“And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?”
My Notes
What Does 2 Kings 5:26 Mean?
Elisha confronts his servant Gehazi, who secretly chased down Naaman after Elisha refused payment for healing the Syrian general's leprosy. Gehazi lied to Naaman, took money and clothes, and hid them. Elisha's question reveals he knew everything: "Went not mine heart with thee?"
The phrase "went not mine heart with thee" means Elisha's spirit was present when Gehazi acted — he saw it happening in real time. The gift God withheld from Elisha in the Shunammite story, He granted here: full knowledge of Gehazi's betrayal. The contrast is striking — God hides what He chooses and reveals what He chooses.
"Is it a time to receive?" — Elisha's question exposes the deeper issue. The timing was wrong. A miraculous healing had just demonstrated God's grace to a pagan general. The spiritual moment demanded generosity, not greed. Gehazi turned a testimony into a transaction.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Have you ever tainted a 'grace moment' by inserting self-interest?
- 2.What does Elisha's 'is it a time?' question teach about discerning appropriate moments for different actions?
- 3.Where might you be monetizing — financially or socially — something God intended to be freely given?
- 4.How does Gehazi's story challenge the way you handle the gifts and grace God has given you?
Devotional
"Is it a time to receive money?" Elisha's question cuts to the heart of Gehazi's failure. Not just: was it wrong? But: did you read the room?
God had just healed a foreign general for free. No charge. No conditions. Pure grace. It was a moment of staggering generosity — the kind that changes how a person understands God forever. And Gehazi ran after the miracle to monetize it.
There's a time for everything. But there are moments so sacred, so clearly about God's grace, that inserting self-interest into them is a kind of blasphemy. Gehazi didn't just steal money. He tainted the testimony. He told Naaman, through his actions, that God's grace has a price after all.
"Went not mine heart with thee" — Elisha saw it all. The running, the lying, the hiding. You can't conceal greed from the God who sees hearts, or from the prophets He empowers.
Where are you monetizing what God gave freely? Where are you inserting self-interest into spaces meant for pure grace? Gehazi's sin wasn't just greed. It was bad timing. It was turning a gospel moment into a business transaction.
Some moments are too sacred for profit. Learn to recognize them.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And he said unto him, went not mine heart with thee?.... Did my heart or knowledge go from me, that what thou hast done…
Went not mine heart with thee? - i. e. “Was I not with thee in spirit - did I not see the whole transaction, as if I had…
Went not mine heart with thee - The Chaldee gives this a good turn: By the prophetic spirit it was shown unto me, when…
Naaman, a Syrian, a courtier, a soldier, had many servants, and we read how wise and good they were, Kg2 5:13. Elisha, a…
Went not mine heartwith thee] The Hebrew has nothing to represent the last two words, as will be seen from the italics…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture