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Taking
care of the Poor
and
Needy
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There
are several scriptures in the Bible that show how God protects and
helps the poor and the defendless, He instructs us to do the same.
Here are a few. See also the "giving scriptures"
section for more.
Deuteronomy
15:7
7 “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the
gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not
harden
your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, 8 but
you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his
need, whatever he
needs. 9 Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, ‘The
seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,’ and your eye be evil against
your poor brother and you give him nothing, and he cry out to the LORD against
you, and it become sin among you. 10 You shall surely give to him, and your heart
should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your
God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand. 11
For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You
shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your
land.’
Deuteronomy 24:14 (New King James Version)
14 “You
shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether one
of your brethren or one of the aliens who
is in your land
within your gates.
Psalm 12:5 (New King James Version)
5 “For
the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now I will
arise,” says the LORD; “I will set him in the safety for which he yearns.”
Proverbs 14:20 (New King James Version)
20 The
poor man is hated even by his own neighbor, But the rich has many friends.
Proverbs 21:13 (New King James Version)
13 Whoever
shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard.
Proverbs 22:16 (New King James Version)
16 He
who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich,
will surely come to poverty.
Proverbs 28:8 (New King James Version)
8 One
who increases his possessions by usury and extortion Gathers it for him
who will pity the poor.
Proverbs 31:8-9 (New King James Version)
8 Open
your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to
die.[a] 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the
poor and needy.
Isaiah 58:6-7 (New King James Version)
6 “ Is
this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
Psalm 69:33 (New King James Version)
33 For the LORD hears the poor, And does not despise His prisoners.
Psalm 72:12-14 (New King James Version)
12 For He will deliver the needy when he cries, The poor also, and him who has no helper. 13
He will spare the poor and needy, And will save the souls of the
needy. 14 He will redeem their life from oppression and violence; And
precious shall be their blood in His sight.
Psalm 109:31 (New King James Version)
31 For He shall stand
at the right hand of the poor, To save him from those who condemn him.
Psalm
10:17
You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen
to their cry.
Psalm 9:12
For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cry of the
afflicted.
Psalm
68:10
Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, O God, you
provided for the poor.
Psalm
107:41
But he lifted the needy out of their affliction and increased
their families like flocks.
Psalm
102:17
He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not
despise their plea.
Psalm
132:15
I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor will I satisfy
with food.
Psalm 113:7
He
raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
Proverbs 14:21 (New King James Version)
21
He who despises his neighbor sins; But he who has mercy on the poor,
happy is he.
Proverbs 14:31 (New King James Version)
31 He
who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors Him has mercy
on the needy.
Matthew 5:42 (New King James Version)
42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you
do not turn away.
Matthew 10:42 (New King James Version)
42
And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water
in the name of a disciple, assuredly,
I say to you, he shall by no means
lose his reward.”
Luke 3:11 (New King James Version)
11
He answered and said to them, “He
who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has
food, let him do likewise.”
Luke 9:48 (New King James Version)
48
and said to them, “Whoever receives
this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives
Him who sent Me. For
he who is least among you all will be great.”
Luke 10:35 (New King James Version)
35
On the next day, when he departed,[a] he took out two denarii, gave
them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take
care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will
repay you.’
Luke 11:42 (New King James Version)
42 “But
woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of
herbs, and pass by justice and the love of
God.
These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
Luke 16:19-25 (New King James Version)
19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple
and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there
was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid
at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell[a]
from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked
his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried
by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died
and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted
up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have
mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his
finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this
flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that
in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise
Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 1 Timothy 5:3 (New King James Version)
3 Honor widows who are really widows.
5 Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and
continues in supplications and prayers night and day.
8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those
of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
16 If any believing man or[a] woman has widows, let them relieve them,
and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who
are really widows.
Jeremiah
20:13
Sing to the Lord! Give praise to the Lord! He rescues the
life of the needy from the hands of the wicked.
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