A market in economics is a place where buyers and sellers gather together
to trade goods and services or factors including labor. A product market is a
market for goods or services whereas a factor market is a market for the
factors of production such as labor, capital, natural resources, and
entrepreneurial ability. As we
reviewed in Chapter 9, the Bible does not reject the private ownership, unlike
socialism and communism, and the market economy in which price and quantity are
determined in the market not by the central authority. Jesus tells the parables
of servants (Matthew 25; Luke 19) who were entrusted their master’s money to do
business. They probably started their businesses in the market.
Markets in the Old Testament
The Hebrew word מַעֲרָב (maarab) means merchandise or
market (Ezekiel 27:9, 13, 17, 19, 25, 27, 33, 34). The King James Version (KJV)
translates the word in Ezekiel 27:13, 17, 19, and 25 as ‘market’ and the other
verses as ‘merchandise’; on the other hand, The New International Version (NIV)
translates it as ‘wares.’[1]
From the Hebrew word סָחַר (sachar, Strong number 5503), it also means an emporium,
abstractly profit (from trade), trade, mart, or merchandise (Genesis 23:16,
34:10 & 21, 37:28, 42:34; 1 Kins10:28; 2 Chronicles 1:16, 9:14; Psalm
38:10; Proverbs 31:14; Isaiah 23:2 & 8, 47:15; Jeremiah 14:18; Ezekiel
27:12, 16, 18, 21(twice), 36, 38:13).[2]
The Hebrew word סַחַר (sachar, Strong number 5504)
means ‘gain,’ ‘market,’ ‘merchandise,’ or ‘profit’ (Proverbs 3:14, 31:18;
Isaiah 23:18 (twice)).[3]
The Hebrew word סָחַר (sachar, Strong number 5505)
again means ‘merchandise’ or ‘mart’ (Proverbs 3:14; Isaiah 23:3 and 45:14).[4]
A market, market place,
trade, and profit have no negative connotations in the Old Testament. People
made profit by trading in a market. God blessed or cursed them depending upon
how they made profit and how they used the money that they earned.
Markets in the New Testament
The Jewish merchants made the temple yard a
market or marketplace where they sold oxen, sheep, and doves/pigeons to those
who came to the temple to offer and worship (John 2:14-16). Jesus in John 2:16
tells the merchants: “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house
into a market!” Jesus rebukes them when they did not distinguish the temple and
the market when those two have different purposes and uses.
In the market at Corinth and
other Gentile cities meat that was offered to idols was sold along with meat
that was not offered to idols (1 Corinthians 8 & 10:25-26; Romans 14). People
with little faith were in trouble without knowing whether or not they should
buy meat in the market as they did not know which meat was offered to idols and
which not. Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:25-26 advised them; “25Eat whatever
is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of
conscience. 26For ‘the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.’”
As everything belongs to God and there is no other god, God’s people can eat
whatever he allows them. The same Paul also advises us in Romans 14:20-21: “20Do
not destroy, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is
indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make others fall by what he eats; 21it
is right not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother
stumble.” Although we can eat whatever that is allowed by God, if weak brothers
or sisters are stumbled by what we eat or drink, it is better for us not to eat
or drink for them.
Agora (αγορά), from its root
meaning ‘to collect,’ is a ‘town meeting place,’ ‘resort of the people,’ so a
place where the public generally met to exchange views and wares. Market, ‘agora’
(αγορά) in Greek and ‘forum’ in Latin, is “a large open area in many ancient
cities, especially of Greece and Rome, having the public market on one side
only, the other sides of the area being occupied by temples, theaters,
colonnades, courts of justice, baths, and other public structures, the whole
square often presenting a magnificent appearance.”[5]
The Greek word ἀγορά (agora) is any collection of men, congregation, or assembly; or place
where assemblies are held. The market place in New Testament times was the
public open place not only for the exchange of merchandise but also for one or
more of the following purposes:
(1) a place where the
children came together to sing, dance and play (Matthew 11:16; Luke 7:32);
(2) a place for loafers, a sort
of ancient, irresponsible labor bureau where the out-of-work idler waited the
coming of an employer with whom he might bargain for his services, usually by
the day (Matthew 20:1-16);
(3) a place where the proud
pretender could parade in long robes and get public recognition, “salutations
in the market places” (Matthew 23:3-7; Mark 12:38; Luke 11:43, 20:46);
(4) a place where the sick
were brought for treatment, the poor man’s sanatorium, a municipal hospital
(Mark 6:56);
(5) a place of preliminary
hearing in trials, where the accused might be brought before rulers who were
present at the time (Acts 16:19);
(6) a place for religious
and probably political or philosophical discussion, a forum, a free-speech
throne (Acts 17:17).[6]
Jesus in Matthew 11:16-17
(also in Luke 7:32-33) says: “16To what can I compare this
generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out
to others: 17‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we
sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’” A market was a place where many people
including children gathered for various purposes.
Jesus in Matthew 20:1-16
tells a parable of the kingdom of Heaven. The market in this story is a place
where jobless workers waited to be picked by someone who would need labor for
his place or project – it was a labor market where unemployed looked for
temporary jobs. Average workers were paid one denarius per day. In this story,
the landowner went out to the marketplace to hire some workers around 9 AM in
the morning. He went out to the marketplace to hire more workers about noon,
about 3 PM, and then 5 PM. The story does not tell why the vineyard owner hired
more workers at 5 PM although the day’s work would end soon about 6 PM before
it became dark. He was probably very generous and merciful like our God. The
marketplace here seems to be the world where we live our daily life. The
vineyard owner is God who is willing to give us an opportunity to work for him
until the last moment. God tries to call more workers for him. Even though
someone accepts him at the last moment, he will treat him/her fairly although
God’s fairness does not seem to be fair to some people. Jesus ends the story,
saying: “So, the last will be first, and the first last.” (Matthew 20:16). Knowing
that this story is to explain the Kingdom of God, the time when we accept Jesus
Christ does not really matter, but what matters is how faithfully and
diligently we labor for God’s Kingdom and gospel.
A market was a place where
people wanted to show off themselves and get people’s recognition like in
today’s society or community. Jesus in Matthew 23:5-7 says: “5They
do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad
and their fringes long, 6and they love the place of honor at feasts
and the best seats in the synagogues, 7and salutations in the market
places, and being called rabbi by men.” A market is our community or society
where we get along with other people. What we do and how we speak are seen and
heard by other people, and thus we are evaluated by them. Our Christian conduct
in the marketplace – that is, in the community or the society – may bring more
people to Jesus Christ or turn away from Jesus Christ.
A market was a place where
sick people were brought to have a chance to be healed or poor people came to
get a relief our community or society where we get along with other people. Jesus
met the needy people and sick people in marketplaces, where he healed the sick
people and comforted the people who were in need. Mark 6:56 states: “And
wherever he (=Jesus) came, in villages, cities, or country, they laid the sick
in the market places, and besought him that they might touch even the fringe of
his garment; and as many as touched it were made well.” The marketplace is
where we live today. We may comfort and find a way to help people who are in
needy situations.
A market was a place of
preliminary hearing in trials, where the accused might be brought before rulers
who were present at the time. Acts 16:19 describes: “But when her (the female
fortune-teller’s) owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul
and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the rulers.”
A market was a place for
religious, philosophical, or political debates, a forum, a free-speech throne. Paul
in Athens used this place to teach about Jesus Christ who was not known to the
people there yet. Acts 17:17 states: “So he (=Paul) argued in the synagogue
with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the market place every day with those
who chanced to be there.” A market is a place where we meet people whom we know
or do not know. It may be our neighborhood, school, workplace, or community. We
may have an opportunity to witness Jesus Christ there. Paul in 2 Timothy 4:2
advises us: “Preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince,
rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching.”
Above all, a market is a
place where we buy and sell goods and services. As a buyer or consumer our goal
is to maximize our utility – satisfaction or happiness – within the given
budget constraint. To do so, our consumption pattern should be diligent and
modest. As a seller or a business owner our goal is to maximize profit. Trying
to gain more profit is not unethical as long as we do business honestly and
fairly as well as do work for God faithfully. Proverbs 11:1 states: “A false
balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight”; and
again, Proverbs 20:23 says: “Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord, and
false scales are not good.” Jesus in his parables of talents (Matthew 25:14-30)
and minas (Luke 19:11-27) encourages to make more profit. Although the stories
are parables and Jesus meant that the servants’ hard work was for God, doing
business in the market and gaining profit will be equally important not only
for our household but also for the household of God as God wants us to be
prosperous in this world. Jesus in Luke 16:10 tells his disciples and us: “He
who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and he who is
dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much.” When we – as buyers
and/or sellers – do our best in the marketplace (in a very little) faithfully
and honestly, we can do our best in the ministry of God (in much) faithfully
and honestly.
[1]
Ibid., “4627. maarab,” BibleHub. Retrieved from https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4627.htm
[2]
Ibid., “5503. sachar,” BibleHub. Retrieved from https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5503.htm
[4]
Ibid., “5505. sachar,” BibleHub. Retrieved from https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5505.htm
[5]
ATS Bible Dictionary,
“Market,” BibleHub. Retrieved from
https://biblehub.com/topical/m/market.htm.
[6]
Ibid.
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