In one of his literary masterpieces, Socialism: An Economic and Sociological Analysis, Mises provided a chapter titled, "Christianity and Property," in which he wrote the following statements regarding the teachings of Jesus,

'But all efforts to find support for the institution of private property generally, and for private ownership in the means of production in particular, in the teachings of Christ are quite vain. No art of interpretation can find a single passage in the New Testament that could be read as upholding private property. Those who look for a Biblical ukase must go back to the Old Testament, or content themselves with disputing the assertion that communism prevailed in the congregation of the early Christians….

One thing of course is clear, and no skilful interpretation can obscure it. Jesus's words are full of resentment against the rich, and the Apostles are no meeker in this respect. The Rich Man is condemned because he is rich, the Beggar praised because he is poor….

This is a case in which the Redeemer's words bore evil seed. More harm has been done, and more blood shed, on account of them than by the persecution of heretics and the burning of witches. They have always rendered the Church defenceless against all movements which aim at destroying human society. The Church as an organization has certainly always stood on the side of those who tried to ward off communistic attack. But it could not achieve much in this struggle. For it was continually disarmed by the words: "Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the Kingdom of God." (emphasis added)'

This article—while still loving Mises—argues that, on this point, Mises was wrong. Why Mises likely made these particular errors in his historical context is a matter for another article. This article focuses on where Mises failed to take full account of the teachings of Jesus on this subject.

While Mises is correct that Christians and churches have often allied with interventionists and socialists—even using Bible verses and the words of Jesus—it is key to read the words of Jesus (or anyone) with regard to context, consistency, and totality. Doing so, it is evident that the socialists and interventionists do not have in Jesus the ally they think they do. In other words, Mises may have failed to apply the "Golden Rule" (Matthew 7:12), reading another in a way one hoped to be read.