What does it mean that “he became poor for our sakes” (2 Corinthians 8:9)?

The statement concerning Jesus that “he became poor for our sakes” comes from 2 Corinthians 8:9. In that passage (verses 1–15), the apostle Paul encourages the Corinthian believers to give generously and keep their promise to supply financial aid to the famine-stricken church in Jerusalem. Paul directs their attention to the example of Jesus Christ and His generous, sacrificial giving: “You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9, NLT).

Spiritually speaking, Jesus was the wealthiest example Paul could set before the Corinthians. They understood that Christ, as the Son of God, had enjoyed the heavenly Father’s presence and shared in His glory (John 17:5). In Christ the fullness of God’s glory and grace dwelled (Colossians 1:19, 2:9). And although He was exceedingly rich in divine majesty and glory, Jesus willingly chose to leave His heavenly home and embrace the limitations and sufferings of human existence. By doing this, He became poor for our sakes.

Jesus’ life on earth was characterized by simplicity and sacrifice. He lived without material wealth or possessions and often without a place to rest His head (see Luke 9:58). Besides suffering earthly poverty, Christ also endured physical beatings, humiliation, and death. He emptied Himself of everything glorious and divine: “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6–8, NLT). Jesus left His royal throne in heaven to assume the lowly status of a poor man.

The fact that He became poor for our sakes demonstrates our Savior’s profound humility and unsparing love and compassion for humanity. Jesus, our “High Priest,” chose to identify with us in our human weakness and “faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15, NLT). He lived among us—among the marginalized, poor, and destitute of this earth—sharing in our burdens and offering us mercy, grace, hope, and help (Hebrews 4:16). His act of becoming poor was not merely a physical or financial reordering but a spiritual posturing of complete humility and sacrificial service.

In becoming poor for our sakes, Jesus opened the path for us to receive the riches of God’s mercy and grace (Ephesians 2:4–7; Philippians 4:19). Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and resurrection from the dead are the ultimate expressions of His incredible wealth of grace (Ephesians 1:7–8). He took on our sins and brokenness so that we might be clothed in His righteousness and experience the fullness of life with God (Romans 3:21–26). This divine exchange underscores the depth of God’s love and the transformative power of His grace, inviting us to live in gratitude and generosity.

Paul writes, “And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering” (Romans 8:17, NLT). Like Jesus, we must become poor in spirit, meaning we must humbly depend on God for everything. We share in His life of humble sacrifice so that we might inherit the riches of His kingdom (Matthew 5:3). We understand that we are entirely bankrupt without Him. But with Christ, we partake of His riches. The poor in spirit become rich in faith (James 2:5) and grace (James 4:6). They gain a heavenly, eternal “inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade” (1 Peter 1:4; see also Acts 20:32; Colossians 1:12). Here on earth, we may be poor yet “give spiritual riches to others,” we may “own nothing, and yet have everything” (2 Corinthians 6:10, NLT).

Paul urged the Corinthians and all future believers to live, love, and serve as Jesus did. When we are motivated by Christ’s example, we will give unselfishly to the poor. Warren Wiersbe comments, “If we give ourselves to God, we will also give of ourselves for others. It is impossible to love God and ignore the needs of your neighbor. Jesus Christ gave Himself for us (Gal. 1:4; 2:20). Should we not give ourselves to Him? He died so that we might not live for ourselves, but for Him and for others (2 Cor. 5:15)” (The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1, Victor Books, 1996, p. 656).