No gifts

[Laeomis]

I was reading in Exodus 23:8 where it says, "And you shall take no gift: for the gift blinds the wise, and perverts the words of the righteous."

So I repented taking gifts... Though I was thinking of the Gospel and Joseph and Mary take gifts of gold, frankincense and myrhh at the Lord's birth. Also Jesus takes the offering Matthew 26:8 where a woman puts oil on his head and anoints him. So I decided that I would accept the law of not taking gifts, but for the sake of the lord I would leave myself open to receiving people and gifts when they give them. I was also thinking where Jesus tells his disciples to go into new towns and where they receive you to eat what they set before you. Luke 10:8.

 

[B-A-C]

Perhaps a different translation might help here?

Exod 23:8;
(AMP) You shall take no bribe, for the bribe blinds those who have sight and perverts the testimony and the cause of the righteous.
(ASV) And thou shalt take no bribe: for a bribe blindeth them that have sight, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
(GNB) Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe makes people blind to what is right and ruins the cause of those who are innocent.
(GW) Never take a bribe, because bribes blind those who can see and deny justice to those who are in the right.
(HCSB) You must not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and corrupts the words of the righteous.
(ISV) You are not to take a bribe because a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and distorts the words of the righteous.
(KJV) And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
(MKJV) And you shall take no bribe, for the bribe blinds the wise and perverts the words of the righteous.
(MSG) "Don't take bribes. Bribes blind perfectly good eyes and twist the speech of good people.
(NAS77) "And you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of the just.
(NASB) "You shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of the just.
(NIrV) "Do not take money from people who want special favors. It makes you blind to the truth. It twists the words of godly people.
(NIV) "Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the innocent.
(NLT) "Take no bribes, for a bribe makes you ignore something that you clearly see. A bribe makes even a righteous person twist the truth.

I think gifts are OK. (Christmas, birthdays, etc..) but bribes are another story.

 

[Travis]

I think gifts are OK. (Christmas, birthdays, etc..) but bribes are another story.

I Concur. It's a blessing to be able to give people gifts as well.

 

[RJ]

I am not too sure about your idea of "no gifts" but If I were you, there is at least one gift you should not refuse: Ephesians 2: 8-9
This is the gift of eternal life that you should think twice before you repent from taking it!