Exodus 21:
2 If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything.
3 If he comes alone, he is to go free alone; but if he has a wife when he comes, she is to go with him.
4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.
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Exodus 22:
25 If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest.
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Leviticus 19:
9 When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.
10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.
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Leviticus 25,
•The sabbatical year (every seventh year the land is to rest).
•The Year of Jubilee (every fiftieth year, debts are forgiven, and land is returned to original owners).
•Provision for the poor and landless people.
•Redemption of property and the protection of vulnerable members of society.
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Deuteronomy 24:
19 When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
20 When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow.
21 When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow.
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Matthew 19:
21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
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Luke 4: ( Jubilee ),
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
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James 5:
1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you.
2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.
3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.
4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.
5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.
6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
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Sirach 29:
1 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay them for their deeds.
2 Give to the one who is good, and do not turn away your face from the poor.
3 If you have much, give abundantly; if you have little, give sparingly.
4 A little with righteousness is better than much with injustice.
5 It is better to give a little with a good heart than to give much with wrongdoing.
6 Be steadfast in your prayers and do not neglect to help the poor.
7 Do not hesitate to give to the poor, and do not grieve when you give.
8 Do not turn away your face from the poor, and do not turn away from them in their need.
9 Let your kindness be your repayment, and let your kindness come back to you.
10 All things come from the Lord, and from his hand we have received.
11 Give, and you will receive, and your prayer will be answered.
12 Do not hold back, for you have what is needed, and God has given it to you for your own benefit.
13 Those who give to the poor are blessed.
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Sirach 34:
21 The bread of the needy is the life of the poor; whoever deprives them of it is a murderer.
22 Whoever takes away a neighbor’s living is a murderer; whoever sheds blood is a murderer.
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Tobit 4:
7 Give to the poor from your possessions.
8 Do not turn your face away from any poor person, and the face of God will not be turned away from you.
9 If you have many possessions, make a good investment and give to charity from them.
10 Do not hesitate to give.
11 For the Lord’s command is to give to those in need.
Matthew 25:
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
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You don't have to understand the complexity to understand the basics. If you treat the poor with anything but support, you're evil in the eyes of your Lord.
This is a really good post. No commentary, just straight from the horse’s mouth. I’m a Jesus appreciator and have been reading the New Testament and man, what he lays out is something much different than I see promulgated by many self professed Christians.
And yet they still call themselves Christians.
I think that's called taking the Lords name in vain.