Liberality: Christ Set an Example of
Jump to: Torrey'sLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
Liberality, in the context of Christian teaching, refers to the generous and open-handed giving of oneself, one's resources, and one's love to others. The life and ministry of Jesus Christ provide the ultimate example of liberality, as He consistently demonstrated selfless giving and compassion throughout His earthly ministry.

Generosity in Teaching and Miracles

Jesus' liberality is evident in His teachings and miracles. He freely shared the message of the Kingdom of God with all who would listen, regardless of their social status or background. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught about the blessings of giving, saying, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you" (Luke 6:38). This teaching underscores the principle that generosity begets generosity, a truth that Jesus Himself embodied.

In His miracles, Jesus displayed liberality by providing for the physical needs of the people. The feeding of the five thousand is a prime example, where Jesus took five loaves and two fish, blessed them, and distributed them to the multitude, ensuring that everyone had enough to eat (Matthew 14:13-21). This miracle not only met the immediate needs of the people but also illustrated the abundance of God's provision through Christ.

Sacrificial Giving

The ultimate act of liberality demonstrated by Christ is His sacrificial death on the cross. Jesus willingly gave His life for the salvation of humanity, an act of unparalleled generosity and love. As the Apostle Paul writes, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9). This verse highlights the self-emptying nature of Christ's sacrifice, where He set aside His divine privileges to offer redemption to mankind.

Compassion and Mercy

Throughout His ministry, Jesus showed liberality through acts of compassion and mercy. He healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, and forgave the sins of those who sought His mercy. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus illustrated the importance of showing mercy and generosity to others, regardless of their identity or circumstances (Luke 10:25-37). This parable serves as a call for believers to emulate Christ's example of liberality in their own lives.

Encouragement to Follow His Example

Jesus encouraged His followers to practice liberality in their own lives. In Matthew 25:35-40, He taught that acts of kindness and generosity towards others are, in fact, acts of service to Him: "For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in" (Matthew 25:35). This teaching emphasizes that true discipleship involves a commitment to serving others with the same liberality that Christ demonstrated.

In summary, the life and teachings of Jesus Christ provide a profound example of liberality. His generous spirit, sacrificial love, and compassionate actions serve as a model for believers to follow, encouraging them to live lives marked by generosity and selflessness.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might be rich.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Christ Teaching Liberality
... these is the"LESSON OF LIBERALITY"here set before us. ... if we have not the Spirit of
Christ in this ... This, then, is the lesson of liberality that Jesus taught ...
/.../newton/the life of jesus christ for the young/christ teaching liberality.htm

The Ordinances of the New Testament.
... The first is that of a Christ commissioned preacher by the ... But this great liberality
finds no warrant in the Word ... The Lord did not set the example in all these ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter viii the ordinances of.htm

Christ's Sermon on the Mount in Manner and Contents it So ...
... "What mean ye that ye set fire to ... promises of the Creator were earthly, but that
Christ's are heavenly ... god), who has never given proof of his liberality by any ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xiv christs sermon on the.htm

Letter Lxxix. To Salvina.
... who believed that he must soon go to meet Christ. ... [2402] Daniel and the three children
were set over the ... that I praise Nebridius only for his liberality in alms ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lxxix to salvina.htm

A Liberal Church
... grain when the wheat was threshed, were set apart for ... prosperity is closely bound
up with Christian liberality. The followers of Christ should rejoice in the ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 32 a liberal church.htm

Works and Letters of St. Ambrose
... Due measure must be observed in liberality, that it may not ... to mourning and confession
of sins for Christ is moved ... The life of Mary is set before virgins as an ...
//christianbookshelf.org/ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/

Faustus Rejects the Old Testament Because it Leaves no Room for ...
... The liberality of Christ has made us indifferent to the ... to the love of God thou dost
entirely set aside ... If he declares in praise of Christ that He showed false ...
/.../faustus rejects the old testament.htm

Epistle xxiv. To Moyses and Maximus and the Rest of the Confessors ...
... the battle of our day, have set forward the ... shed forth His condescension in manifold
kinds of liberality. ... proved servants of God and Christ's soldiers crowned. ...
/.../cyprian/the epistles of cyprian/epistle xxiv to moyses and.htm

What 'the Gospel' Is
... Let no false liberality lead us to lose sight of the ... which are made in this phrase
for the set of facts ... the gospel.' The life and death of Jesus Christ for the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/what the gospel is.htm

Introductory
... come across the Atlantic the second time for a lecturer, and the liberality of mind ...
I believe in it, because Christ Himself set His stamp on it ... "Christ," says St ...
/.../stalker/the preacher and his models/lecture i introductory.htm

Resources
Liberality: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Liberality

Liberality in Antioch (Of Syria)

Liberality in Corinth

Liberality in Jerusalem

Liberality in Macedonia

Liberality in Philippi

Liberality: Araunah

Liberality: Araunah for Sacrifice

Liberality: Artaxerxes

Liberality: Asa and Abijam

Liberality: Barnabas

Liberality: Barzillai

Liberality: Barzillai and Others to David

Liberality: Blessings Connected With

Liberality: Boaz

Liberality: Characteristic of Saints

Liberality: Christ Set an Example of

Liberality: Christians

Liberality: Church of Antioch

Liberality: Cornelius

Liberality: Cyrus

Liberality: Darius

Liberality: David

Liberality: Dorcas

Liberality: Elisha Toward Elijah

Liberality: Exercise of, Provokes Others To

Liberality: Exhortations To

Liberality: Extraordinary - Exemplified: Churches of Macedonia

Liberality: Extraordinary - Exemplified: Israelites

Liberality: Extraordinary - Exemplified: Poor Widow

Liberality: General Scriptures Concerning

Liberality: God Never Forgets

Liberality: Hezekiah

Liberality: Israelites at the Erection of the Tabernacle

Liberality: Israelites' offerings for the Temple

Liberality: Jacob

Liberality: Jehoshaphat

Liberality: Jews

Liberality: Jews After the Captivity

Liberality: Joab to David

Liberality: Joanna

Liberality: Joash and his People

Liberality: Job

Liberality: Josiah

Liberality: Judah

Liberality: King of Sodom to Abraham

Liberality: Labour to be Enabled to Exercise

Liberality: Lack of a Proof of not Having Faith

Liberality: Lack of a Proof of not Loving God

Liberality: Lack of Brings Many a Curse

Liberality: Lydia

Liberality: Manasseh

Liberality: Mary Magdalene

Liberality: Nebuzaradan

Liberality: Nehemiah

Liberality: Paul

Liberality: People of Melita (Malta) to Paul

Liberality: Pharaoh to Joseph's People

Liberality: Pleasing to God

Liberality: Princes of Israel

Liberality: Promises To

Liberality: Queen of Sheba to Solomon

Liberality: Reubenites

Liberality: Samuel

Liberality: should be Exercised in Forwarding Missions

Liberality: should be Exercised in Giving Alms

Liberality: should be Exercised in Leading to Those in Want

Liberality: should be Exercised in Relieving the Destitute

Liberality: should be Exercised in Rendering Personal Services

Liberality: should be Exercised in the Service of God

Liberality: should be Exercised with Simplicity

Liberality: should be Exercised without Ostentation

Liberality: should be Exercised: Abundantly

Liberality: should be Exercised: According to Ability

Liberality: should be Exercised: Toward all Men

Liberality: should be Exercised: Toward Enemies

Liberality: should be Exercised: Toward Saints

Liberality: should be Exercised: Toward Servants

Liberality: should be Exercised: Toward Strangers

Liberality: should be Exercised: Toward the Poor

Liberality: should be Exercised: Willingly

Liberality: Shunammite

Liberality: Solomon

Liberality: Stephanas

Liberality: The Centurion

Liberality: The Good Samaritan

Liberality: The Magi (Wise Men from the East)

Liberality: The Poor Widow

Liberality: Unprofitable, Without Love

Liberality: Zacchaeus

Related Terms

Liberal (11 Occurrences)

Liberally (4 Occurrences)

Generosity (6 Occurrences)

Free-hearted (3 Occurrences)

Charity (29 Occurrences)

Libertines (1 Occurrence)

Generous (17 Occurrences)

Bounty (14 Occurrences)

Ahinadab (1 Occurrence)

Proof (38 Occurrences)

Philippians (2 Occurrences)

Desolation (131 Occurrences)

Tithe (30 Occurrences)

Abomination (78 Occurrences)

Second (2060 Occurrences)

Zeal (45 Occurrences)

Overflowed (14 Occurrences)

Overflowing (54 Occurrences)

Ordeal (2 Occurrences)

Govern (21 Occurrences)

Gamaliel (7 Occurrences)

Glorifying (21 Occurrences)

Welled (1 Occurrence)

Worketh (49 Occurrences)

Whomsoever (28 Occurrences)

Increase (184 Occurrences)

Instrumentality (5 Occurrences)

Freedom (45 Occurrences)

Fidelity (13 Occurrences)

Thanksgiving (49 Occurrences)

Rules (160 Occurrences)

Euodia (1 Occurrence)

Extreme (11 Occurrences)

Extolled (6 Occurrences)

Enriched (13 Occurrences)

Exhorting (13 Occurrences)

Exhorts (1 Occurrence)

Exhibit (7 Occurrences)

Diligence (31 Occurrences)

Profession (9 Occurrences)

Producing (20 Occurrences)

Proving (14 Occurrences)

Practical (2 Occurrences)

Proved (49 Occurrences)

Brings (155 Occurrences)

Bountifulness (1 Occurrence)

Benefit (39 Occurrences)

Boundless (3 Occurrences)

Communicating (4 Occurrences)

Contributing (4 Occurrences)

Cheerfulness (1 Occurrence)

Contribution (24 Occurrences)

Contributes (1 Occurrence)

Contributions (19 Occurrences)

Acknowledging (7 Occurrences)

Amid (31 Occurrences)

Abound (36 Occurrences)

Achaia (11 Occurrences)

Accompanies (3 Occurrences)

Aid (20 Occurrences)

Abounded (6 Occurrences)

Adherence (1 Occurrence)

Sharing (18 Occurrences)

Severe (53 Occurrences)

Simplicity (12 Occurrences)

Abundantly (73 Occurrences)

Abundance (194 Occurrences)

Macedonia (23 Occurrences)

Grace (277 Occurrences)

Produce (140 Occurrences)

Poor (276 Occurrences)

Occasion (53 Occurrences)

Riches (118 Occurrences)

Glorify (49 Occurrences)

Needs (85 Occurrences)

Result (73 Occurrences)

Rich (140 Occurrences)

Confession (22 Occurrences)

Liberality: Characteristic of Saints
Top of Page
Top of Page