Dividing the Inheritance 

As the apostles baptized new believers during the Perean Mission in late January 30 CE, Jesus conversed with those who stayed behind. A young man approached and asked, "Master, my father died, leaving much property to me and my brother, but my brother refuses to give me my share. Will you tell him to divide the inheritance with me?" Mildly indignant that the young man would raise such a material issue, Jesus responded, "Man, who made me a divider over you? Why do you think I deal with worldly matters?" Turning to the crowd, Jesus warned, "Beware of greed; life is not about the abundance of possessions. True happiness doesn’t come from wealth, and joy doesn’t spring from riches. While wealth itself is not a curse, the love of it often blinds the soul to the spiritual kingdom and the joys of eternal life."

To further illustrate his point, Jesus told a story of a rich man who, after gaining great wealth, built bigger barns to store his goods and live a life of ease. However, this man was foolish; while he stored material wealth, he neglected his spiritual life. One night, thieves broke into his house, killed him, and after looting his barns, they set fire to what was left. The remaining property caused his heirs to fight among themselves. This man stored up wealth on earth but was not rich in God's eyes.

He addressed the young man’s issue, explaining that his real problem was covetousness and that he, Jesus, never interfered in material affairs, not even for his apostles.

After Jesus finished his story, another man asked whether having wealth was sinful, referencing the apostles’ communal lifestyle. Jesus clarified, "It is not a sin to possess honest wealth, but it becomes a sin when wealth consumes your interests and diverts your devotion from spiritual pursuits. There’s a difference between selfish wealth and that which is used for the greater good. Many of you are fed and housed because generous individuals have given funds to your host, David Zebedee, for such purposes."

Jesus reminded them that wealth is temporary and warned against allowing it to obscure spiritual vision. He did not teach nor approve of improvidence (wastefulness), idleness, indifference to providing the physical necessities for one’s family, or dependence upon alms. But he did teach that the material and temporal must be subordinated to the welfare of the soul and the progress of the spiritual nature in the kingdom of heaven. "Fail not to recognize the danger of wealth becoming not your servant, but your master."

After the crowd dispersed to watch the baptisms, the young man returned, feeling Jesus had been harsh. Jesus reiterated, "Why focus on earthly inheritance when you could feed upon the bread of life? Jewish laws will ensure fairness; my role is to guide you toward your heavenly inheritance." He quoted Scripture to emphasize the dangers of covetousness and sent the young man away with the words, "What shall it profit you if you gain the whole world but lose your soul?"

When someone nearby asked about the wealthy at judgment, Jesus replied, "I have come to judge neither the rich nor the poor, but everyone will be judged by their lives. Those with great wealth must answer three questions: How much wealth did you accumulate? How did you acquire it? How did you use it?"

After these teachings, Jesus went to rest, and the apostles, upon completing the baptisms, joined him, though he was already asleep.