Recently, a statement by Pastor David Ibiyeomie of Salvation Ministries was the talk of the Christian community. It forced debates, outcry, and outrage from the Body of Christ in Nigeria and average Nigerians grappling under the yoke of poverty.
According to Ibiyeomie, Jesus did not visit any poor person because He hates the poor and poverty. But does Jesus hate the poor?
His statement is not just an attack on the personalities of people who are underprivileged in society but something that truly affects the personality of God as revealed by Jesus. For him to claim that Jesus, the Son of God, who embodied love and compassion, hated poor people or didn’t visit any poor person is not something that can be easily thrown under the carpet.
Sadly, he drew up some scriptures to back up his claims but they weren’t valid statements.
You see, The Gospels all paint a picture of Jesus actively engaging with individuals from all walks of life and there was a particular interest in those who were “poor” in the society. In fact, one of the deepest prophecies about Jesus is found in Luke 4:18 where the Bible says “The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor..”
So, this same Jesus who said He was anointed to preach the Gospel to the poor now hates them?
To suggest He deliberately avoided the poor due to hatred is not only biblically inaccurate but also profoundly misrepresents His character and mission.
If Jesus Hated Poverty, He Wouldn’t Have Been Born to Mary and Joseph
Let us first consider the circumstances of Jesus’ own birth. Born to Mary, a woman of humble means, The birth of Jesus was anything but opulence. I grew up in a poor family but my parents could afford to give birth to I and my three siblings in one of the finest hospitals in Minna, Niger State.
The lack of a suitable place to stay resulted in His birth in a stable (Luke 2:7). This foundational event itself speaks volumes. The King of Kings chose to enter the world not in a palace, but in the simplicity and perhaps even poverty of a stable. This act of humility sets the stage for understanding His subsequent interactions with the less fortunate.
He could easily have been born in Pilate’s or Herod’s house. I would have done that myself.
The Sermon on the Mount: A Blessing for the Poor
One of Jesus’ most significant teachings, the Sermon on the Mount (recorded in both Matthew 5-7 and Luke 6), directly addresses the poor. In Luke’s account, Jesus begins with the powerful declaration: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:20). This is not a condemnation or a statement of hatred, but rather a pronouncement of blessing and a recognition of their place in God’s kingdom. How can one read these words of Jesus and still say that Jesus hated the poor?
You are either trying to steal people’s money or you are simply heretic.
Jesus’s Ministry was Nearly Only to the Poor
When you read The Gospels, you will see several instances and cases where Jesus reached out to the less privileged of the society. Think about the countless accounts of healing: the blind beggars crying out for mercy, the lepers ostracized and living in destitution, and those afflicted with illnesses that would have rendered them unable to work and dependent on charity. Jesus didn’t turn away from their suffering; He actively intervened, offering healing and restoration.
Think of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar (Mark 10:46-52), or the woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:25-34), likely impoverished by her condition and the cost of seeking ineffective treatments. Jesus saw their need and responded with compassion, restoring their health and dignity. These acts of healing were not limited to the wealthy or influential; they extended to those most vulnerable in society.
If we compared Jesus’s ministry to the poor vs the rich, you will agree that Jesus clearly loved the poor more than the rich. Otherwise, he would have pitched his camp in the palaces and high places of the Earth at the time.
Backlashes to the Rich
Jesus’s teachings that addressed the rich was hardly with comfort unlike the times He addressed the poor. While He is saying “Blessed are the poor..” See what He says about the rich:
Matthew 19:23-24: “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.'” (Similar accounts in Mark 10:23-25 and Luke 18:24-25).
The scripture above proves that being wealthy can be a potential hindrance to accessing spiritual things.
He Choose His Disciples from the Poor
Jesus chose His disciples from ordinary walks of life. Many were fishermen, individuals who likely lived a simple and perhaps even financially precarious existence. He didn’t surround himself solely with the wealthy or powerful. His inner circle included those who understood the challenges of daily labor and the uncertainties of life and if nothing shows His connection with the common person, I wonder what does.
Final Blow?
I think the final argument to dissolve the notion that Jesus hated poor people has to be His teachings in Matthew 25:31-46. Here, Jesus describes the final judgment and how individuals are going to be commended or condemned based on their actions towards the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned – which are all characteristics of the poor.
He explicitly states, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40).
How could Jesus command such service if He harbored hatred for the very people He calls “the least of these”?
If Jesus hates poor people why would He condemned people for not liking them? That does not make any sense and that is because He doesn’t.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the claim that Jesus did not visit the poor because He hated them lacks scriptural basis and fundamentally misunderstands the heart of Jesus’ ministry. The Gospels show us a Savior who identified with the humble, ministered to the marginalized, healed the sick regardless of their social standing, and taught his followers to care for those in need. His words and actions demonstrate a profound love and compassion for all, especially those who were vulnerable and impoverished.
To suggest otherwise is to ignore the overwhelming evidence within the biblical narrative and to create a distorted image of the Son of God. As followers of Christ, we are called to emulate His love and compassion, particularly towards the poor and needy, a calling that directly contradicts the idea that Jesus Himself held them in disdain.
Let the basis for our understanding of Jesus be founded in the Bible and not what some pastor says about Him.