The Poor: do Justice To
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The biblical mandate to do justice to the poor is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, emphasizing God's concern for the marginalized and His call for His people to act justly. The Bible presents a clear expectation that believers should actively work to ensure justice for the poor, reflecting God's own character and His kingdom values.

Old Testament Foundations

The Old Testament lays a strong foundation for the treatment of the poor, with numerous laws and teachings that underscore the importance of justice. In Deuteronomy 15:11, the Israelites are commanded, "For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you to open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor in your land." This directive highlights the perpetual presence of poverty and the ongoing responsibility to address it.

The prophets frequently called out Israel for failing to uphold justice for the poor. Isaiah 1:17 exhorts, "Learn to do right; seek justice. Correct the oppressor; defend the fatherless; plead the case of the widow." Similarly, Micah 6:8 famously summarizes God's requirements: "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Wisdom Literature

The wisdom literature of the Old Testament also speaks to the treatment of the poor. Proverbs 31:8-9 instructs, "Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy." These verses emphasize the responsibility to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves.

New Testament Teachings

In the New Testament, Jesus' ministry is marked by a profound concern for the poor. In Luke 4:18, Jesus declares His mission: "The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor." This proclamation sets the tone for His ministry, which consistently uplifted the downtrodden and challenged societal norms.

The early church continued this emphasis on justice for the poor. In Galatians 2:10, Paul recounts the agreement with the apostles in Jerusalem: "They only asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do." This reflects the continuity of concern for the poor from the Old Testament into the life of the early church.

Practical Implications

The biblical call to do justice to the poor is not merely theoretical but demands practical action. James 2:15-17 challenges believers: "If a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, keep warm and well fed,' but does not provide for their physical needs, what good is that? So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead."

The call to justice for the poor is a call to reflect God's heart and character. It is a call to live out the gospel in tangible ways, ensuring that the needs of the poor are met and that they are treated with dignity and fairness.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Psalm 82:3
Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 22:3,16
Thus said the LORD; Execute you judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Christ's Sermon on the Mount in Manner and Contents it So ...
... In the psalm he exclaims: "Defend the fatherless and the needy; do justice to the
humble and the poor; deliver the poor, and rid the needy out of the hand of ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xiv christs sermon on the.htm

Justice Satisfied
... full of his quivering flesh torn from his poor bare back ... this becomes a double bond
upon the justice of God ... if such a thing was done, you would do something else ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/justice satisfied.htm

Now Suppose that While You were Writing This, as You Tell us You ...
... you did, quickly not cautiously, by the poor glimmering light ... I have said, you will
with more justice be condemned ... by that of others." Would you, do you think ...
/.../21 now suppose that while.htm

Testimonies. 1. Of the Benefit of Good Works and Mercy.
... Do justice all the days of thy life, and do not walk in the way of unrighteousness ...
Give alms of thy substance, and turn not thy face from any poor man. ...
/.../three books of testimonies against the jews/testimonies 1 of the benefit.htm

Christians are the Sons of God.
... Judge for the orphan and the poor, and do justice to the humble and needy. Deliver
the needy, and save the poor out of the hand of the wicked. ...
/.../chapter cxxiv christians are the sons.htm

To the King of France
... at your officials doing injustice for money, and denying right to the poor: but
be to the poor a father ... For all this appertains to the divine justice to do. ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to the king of france.htm

Thirdly, for Thy Actions.
... mensura, to the meanest subject; but let the cause of the poor and needy ... venerable
judge I say with Jehoshaphat, "Be of good courage, and do justice, and the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/bayly/the practice of piety/thirdly for thy actions.htm

"For what the Law could not Do, in that it was Weak Though the ...
... especially,"wisdom, mercy and grace, justice and righteousness ... and perplexing
doubts,"that they do not only ... heaven to the earth, that poor wretched sinners ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xii for what the.htm

To the Rev. A. Brandram
... I send you a translation, and I think that you will do me the justice to say ... in kindness,
and I went away wondering by what strange chance this poor man had ...
/.../borrow/letters of george borrow/to the rev a brandram 36.htm

Jehoshaphat
... He judgeth among the gods." And those who are appointed to act as judges under Him,
are to "defend the poor and fatherless;" they are to "do justice to the ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 15 jehoshaphat.htm

Resources
How does oppressing the poor show contempt for their Maker (Proverbs 14:31)? | GotQuestions.org

Is it better, spiritually, to be poor than to be rich? | GotQuestions.org

What is liberation theology? | GotQuestions.org

Poor: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Poor

Poor: Atonement Money of, Uniform With That of the Rich People

Poor: Duty To

Poor: God's Care of

Poor: Inexpensive offerings of People Who Have Very Little Money

Poor: Kindness To by Boaz

Poor: Kindness To by Job

Poor: Kindness to Congregations

Poor: Kindness to Congregations of Macedonia and Achaia

Poor: Kindness to Cornelius

Poor: Kindness to Dorcas

Poor: Kindness to Jews

Poor: Kindness to Nebuzaradan

Poor: Kindness to Paul

Poor: Kindness to Prophet's Widow

Poor: Kindness to The Congregation at Antioch (In Syria)

Poor: Kindness to The Good Samaritan

Poor: Kindness to The Temanites

Poor: Kindness to To Ruth

Poor: Kindness to To the Widow of Zarephath

Poor: Kindness to Zacchaeus

Poor: Oppressions of

Poor: Poor in Spirit

Poor: The Widow's Son

Poor: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To

The Poor are Such by God's Appointment

The Poor by Mocking, God is Reproached

The Poor by Oppressing, God is Reproached

The Poor: A Care For is a Fruit of Repentance

The Poor: A Care For is Characteristic of Saints

The Poor: A Care For: should be Urged

The Poor: Care For-Illustrated

The Poor: Christ Delivers

The Poor: Christ Lived As One of

The Poor: Christ Preached To

The Poor: Condition of, often Results From: Bad Company

The Poor: Condition of, often Results From: Drunkenness and Gluttony

The Poor: Condition of, often Results From: Sloth

The Poor: Defend

The Poor: Despise Not

The Poor: do Justice To

The Poor: Gideon

The Poor: Give to Cheerfully

The Poor: Give to Liberally

The Poor: Give to not Grudgingly

The Poor: Give to Pray For

The Poor: Give to Specially If Saints

The Poor: Give To without Ostentation

The Poor: God is the Refuge of

The Poor: God: Delivers

The Poor: God: Despises No the Prayer of

The Poor: God: Exalts

The Poor: God: Forgets Not

The Poor: God: Hears

The Poor: God: Maintains the Right of

The Poor: God: Protects

The Poor: God: Provides For

The Poor: God: Regards Equally With the Rich

The Poor: Guilt of Defrauding

The Poor: Harden not the Heart Against

The Poor: Made by God

The Poor: May Be: Liberal

The Poor: May Be: Rich in Faith

The Poor: May Be: Upright

The Poor: May Be: Wise

The Poor: Neglect Towards Is: A Neglect of Christ

The Poor: Neglect Towards Is: A Proof of Unbelief

The Poor: Neglect Towards Is: Inconsistent With Love to God

The Poor: Offerings of, Acceptable to God

The Poor: Oppress Not

The Poor: Oppression of-Illustrated

The Poor: Prophet's Widow

The Poor: Punishment For: Acting Unjustly Towards

The Poor: Punishment For: Oppressing

The Poor: Punishment For: Refusing to Assist

The Poor: Punishment For: Spoiling

The Poor: Regard For: Boaz

The Poor: Regard For: Church at Antioch

The Poor: Regard For: Churches of Macedonia and Achaia

The Poor: Regard For: Cornelius

The Poor: Regard For: Dorcas

The Poor: Regard For: Job

The Poor: Regard For: Nebuzaradan

The Poor: Regard For: Paul

The Poor: Regard For: Peter and John

The Poor: Regard For: Zacchaeus

The Poor: Rob Not

The Poor: Rule Not, With Vigour

The Poor: Ruth

The Poor: Saints of Old

The Poor: Shall Never Cease out of the Land

The Poor: should Commit Themselves to God

The Poor: should Hope in God

The Poor: should Provided for Under the Law

The Poor: should Rejoice in God

The Poor: should when Converted, Rejoice in Their Exaltation

The Poor: Shut not the Hand Against

The Poor: Take No Usury From

The Poor: The Wicked: Care not For

The Poor: The Wicked: Crush

The Poor: The Wicked: Defraud

The Poor: The Wicked: Despise the Counsel of

The Poor: The Wicked: Devour

The Poor: The Wicked: Grind the Faces of

The Poor: The Wicked: Oppress

The Poor: The Wicked: Persecute

The Poor: The Wicked: Regard not the Cause of

The Poor: The Wicked: Sell

The Poor: The Wicked: Tread Down

The Poor: The Wicked: Vex

The Poor: They Who in Faith, Believe are Blessed

The Poor: They Who in Faith, Believe are Happy

The Poor: They Who in Faith, Believe: Have Promises

The Poor: They Who in Faith, Believe: Have the Favour of God

The Poor: Widow of Zarephath

The Poor: Wrong not in Judgment

Related Terms

Lord'the (1 Occurrence)

Is'the (1 Occurrence)

The (669438 Occurrences)

Oak-the (1 Occurrence)

Saying'the (1 Occurrence)

Jok'the-el (1 Occurrence)

The-oph'ilus (2 Occurrences)

The-not-beloved (1 Occurrence)

Ko'hathites (19 Occurrences)

Kohathite (18 Occurrences)

Kir'iath-je'arim (18 Occurrences)

Zin (9 Occurrences)

Zarephath (4 Occurrences)

Kirjathjearim (17 Occurrences)

Vintage (14 Occurrences)

Kore (4 Occurrences)

Knives (12 Occurrences)

Zidonians (11 Occurrences)

Kareah (14 Occurrences)

Vegetation (18 Occurrences)

Kanah (3 Occurrences)

Vine-dressers (18 Occurrences)

Vicinity (18 Occurrences)

Zeboim (7 Occurrences)

Kadeshbarnea (9 Occurrences)

Kare'ah (14 Occurrences)

Volition

Kol

Kirjath-jearim (17 Occurrences)

Vashti (10 Occurrences)

Zabdi (17 Occurrences)

Knitted (9 Occurrences)

Kids (12 Occurrences)

Killeth (23 Occurrences)

Vial (12 Occurrences)

Zelophehad (9 Occurrences)

Home-born (14 Occurrences)

Kingship (17 Occurrences)

Kadesh-barnea (9 Occurrences)

Zealot (4 Occurrences)

Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Kibrothhattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Victorious (17 Occurrences)

Zacchaeus (3 Occurrences)

Zenas (1 Occurrence)

Kneel (10 Occurrences)

Zachariah (6 Occurrences)

Kebar (8 Occurrences)

Kerethites (9 Occurrences)

Zeeb (3 Occurrences)

Zoheleth (1 Occurrence)

Zarethan (4 Occurrences)

Kinnereth (7 Occurrences)

Knowledge

Knelt (20 Occurrences)

Visible (12 Occurrences)

Zeus (3 Occurrences)

Ziph (9 Occurrences)

Zebadiah (9 Occurrences)

Zorah (10 Occurrences)

Kenite (9 Occurrences)

Kick (8 Occurrences)

Kedar (11 Occurrences)

Zichri (12 Occurrences)

Ko'rahites (6 Occurrences)

Zeru'iah (24 Occurrences)

Kei'lah (16 Occurrences)

24000 (10 Occurrences)

Vapor (6 Occurrences)

Vanished (13 Occurrences)

Verdict (7 Occurrences)

Violated (23 Occurrences)

Knop (4 Occurrences)

Visiting (10 Occurrences)

Zaphon (4 Occurrences)

Zephani'ah (10 Occurrences)

Zaccur (10 Occurrences)

Koz (5 Occurrences)

Kadmiel (8 Occurrences)

The Poor: Despise Not
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