Expert: Messianic Rabbi Yochanan Levine - 10/25/2006

Question
Is there anything in the bible having to do with Poverty?
For example, any sciptures?

Answer
Hi Jillian,

There are several references. One of the most well know is Jesus' statement that:

Mark 14:7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me [Jesus] ye have not always.

From this we learn that poverty will not be done away until the global Millennial Kingdom is established. During this period, we should do what we can to help others, but keep our eyes on spiritual truths.

However... how we deal with poverty and the poor is directly related to our role as Believers. For instance:

Micah 6:6 Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

We are to do justly, show love and mercy to others.

In his Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus stresses the importance of helping others in need:

Luke 10:25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Do likewise... Work to help those who are less fortunate.

Matt 25: Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

As we care for the poor, we show our love of God. As we fail to show compassion for the poor and others in need, we fail in our responsibilities as Believers in God.

Under the Mosaic Law, land owners were required to leave a portion of their harvests in the fields for the gleaners, poor people who survived off these leaving.

Lev. 19:9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.
10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.

With the Festival of Jubilee (Lev 25) every 50 years all debts are forgiven to enable the poor to get out from under their debts.

Those who believe in the God of Israel are commanded to show mercy and compassion for others, including the poor. For Christians  there is a harsh warning for the Church of the Last days:

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Disregard for the poor is a serious offense in the Bible for both Jews and Christians.

There's a lot in the Bible on this subject. If you need more let me know.

~John of AllFaith