The Bible has a lot to say about God’s heart for the poor and how we as followers of Christ should care for and respond to those in need. Here is an overview of some key Bible passages that address the topic of poverty and caring for the poor:
Old Testament Verses on the Poor
In the Old Testament, God called on His people to look after the poor and marginalized in society. For example:
- “Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.” (Proverbs 14:31)
- “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” (Luke 3:11)
- “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.” (Deuteronomy 15:7-8)
- “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.” (Isaiah 1:17)
The Law of Moses made extensive provisions for the poor, including gleaning laws that allowed the poor to gather grain left behind after harvest (Leviticus 19:9-10). The Year of Jubilee was instituted to prevent permanent poverty and give people back their land every 50 years (Leviticus 25).
New Testament Verses on the Poor
In the New Testament, caring for the poor was a vital part of living out the gospel. Jesus identified with the poor and regularly fed and healed them. He told his followers to invite the poor to their feasts rather than only the wealthy (Luke 14:12-14). Here are some key passages:
- “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20)
- “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail.” (Luke 12:33)
- “But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14:13-14)
- “Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.” (Galatians 2:10)
- “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (James 1:27)
The early church made caring for widows and orphans a priority (Acts 6:1-6). Paul organized a collection for poor Christians in Jerusalem (Romans 15:25-28, 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, 2 Corinthians 8–9). The rich were warned not to oppress the poor (James 5:1-6).
God’s Heart for the Poor
Throughout Scripture, God shows His heart for the poor and needy. He values them highly. As His followers, we are called to reflect His character by looking after the poor in our midst.
God promises to bless those who consider the poor (Psalm 41:1). He hears their cries for help and delivers them from oppression (Psalm 12:5, Psalm 140:12). God upholds the cause of the fatherless and widow (Deuteronomy 10:18, Psalm 146:9). His laws protected foreigners, orphans and widows from being exploited or mistreated (Exodus 22:21-22).
God holds His people accountable when they neglect the poor and needy. The prophets frequently rebuked Israel for their oppression of the poor. Amos cries out, “Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy” (Amos 4:1). God tells Israel, “The people of the land have practiced oppression and committed robbery. They have wronged the poor and needy” (Ezekiel 18:12).
How Should We Care for the Poor?
The Bible calls us to generously give to the poor and seek justice on their behalf in a variety of ways:
- Giving generously and joyfully – Give freely without begrudging it (Deuteronomy 15:10, 2 Corinthians 9:7).
- Giving personally – Don’t just give money but connect personally (Isaiah 58:7).
- Advocating for justice – Speak up for the vulnerable (Proverbs 31:9).
- Sharing resources – Share food, clothing, money to meet pressing needs (Luke 3:11, 1 John 3:17).
- Employment support – Help people get back on their feet through work programs, training, mentoring, job search support.
- Visitation – Visit those who are lonely or in prison (Matthew 25:36, James 1:27).
- Welcoming strangers – Welcome immigrants, refugees and strangers in our land (Leviticus 19:34, Hebrews 13:2).
- Community development – Support local initiatives that tackle root causes of poverty.
Cautions Around Helping the Poor
Scripture offers some wisdom and cautions as we seek to help the poor:
- Help should be given freely, not under compulsion (2 Corinthians 9:7).
- Don’t give to gain the praise of others (Matthew 6:2).
- Give quietly and generously without showiness (Matthew 6:3-4).
- Give the best quality goods and food you have (Malachi 1:6-8).
- Don’t judge the poor or withhold help from those you consider undeserving (Matthew 7:1-5).
- Aim for empowerment and restoration over handouts when possible.
- Have discretion in giving to avoid enabling self-destructive behaviors (Proverbs 23:20-21, 2 Thessalonians 3:10).
- Give sustainable development aid that equips people to support themselves.
Our Motivation to Help the Poor
Above all, our motivation should be God’s love. We care for the poor because God first loved us (1 John 4:19). The grace we’ve received compels us to give generously to others (2 Corinthians 8:9). We love because God first loved us by meeting our greatest need in Christ (1 John 4:10).
Jesus tells us that when we serve the poor, we are ultimately serving Him (Matthew 25:35-40). So we help the poor not out of mere obligation but because we love Christ. As we give generously to the needy, we glorify God (2 Corinthians 9:12-13) and store up treasures in heaven (Luke 12:33).
Bible Characters Who Helped the Poor
Many righteous Bible characters modeled care and compassion for the poor. Their examples inspire us to do likewise:
- Job – He regularly helped the poor, fatherless, widows, disabled and strangers (Job 29:12-16, Job 31:16-23).
- Ruth – She humbly gleaned grain to provide for her destitute mother-in-law Naomi (Ruth 2).
- Boaz – He protected and provided for the widowed Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 2).
- Nehemiah – He championed reforms to stop the exploitation of the poor in Israel (Nehemiah 5:1-13).
- Esther – She used her position as queen to save the oppressed Jewish people (Esther 7-9).
- Daniel – He was a righteous advocate for the poor and needy in the Babylonian exile (Psalm 82:3-4).
- Early Christians – They shared possessions, sold property, and gave to the poor (Acts 2:44-45, Acts 4:34-35).
10 Key Bible Verses on the Poor
Here are 10 powerful verses from Scripture that reveal God’s heart for the poor and His high calling for us to help them:
- “The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor.” (Proverbs 29:7)
- “Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (Proverbs 31:9)
- “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” (Psalm 82:3-4)
- “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.” (Proverbs 19:17)
- “Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.” (Proverbs 14:31)
- “If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you. Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you.” (Leviticus 25:35-36)
- “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.” (1 Timothy 6:17-18)
- “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail.” (Luke 12:33)
- “But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14:13-14)
- “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 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, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’” (Matthew 25:34-36)
These and many other Bible verses reveal God’s heart for the poor and His mandate for believers to care for those in need. As Christ followers, may we rise to the calling to serve the poor, defend the oppressed, give generously and help empower the needy in the strength of Jesus.