THE HONORARIUM SERIES 1

In Matthew’s gospel, which contains accounts of Jesus preaching and also many miracles which He did, after about 13 instances in which so many people were healed of their sicknesses and diseases (and also the stilling of the storm), when Jesus looked up and saw the multitude, He admitted that God needs more men for the work.

Matthew 9:35–38(NKJV)

35 - Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

36 - But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

37 - Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

38 - Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."

The next thing he did was to act on this by commissioning his twelve disciples (as laborers) for the work.

Matthew 10:1–13(NKJV)

1 - And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

2 - Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

3 - Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

4 - Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

5 - These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.

6 - But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

7 - And as you go, preach, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'

Follow closely.

8 - Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

9 - Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts,

10 - nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.

11 - "Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out.

12 - And when you go into a household, greet it.

13 - If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.

When Jesus said, “Freely you have a received, freely give,” was He speaking against accepting honorarium?

What did He mean by, “The worker is worthy of his food”? Remember He said this after charging them not to take anything for their journey (money, extra clothes, etc.).

Luke’s account sheds light into this narrative.

Luke 9:1–4(NKJV)

1 - Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.

2 - He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

3 - And He said to them, "Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece.

4 - "Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart.

Why did He charge them not to take anything?

Jesus shortly afterwards sent many others with the same commission and the same instruction. By paying close attention here, we find our answers.

Luke 10:1–9(NKJV)

1 - After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.

2 - Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

3 - Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.

4 - Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.

5 - But whatever house you enter, first say, "Peace to this house.'

6 - And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you.

Verse 6 simply differentiates two sets of households—those that would receive them (and their ministry) and those that wouldn't.

7 - AND REMAIN IN THE SAME HOUSE, EATING AND DRINKING SUCH THINGS AS THEY GIVE, FOR THE LABORER IS WORTHY OF HIS WAGES. Do not go from house to house.

8 - Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.

9 - And heal the sick there, and say to them, "The kingdom of God has come near to you.'

So what did Jesus mean by “the laborer is worthy of his wages” (or “the workman is worthy of his food”)?

That the people who receive them should be responsible for their welfare.

This was why He told them to take no money or extra garments for their journey, because this (their welfare) was supposed to be the responsibility of those who receive them.

This is honorarium.

Shortly before His crucifixion, the Lord would make reference to this again:

Luke 22:35(NKJV)

And He said to them, "When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?" So they said, "Nothing."

So when Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give,” was He speaking against receiving honorarium? Apparently not. He was simply instructing them not to make merchandise of the anointing, i.e., not to charge people to minister to them.

The people could out of their own volition (but needfully) in return cater for the servant of God.

What makes the difference? A honorarium is meant to be a gift and not a charge. It should never have a predetermined value, else, it is no longer a honorarium. Although a necessary gift, the servant of God should not place a demand on it as a basis to minister.

This is what, “freely you have received, freely give” means. If those you minister to give to you afterwards out of their own volition (which they absolutely should), then it's all good, “for the laborer is worthy of his wages.”

This is the reference Paul was quoting from in his charge to the church in Corinth:

1 Corinthians 9:13–14(NKJV)

13 - Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar?

14 - Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

So our Lord Jesus did not speak against receiving honorarium; what He spoke against is merchandising the anointing.

Jesus collected honorarium.

Luke 8:1–3(NKJV)

1 - Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him,

2 - and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities--Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons,

3 - and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, AND MANY OTHERS who provided for Him from their substance.

In fact, those who ministered to His needs were not few (verse 3).

This is also referenced in Mark 15:40–41.

Now, can we actually refer to this as honorarium? Absolutely.

Isn't it a gift? Yes it is. Isn't it an offering? Yes it is.

This is the point exactly that I have been sharing. A honorarium is an offering given freely (out of one's volition) in appreciation for the ministry of God's servant. An offering may be a honorarium and it may not; it is a honorarium when it is given to appreciate God's servant for his labour.

These people provided from their substance for Jesus in appreciation for blessing them with His ministry. He preached to them the glad tidings of the kingdom of God (verse 1) and He healed their infirmities (verse 2).

So did Jesus accept honorarium? Yes He did. The point is that He did not demand for it.

Remember his words, “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (ch. 9:38). He then went ahead to emphasize how that these labourers are meant to be taken care of by those they minister to, “for the laborer (worker) is worthy of his food” (ch. 10:10).

The New Living Translation puts it this way: “Don't hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed.”

Blessings.

Victor Ibosiola © 2023

Read further here: The Honorarium Series (2): What Did Paul Teach about Honorarium?