Nehemiah 5:14 Commentary and Bible Study

Nehemiah tells them a few more things about his example. It is twelve years since he asked permission of Artaxerxes to go to Jerusalem and supervise the rebuilding of the city (Nehemiah 2:1). He was then appointed governor over the land of Judah. During all that time he and his brethren, his fellow workers in the government, have not eaten the bread of the governor, in other words, the bread that the governor was entitled to because of his office. Like the apostle Paul who often forfeited the support of the churches which he was pioneering, Nehemiah has been careful not to take anything from the people, for he does not want to be open to the charge of serving for profit. He is transparently honest and straightforward, and he wants to people to know this so that they trust his motives. This was not how former governors of Jerusalem behaved; Nehemiah knew that. Former rulers had taken the food and drink to which they were entitled as well as taxes, and even their servants had taken advantage of their position. Why did Nehemiah behave like this? Again, because he feared God. He greatly needed the help of God in answer to prayer and he believe that God read his heart and searched his motives, and he knew that if the Lord saw in him that he was out for personal gain, then the work would not prosper. Nehemiah had come to Jerusalem because he cared so much about the state of the city and testimony of Israel to the one true God. If he had wanted ease and comfort he would have stayed in Persia, where he had a high-ranking position in court. It is the same thing that he mentioned earlier. He has not reimbursed himself in any of his expenses. He gave all his attention to the reconstruction of the wall of Jerusalem; he didn't buy any land or property himself. He didn't do any business, he set a perfect example.