich didn't really pay off for Zacchaeus, and now he's trying to backpedal.
Quote #9
He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on." (NRSV 21:1-4)
And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had. (KJV 21:1-4)
Jesus, the Mathlete. And you know, in terms of proportion, he's got a point. And people say religion and logic don't mix.