Timeline

Criticism of Wealth

The Hebrew Bible and its derivative traditions often portray wealth as a source of moral risk and corruption. Across prophetic, legal, and wisdom texts, riches are frequently associated with pride and false security. This critical stance persists in later Jewish and Christian writings, where wealth is viewed not merely as a neutral possession but as a potential obstacle to humility and faithfulness.

Timeline

Isaiah 2:7 / Matthew 19:23
1. 740–450 BCE
  
  Isaiah 2:7
  
  Hebrew Bible
  
  6 Indeed, O Lord, you have abandoned your people, the descendants of Jacob. For diviners from the east are everywhere; they consult omen readers like the Philistines do. Plenty of foreigners are around. 7 Their land is full of gold and silver; there is no end to their wealth. Their land is full of horses; there is no end to their chariots. 8 Their land is full of worthless idols; they worship the product of their own hands, what their own fingers have fashioned. 9 Men bow down to them in homage, they lie flat on the ground in worship. Don’t spare them! 10 Go up into the rocky cliffs, hide in the ground. Get away from the dreadful judgment of the Lord, from his royal splendor!
2. 70–90 CE
  
  Matthew 19:23
  
  New Testament
  
  21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But when the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he was very rich. 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven! 24 Again I say, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.” 25 The disciples were greatly astonished when they heard this and said, “Then who can be saved?”
Zephaniah 1:18 / Matthew 19:23
1. 600–501 BCE
  
  Zephaniah 1:18
  
  Hebrew Bible
  
  15 That day will be a day of God’s anger, a day of distress and hardship, a day of devastation and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and dark skies, 16 a day of trumpet blasts and battle cries. Judgment will fall on the fortified cities and the high corner towers. 17 I will bring distress on the people and they will stumble like blind men, for they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be poured out like dirt; their flesh will be scattered like manure. 18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s angry judgment. The whole earth will be consumed by his fiery wrath. Indeed, he will bring terrifying destruction on all who live on the earth.”
2. 70–90 CE
  
  Matthew 19:23
  
  New Testament
  
  21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But when the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he was very rich. 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven! 24 Again I say, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.” 25 The disciples were greatly astonished when they heard this and said, “Then who can be saved?”
Psalm 49:16 / James 5:1
1. 600–201 BCE
  
  Psalm 49:16
  
  Hebrew Bible
  
  16 Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich and his wealth multiplies. 17 For he will take nothing with him when he dies; his wealth will not follow him down into the grave. 18 He pronounces this blessing on himself while he is alive: “May men praise you, for you have done well.” 19 But he will join his ancestors; they will never again see the light of day. 20 Wealthy people do not understand; they are like animals that perish.
2. 80–90 CE
  
  James 5:1
  
  New Testament
  
  1 Come now, you rich! Weep and cry aloud over the miseries that are coming on you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your clothing has become moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have rusted and their rust will be a witness against you. It will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have hoarded treasure! 4 Look, the pay you have held back from the workers who mowed your fields cries out against you, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 5 You have lived indulgently and luxuriously on the earth. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.
1 Enoch 94:8 / James 5:1
1. 300 BCE – 100 CE
  
  1 Enoch 94:8
  
  Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses
  
  6 Woe to those who build unrighteousness and oppression and lay deceit as a foundation; for they shall be suddenly overthrown, and they shall have no peace. 7 Woe to those who build their houses with sin; for they shall be overthrown from all their foundations, and they shall fall by the sword. [And those who acquire gold and silver in judgment suddenly shall perish.] 8 Woe to you, you rich, for you have trusted in your riches, and you shall depart from your riches, because you have not remembered the Most High in the days of your riches. 9 You have committed blasphemy and unrighteousness, and have become ready for the day of slaughter, and the day of darkness and the day of the great judgment. 10 Thus I speak and declare to you: He who created you will overthrow you, and for your fall there shall be no compassion, and your Creator will rejoice at your destruction. 11 And your righteous ones in those days shall be a reproach to the sinners and the godless.
2. 80–90 CE
  
  James 5:1
  
  New Testament
  
  1 Come now, you rich! Weep and cry aloud over the miseries that are coming on you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your clothing has become moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have rusted and their rust will be a witness against you. It will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have hoarded treasure! 4 Look, the pay you have held back from the workers who mowed your fields cries out against you, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 5 You have lived indulgently and luxuriously on the earth. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person, although he does not resist you.
1 Enoch 94:7 / Luke 6:24
1. 300 BCE – 100 CE
  
  1 Enoch 94:7
  
  Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses
  
  6 Woe to those who build unrighteousness and oppression and lay deceit as a foundation; for they shall be suddenly overthrown, and they shall have no peace. 7 Woe to those who build their houses with sin; for they shall be overthrown from all their foundations, and they shall fall by the sword. [And those who acquire gold and silver in judgment suddenly shall perish.] 8 Woe to you, you rich, for you have trusted in your riches, and you shall depart from your riches, because you have not remembered the Most High in the days of your riches. 9 You have committed blasphemy and unrighteousness, and have become ready for the day of slaughter, and the day of darkness and the day of the great judgment. 10 Thus I speak and declare to you: He who created you will overthrow you, and for your fall there shall be no compassion, and your Creator will rejoice at your destruction.
2. 75–85 CE
  
  Luke 6:24
  
  New Testament
  
  20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God belongs to you. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject you as evil on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and jump for joy because your reward is great in heaven. For their ancestors did the same things to the prophets. 24 But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your comfort already. 25 Woe to you who are well satisfied with food now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when all people speak well of you, for their ancestors did the same things to the false prophets.
1 Enoch 96:4 / Revelation 3:17
1. 300 BCE – 100 CE
  
  1 Enoch 96:4
  
  Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses
  
  3 Therefore, do not fear, you who have suffered; for healing shall be your portion, and a bright light shall illuminate you, and you shall hear the voice of rest from heaven. 4 Woe to you, sinners, for your riches make you appear like the righteous, but your hearts convict you of being sinners. This fact shall serve as a testimony against you as a memorial of your evil deeds. 5 Woe to you who consume the finest of the wheat and drink wine from large bowls, and trample the lowly with your might. 6 Woe to you who drink water from every fountain, for suddenly you shall be consumed and wither away, because you have forsaken the fountain of life. 7 Woe to you who practice unrighteousness, deceit, and blasphemy: it shall be a memorial against you for evil.
2. 92–96 CE
  
  Revelation 3:17
  
  New Testament
  
  14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God’s creation: 15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot! 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth! 17 Because you say, “I am rich and have acquired great wealth, and need nothing,” but do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked, 18 take my advice and buy gold from me refined by fire so you can become rich! Buy from me white clothing so you can be clothed and your shameful nakedness will not be exposed, and buy eye salve to put on your eyes so you can see! 19 All those I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent!
1 Enoch 96:5 / Luke 12:20
1. 300 BCE – 100 CE
  
  1 Enoch 96:5
  
  Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses
  
  4 Woe to you, sinners, for your riches make you appear like the righteous, but your hearts convict you of being sinners. This fact shall serve as a testimony against you as a memorial of your evil deeds. 5 Woe to you who consume the finest of the wheat and drink wine from large bowls, and trample the lowly with your might. 6 Woe to you who drink water from every fountain, for suddenly you shall be consumed and wither away, because you have forsaken the fountain of life. 7 Woe to you who practice unrighteousness, deceit, and blasphemy: it shall be a memorial against you for evil.
2. 75–85 CE
  
  Luke 12:20
  
  New Testament
  
  16 He then told them a parable: “The land of a certain rich man produced an abundant crop, 17 so he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to myself, “You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 So it is with the one who stores up riches for himself, but is not rich toward God.”
1 Enoch 96:5 / Philippians 3:19
1. 300 BCE – 100 CE
  
  1 Enoch 96:5
  
  Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses
  
  4 Woe to you, sinners, for your riches make you appear like the righteous, but your hearts convict you of being sinners. This fact shall serve as a testimony against you as a memorial of your evil deeds. 5 Woe to you who consume the finest of the wheat and drink wine from large bowls, and trample the lowly with your might. 6 Woe to you who drink water from every fountain, for suddenly you shall be consumed and wither away, because you have forsaken the fountain of life. 7 Woe to you who practice unrighteousness, deceit, and blasphemy: it shall be a memorial against you for evil. 8 Woe to you, mighty ones, who oppress the righteous with your might; for the day of your destruction is coming. In those days, many and good days shall come to the righteous—in the day of your judgment.
2. 56–63 CE
  
  Philippians 3:19
  
  New Testament
  
  17 Be imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and watch carefully those who are living this way, just as you have us as an example. 18 For many live, about whom I have often told you, and now, with tears, I tell you that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, they exult in their shame, and they think about earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven—and we also eagerly await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform these humble bodies of ours into the likeness of his glorious body by means of that power by which he is able to subject all things to himself.
Ecclesiastes 5:13 / 1 Timothy 6:10
1. 300–201 BCE
  
  Ecclesiastes 5:13
  
  Hebrew Bible
  
  10 The one who loves money will never be satisfied with money; he who loves wealth will never be satisfied with his income. This also is futile. 11 When someone’s prosperity increases, those who consume it also increase; so what does its owner gain, except that he gets to see it with his eyes? 12 The sleep of the laborer is pleasant—whether he eats little or much—but the wealth of the rich will not allow him to sleep. 13 Here is a misfortune on earth that I have seen: Wealth hoarded by its owner to his own misery. 14 Then that wealth was lost through bad luck; although he fathered a son, he has nothing left to give him. 15 Just as he came forth from his mother’s womb, naked will he return as he came, and he will take nothing in his hand that he may carry away from his toil.
2. 90–100 CE
  
  1 Timothy 6:10
  
  New Testament
  
  8 But if we have food and shelter, we will be satisfied with that. 9 Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into temptation and a trap and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains. 11 But you, as a person dedicated to God, keep away from all that. Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness.
Tobit 4:8 / Matthew 19:21
1. 225–175 BCE
  
  Tobit 4:8
  
  Deuterocanon
  
  5 My child, be mindful of the Lord all your days, and do not let your will be set to sin and to transgress his commandments: do acts of righteousness all the days of your life, and do not walk in the ways of unrighteousness. 6 For if you do the truth, success shall be in your works, and so it shall be to all that do righteousness. 7 Give alms of your substance: do not turn away your face from any poor man, and the face of God shall not be turned away from you, 8 As your substance is, give alms of it according to your abundance: if you have much, according to the abundance of it, give alms; if you have little bestow it, and do not be afraid to give alms according to that little: 9 for you lay up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity: 10 because alms delivers from death, and does not allow one to come into darkness. 11 Alms is a good offering in the sight of the Most High for all that give it.
2. 70–90 CE
  
  Matthew 19:21
  
  New Testament
  
  16 Now someone came up to him and said, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to gain eternal life?” 17 He said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” he asked. Jesus replied, “Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But when the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he was very rich. 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven!
Testament of Judah 18 / 1 Timothy 6:10
1. 100 BCE – 100 CE
  
  Testament of Judah 18
  
  Pseudepigrapha, Testaments
  
  1 I know the evils you will do in the last days. So beware, my children, of sexual immorality and the love of money, and listen to Judah your father. 2 These things pull you away from the law of God, blind the soul's inclination, and teach arrogance. They keep a man from showing compassion to his neighbor, rob his soul of all goodness, weigh him down with toil and trouble, drive sleep away from him, and consume his body. 3 Such a man hinders the sacrifices of God, forgets the blessing of God, refuses to listen to a prophet when he speaks, and resents words of godliness. 4 For he is a slave to two opposing passions and cannot obey God, because they have blinded his soul, and he walks in the daytime as if it were night.
2. 90–100 CE
  
  1 Timothy 6:10
  
  New Testament
  
  8 But if we have food and shelter, we will be satisfied with that. 9 Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into temptation and a trap and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains. 11 But you, as a person dedicated to God, keep away from all that. Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness.
Onkelos Exodus 18:21 / Matthew 6:24
1. 50–500 CE
  
  Onkelos Exodus 18:21
  
  Targum
  
  20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they must walk and the work that they must do. 21 And you, look out from the whole people for capable men who fear the Lord, men of truth who hate taking mammon; and set them over them as chiefs of thousands, and chiefs of hundreds, and chiefs of fifties, and chiefs of tens. 22 And they shall judge the people at all times; every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge themselves; so they will make it lighter for you and bear it with you.
2. 70–90 CE
  
  Matthew 6:24
  
  New Testament
  
  23 But if your eye is diseased, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing?
Jude 1:11 / Pesachim 119a
1. 60–80 CE
  
  Jude 1:11
  
  New Testament
  
  10 But these men do not understand the things they slander, and they are being destroyed by the very things that, like irrational animals, they instinctively comprehend. 11 Woe to them! For they have traveled down Cain’s path, and because of greed have abandoned themselves to Balaam’s error; hence, they will certainly perish in Korah’s rebellion. 12 These men are dangerous reefs at your love feasts, feasting without reverence, feeding only themselves. They are waterless clouds, carried along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit—twice dead, uprooted;
2. 450–550 CE
  
  Pesachim 119a
  
  Rabbinic
  
  With regard to this matter, Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina said: Joseph hid three treasures in Egypt. One of them was revealed to Korah, one was revealed to Antoninos ben Asveiros, king of Rome, and one is hidden for the righteous in the future. With regard to Korah’s wealth, the Gemara cites the verse: “Riches kept by his owner to his hurt” (Ecclesiastes 5:12). Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: This is the wealth of Korah, which caused him to grow arrogant and lead to his destruction. As it is stated: “And what He did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, son of Reuben; how the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and their tents, and all the sustenance that was at their feet” (Deuteronomy 11:6). Rabbi Elazar said: This is referring to a person’s money that stands him upon his own two feet. Rabbi Levi said: The keys to Korah’s treasuries were a load of three hundred strong white mules, and they were all keys [aklidei] and locks made of leather.
Jude 1:11 / Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 4.25
1. 60–80 CE
  
  Jude 1:11
  
  New Testament
  
  10 But these men do not understand the things they slander, and they are being destroyed by the very things that, like irrational animals, they instinctively comprehend. 11 Woe to them! For they have traveled down Cain’s path, and because of greed have abandoned themselves to Balaam’s error; hence, they will certainly perish in Korah’s rebellion. 12 These men are dangerous reefs at your love feasts, feasting without reverence, feeding only themselves. They are waterless clouds, carried along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit—twice dead, uprooted;
2. 93–94 CE
  
  Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 4.25
  
  Classical
  
  4 Although Moses had foreseen Korah’s slander for some time and was aware that the people had grown agitated, he was not afraid. He was emboldened by the righteousness of his guidance, knowing that Aaron’s priesthood came at God’s command rather than his own indulgence. So he approached the crowd but addressed Korah alone (without speaking to the rest), shouting to him and pointing to the two hundred fifty men: “Korah, you and these here appear fully qualified for this honor, and I do not deny that the entire group could be equally worthy, whether or not they are as wealthy or notable as you. But I did not grant this position to my brother because of wealth, for you exceed both of us in riches, and it was not due to noble ancestry, for we share the same lineage. And it was certainly not brotherly affection, though that too might be a justifiable reason.