Joseph of Aramathia Gift of Tomb
Matthew 27:57-61
57 As evening approached,there came a rich man from Arimathea,
named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body,
and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body,wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
The Wife’s gift to Elisha
2 Kings 4:8-17
One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. 9 And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. 10 Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there.”
11 One day he came there, and he turned into the chamber and rested there. 12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite.” When he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘See, you have taken all this trouble for us; what is to be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’” She answered, “I dwell among my own people.” 14 And he said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.” 15 He said, “Call her.” And when he had called her, she stood in the doorway. 16 And he said, “At this season, about this time next year, you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord, O man of God; do not lie to your servant.” 17 But the woman conceived, and she bore a son about that time the following spring, as Elisha had said to her.
This series is much more than just giving financially.
It is more so an introduction to the gracious heart introduced in the New Testament. A vital condition of the
New Covenant.
It's an examination of the heart when it comes to all things you have to offer. To include (but not limited to) your time, your talents, and your treasure.
It’s more of a mindset, a way of life.
It has no bearing based on which side of the track you live on or the size of your bank account.
It’s a heart condition.
A new heart demands focus on new things.
When we take on the heart of Christ provided by the fuel of grace, we take on His generous nature.A focus on living generously through the abundance of the heart lived through the overflow of an abundant life!
So, let’s do a comparison of these two stories.
Both are generous gifts.Both supplying a specific and unique need to a ministry.
Joseph came to Jesus’s need in a time where his friends had deserted him.To provide a tomb to Jesus (who
would only have need of it for three days).
The other to provide a place of lodging for the prophet Elisha (a place of rest).
Neither example here was based on time, talent, or treasure. However, all three included in each.
Their gifts each unique in their own way.
Neither Joseph nor the Shunammite woman gave because someone pressured them.
They didn’t even give because it was required them by scripture.
Neither gave because they were trying to earn God’s favor. They gave because grace had already positioned their hearts.
Before generosity ever reached their hands, generosity had already reached their hearts.The blood of Jesus had taken away their hearts of stone and replaced them.
Ezekiel 36:26–27: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you…”
That is what this series is about. Not raising money but raising our understanding of what grace produces in the life of a believer.
After transformed by encountering God — Joseph as a secret disciple now stepping forward, and the womanrecognizing Elisha as “a holy man of God.
Both stories teach us four applications that we can apply to our lives that will help us develop the Heart Position of Grace-Fueled Giving.
1. Financial Application: Grace changes how I see what I own.
Joseph gave his own new tomb. Something he had personally prepared and cut out of the rock for
his own future use (Matthew 27:60).
This was costly, high-quality, and personal. He didn’t offer a borrowed or secondhand grave; he surrendered what he had set aside for himself.
The Shunammite woman said, “Let us make a small room… and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp” (2 Kings 4:10).
This was one of four stories in the 4th chapter of 2 Kings referencing the miraculous provision of God.In this the second of the stories it speaks to what is unlocked when you give from a generous heart position.
She invested her own resources, time, and household goods into something that belonged on her family’s property.
The truth from a grace perspective:
Both recognized that what God had entrusted to them was not ultimately theirs to hoard. They understood the need to be a conduit.
Grace teaches us stewardship, not ownership. They gave first-fruits, not leftovers.
Giving is not measured by the size of the gift but by the surrender of the heart.
A rich man’s tomb and a wealthy woman’s furnished room both show that grace reorients our finances: “Everything I have is available to You, Lord.”
Neither gave leftovers.
Neither gave because they had to.
Both recognized that what God had entrusted to them could serve God’s purposes.
You may say, well they both were wealthy and it’s easy for them to do. But see the gift in either story was not
the result of writing a check. It was the resources, talent, time, and courage to recognize need. Anyone can do that regardless of the means.
Grace teaches us that we are stewards, not owners.
Giving isn’t measured by amount.
It’s measured by the willingness of the heart.
Is there something that God is asking of you for His Kingdom cause? Is he asking you to recognize the
unique nature of the need in your community and surroundings?
2. Relational Application: Grace opens our homes and our hearts.
Joseph publicly identified with Jesus at the most dangerous moment. Right after the crucifixion, when following Him could cost everything. He went to Pilate and asked for the body (Matthew 27:58).
This was costly identification with the crucified Lord. He was willing to reveal in the realization of Jesus death, that he didn’t in live. That he was a disciple of Jesus Christ.
The Shunammite woman didn’t just give a one-time gift. She urged Elisha to eat and made a permanent place for him in her home: “whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there” (2 Kings 4:8-10).
She welcomed the man of God into her daily rhythm of life. And in doing so, open the door for the provision of her heart- A son!
Neither relationship was convenient.
Both were costly.
Grace reveals this truth: Grace always moves us toward people. Grace always provides for
relationship.
You cannot claim to love God while keeping people at arm’s length.
Both stories show hospitality and relationship that cost convenience and carried risk. The proper posture of the heart opens your eyes to relationship potential of all encounters.
That same revealing, opens blind eyes around you to the needs of those around it.
Sometimes they are simple.
Sometimes they are unique.
But they are all needs.
Who has God placed in your path right now who needs encouragement, friendship, or hospitality?
Is your home (and heart) open to the people God is sending?
3. Practical Application: Grace sees needs and responds.
Joseph noticed Jesus needed an honorable burial. No one commanded him. No miracle had just occurred in front
of him.
He simply saw the need and acted.
The Shunammite woman observed that Elisha needed rest: “this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way” (2 Kings 4:9).
She responded with a practical solution — a furnished room — without being asked. Which provided her with an unexpected miracle. The birth of a heir.
As spirit filled believers we often times get stuck in the need of a supernatural sign. And I am all for that.
But sometimes we can lose sight of the fact that sometimes….
Faith can look very ordinary.
The Holy Spirit frequently works through practical obedience. And in that obedience, the Holy Spirit can release the supernatural desire of the correctly positioned heart.
Generosity doesn’t always require dramatic gestures.
Sometimes the greatest ministry is meeting a practical need. And when we meet natural needs, it unlocks the pathway to provide for the spiritual need.
Sometimes generosity looks like:
• cooking a meal
• fixing something
• giving someone a ride
• babysitting for a tired parent
• writing a note of encouragement
• Just showing up!
Ask the Lord to open your eyes to the everyday needs around you.
Obedience in small, practical things often creates space for God to do the great things.
4. Spiritual Application: Grace always points beyond the gift to God.
Joseph’s tomb became one of the greatest testimonies in history because it became the empty tomb.
But Joseph did not do it to be famous.
He did it to provide for a need. The time was short and the need was urgent.
The room the Shunammite built became the place where God announced the miracle of her promised son, and later his resurrection.
A true foreshadowing of the gift of the Messiah that was to come. Neither knew how God would use their gift.
They simply obeyed.
God multiplied what they surrendered.
Joseph had no idea that his new tomb would become the most famous empty tomb in history — the very
place of resurrection. His unique gift became a powerful testimony to the world.
The Shunammite woman’s room became the place where Elisha prophesied and God performed a miracle: the birth of her son the following year. She simply made space; God filled it with life.
Neither giver knew how God would use their offering. They simply obeyed from a heart positioned by grace.
We never know what God will do with what we willingly place in His hands. Our generosity creates opportunities for God’s glory to be revealed.
The Heart Position.
Because generosity doesn’t begin with your wallet. It doesn’t begin with your calendar. It doesn’t even begin with your abilities.
It begins with your heart.
Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)
The New Covenant is not primarily about changing our behavior. It is about God changing our hearts.
When grace changes the heart…
…the hands naturally open.
…the home naturally opens.
…our schedule opens.
…our resources open.
…our lives become available to God.
That is grace-fueled giving.
And over the next few weeks, we’re going to discover that the greatest gift God wants isn’t merely what is in our hands.
He wants what is in our hearts.
