Scripture approves of and commands helping those in need: Israel was told to open its hand to the poor, while John and James say that love and faith are demonstrated by actions, not words. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus says, “Go and do likewise.” Paul calls for generosity, emphasizing that giving should be voluntary, not compelled.
What Does the Bible Say About This?
- Deut. 15:7–11: Israel was told not to harden its heart or close its hand to its poor brother, but to open its hand and give him whatever he needed, not refusing him because the year of remission was approaching. These words were addressed to Israel in the context of the covenant.
- Prov. 19:17: Helping the poor is described as lending to the Lord, who will repay it. These are words of wisdom, not a way to invest money with a promised return.
- Luke 10:25–37: In response to the question, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus tells how a Samaritan had compassion on a wounded man, bandaged his wounds, took him to an inn, and paid for his care, then tells the lawyer, “Go and do likewise.”
- John writes that whoever has enough and, seeing a brother in need, closes his heart to him does not have the love of God in him; we must love not in word or speech, but in action and in truth (1 John 3:16–18).
- James writes that if a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and they are merely told, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat your fill,” without being given what the body needs, such faith is of no benefit: faith without works is dead (James 2:14–17).
- Paul tells of the churches of Macedonia, which, despite great hardship, generously participated in ministering to the saints. He says that he is not writing this as a command, and that each person should give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion (2 Cor. 8:1–15; 9:6–11).
- Matt. 25:31–46: The King says that whatever is done “to one of the least of these My brethren” is done to Him. Interpretations differ: do these words refer to anyone in need or to Jesus’ followers?
The brief answer was prepared by the editorial team; the Scripture passages are from the “Father’s Blessing” Bible.
Key Scripture Passages
8 Scripture Passages · Father’s Blessing Bible
Deuteronomy 15:7–11
7 If there is a poor person among your brothers in any of your towns in the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother. 8 Rather, open your hand to him and lend him whatever he needs. 9 Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought in your heart: “The seventh year, the year of remission, is near,” and therefore look unkindly on your poor brother and refuse to give him anything; for he will cry out to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty of sin. 10 Give generously to him and lend him whatever he asks for and needs; when you give to him, do not let your heart be grieved, for because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you undertake. 11 For there will always be poor people in the land [that is yours]. Therefore I command you: open your hand wide to your brother, to the poor and needy in your land.
Luke 10:25–37
25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” 27 So he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” 29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among robbers, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest was going down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came upon him; and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, 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 return, I will repay you.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
1 John 3:16–18
16 We know what love is by this: He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But whoever has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him—how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in deed and in truth.
James 2:14–17
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and well fed,” but does not give them what the body needs, what good is that? 17 So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.
2 Corinthians 8:1–15
1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a great trial of affliction, their abundant joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their generosity. 3 For they gave according to their means and beyond their means—I testify: 4 they pleaded with us most earnestly for the privilege of sharing their ministry to the saints; 5 and not only as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, then to us by the will of God. 6 Therefore we urged Titus that, as he had already begun, so he should complete this work of grace among you. 7 But as you abound in everything—in faith and speech and knowledge and all earnestness and in your love for us—see that you abound in this act of grace also. 8 I do not say this as a command, but to test the sincerity of your love by the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter I give my judgment: it is beneficial for you, who not only began to do this but also desired to do it since last year. 11 So now finish the work, so that your eager willingness may be matched by completion, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 It is not required that others be relieved while you are burdened, but that there be equality. 14 At the present time your abundance supplies what they lack; so that their abundance may supply what you lack, that there may be equality, 15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”
2 Corinthians 9:6–11
6 Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each person should give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make every grace abound to you, so that in all things and at all times, having everything you need, you may abound in every good work, 9 as it is written: He has scattered abroad, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness; 11 you will be enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us;
Proverbs 19:17
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done.
Matthew 25:31–46
31 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory; 32 and all nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand: Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry, and you gave Me food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you welcomed Me; 36 I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me. 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying: Lord! When did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and welcome You, or naked and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? 40 And the King will answer and say to them: Truly I say to you, insofar as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me. 41 Then He will also say to those on the left: Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not welcome Me; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick and in prison, and you did not visit Me. 44 Then they also will answer Him, saying: Lord! When did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to You? 45 Then He will answer them, saying: Truly I say to you, insofar as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me. 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
