Topical Bible: The Poor: Oppress Not

◄ The Poor: Oppress Not ►

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The biblical mandate to refrain from oppressing the poor is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, reflecting God's heart for justice, mercy, and compassion. The Bible consistently emphasizes the dignity and worth of every individual, regardless of their economic status, and calls for the protection and fair treatment of the poor.

Old Testament Teachings

The Old Testament law contains explicit instructions against the oppression of the poor. In Exodus 22:25, the Israelites are commanded, "If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not be like a moneylender to him; you must not charge him interest." This law underscores the importance of treating the poor with kindness and fairness, rather than exploiting their vulnerability for personal gain.

Leviticus 19:13 further instructs, "You must not defraud your neighbor or rob him. You must not withhold until morning the wages due a hired hand." This passage highlights the ethical obligation to ensure that the poor are not deprived of their rightful earnings, emphasizing timely and just compensation.

The prophets also speak out against the oppression of the poor. In Isaiah 10:1-2, the prophet declares, "Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of justice and withhold the rights of the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and rob the fatherless." Here, the prophet condemns systemic injustice and exploitation, calling for societal structures that protect the vulnerable.

Wisdom Literature

The wisdom literature of the Old Testament also addresses the treatment of the poor. Proverbs 14:31 states, "Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him." This proverb links the treatment of the poor directly to one's relationship with God, suggesting that oppressing the poor is an affront to the Creator Himself.

Proverbs 22:22-23 warns, "Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate, for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them." This passage assures that God Himself will defend the cause of the poor and bring justice to those who exploit them.

New Testament Teachings

The New Testament continues the theme of justice and compassion for the poor. Jesus' ministry is marked by His concern for the marginalized and oppressed. In Luke 4:18, Jesus declares, "The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed." Jesus' mission includes a special focus on uplifting the poor and liberating the oppressed.

James 2:5-6 admonishes believers, "Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?" This passage challenges the early church to honor the poor and recognize their value in God's kingdom, while also critiquing the tendency of the wealthy to exploit their power.

A Call to Action

The biblical call to "oppress not" the poor is a call to action for believers to embody God's justice and mercy. It is a call to advocate for fair treatment, to provide for the needs of the poor, and to challenge systems and practices that perpetuate poverty and oppression. The Scriptures consistently remind God's people that their treatment of the poor is a reflection of their faithfulness to Him and their understanding of His character.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 24:14
You shall not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of your brothers, or of your strangers that are in your land within your gates:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Zechariah 7:10
And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

On Helping the Poor.
... Also those that oppress the widow and overbear the orphan ... such as these, and if we
do not receive from ... And whence shall the poor among the people be maintained? ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec i on helping the poor.htm

How Helena the Queen of Adiabene and Her Son Izates, Embraced the ...
... Jewish Religion; And How Helena Supplied The Poor With Corn ... that the fruit of piety
does not perish as to ... of Jerusalem; for whereas a famine did oppress them at ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 how helena the.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xix. 17, "If Thou Wouldest Enter ...
... The rich and the poor are born alike. Ye meet one another as ye walk on
the way together. Do not thou oppress, nor thou defraud. ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xxxv on the words.htm

Proof that God did not Appoint the Levitical Dispensation for his ...
... And oppress not the widow, and the orphan, and the proselyte, and the poor; and
let none imagine evil against your brother in his heart." [4024] And again, he ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xvii proof that god did.htm

Psalm 82
... to poor oppress'd do right. ^4The poor and needy ones set free; rid them from ill
men's might. ^5They know not, nor will understand; in darkness they walk on: ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/scottish psalter and paraphrases/psalm 82.htm

A God in Pain
... If God despised the poor, the deformed, the helpless, the ignorant, the crazy, why
should not man? If God was hard on them, why should not man oppress and ill ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xxxv a god in.htm

Of Righteousness.
... Deal out thy bread to the hungry, and bring the houseless poor to thy home. ... and show
mercy and compassion every man to his brother; and oppress not the widow ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter xii of righteousness.htm

The Poor Man's Friend
... Fourth verse: "He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save ... laid to your
charge by him that you know not of, and doth conscience oppress you with ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/the poor mans friend.htm

Give us this Day Our Daily Bread.
... part of those who wantonly oppress the poor and deprive them of their daily bread!
This we must suffer indeed; but let them take care that they do not lose the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/the large catechism/give us this day our.htm

Eighth Commandment
... "Thou shalt not oppress a hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of
thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates. . . . ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/eighth commandment.htm