“With Us” Really Caring for the poor can mean having them with us, literally. Leviticus 25:35-38 “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, ...
Justice for the Poor The poor deserve the full protection of all the Law. Exodus 23:6-8 “You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his lawsuit. Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent and righteous, for I will not acquit the wicked. And you shall ...
Widows and Orphans Love requires that we care for the widows and orphans in our community. Deuteronomy 24:17, 18 “‘You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow’s garment in pledge, but you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the ...
Strangers in Our Midst The Law commands love for foreigners living among us. Deuteronomy 24:17, 18 “‘You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow’s garment in pledge, but you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the LORD your God ...
Loans to the Poor Loans can be a useful way of helping the poor. Deuteronomy 15:7, 8 “‘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 ...
With Us Always We will always have responsibility to care for the poor. Deuteronomy 15:11 “‘For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, “You shall open wide your ...
Kidnapping Stealing men is the most heinous form of theft. Exodus 21:16 “Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.” Deuteronomy 24:7 “‘If a man is found stealing one of his brothers, of the people of Israel, and if he treats him as ...
Love Your Enemies Our property is to be used for the purposes of love—even of our enemies. Exodus 23:4, 5 “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, ...
Loving God and Neighbors with Property God is Lord of property, and we are entrusted with it for His and our neighbors’ sake. Deuteronomy 23:24, 25 “‘If you go into your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes, as many as you wish, but you shall not put any in your ...
Damages Damaged property is not to be treated the same as stolen property. Leviticus 24:21a “Whoever kills an animal shall make it good….” Leviticus 24:18 “Whoever takes an animal’s life shall make it good, life for life.” These statutes seem to address a situation in which one person is responsible for the death of another’s animal, ...