Which other scriptures emphasize God's concern for the poor and needy? Starting with Proverbs 17:5 “He who mocks the poor taunts their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.” The verse is crystal-clear: how we treat the poor is how we treat God Himself. Scripture keeps repeating that theme. Echoes in the Law of Moses • Exodus 22:22-23 — “You must not mistreat any widow or orphan. If you do mistreat them and they cry out to Me, I will surely hear their cry.” • Leviticus 19:9-10 — “When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edges…leave them for the poor and the foreigner.” • Deuteronomy 15:7-8 — “If there is a poor man among your brothers…you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand; rather, you are to open your hand and freely loan him whatever he needs.” Heartbeat of the Psalms and Wisdom Books • Psalm 12:5 — “Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the poor, I will now arise,” says the LORD. • Psalm 35:10 — “LORD, who is like You, delivering the poor from one too strong for him?” • Proverbs 14:31 — “Whoever oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.” • Proverbs 19:17 — “Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.” • Proverbs 31:8-9 — “Speak up for those who have no voice…defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.” Prophetic Call for Justice • Isaiah 1:17 — “Learn to do right; seek justice; correct the oppressor; defend the fatherless; plead the cause of the widow.” • Isaiah 58:6-7 — “Is this not the fast I choose…sharing your bread with the hungry and bringing the homeless poor into your house?” • Jeremiah 22:16 — “He defended the cause of the poor and needy…Is that not what it means to know Me?” declares the LORD. • Zechariah 7:10 — “Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor.” • Malachi 3:5 — “I will come in judgment…against those who oppress the hired worker, the widow, and the fatherless.” Christ’s Ministry to the Poor • Luke 4:18 — “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me…He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor.” • Matthew 11:5 — “The blind receive sight…the poor are told the good news.” • Matthew 25:35-40 — “I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat…Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.” The Early Church in Action • Acts 2:44-45 — “All the believers were together and had everything in common…they distributed to anyone as he had need.” • Acts 4:34-35 — “There was not a needy person among them…proceeds were distributed to each as anyone had need.” New-Covenant Commands and Promises • Galatians 2:10 — “They asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.” • James 1:27 — “Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress.” • James 2:15-17 — “If a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food…faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” • 1 John 3:17-18 — “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need yet has no compassion, how can the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us love not in word and speech but in action and truth.” Why It Matters Today Scripture presents one unified voice: God watches our treatment of the poor as a test of our reverence for Him. Embracing generosity, advocacy, and active care is not optional—it is a direct expression of loyalty to our Maker, who promises both blessing for compassion and judgment for neglect. |
    |