helping those in need

¹⁷Whoever is merciful to the poor lends to the Lord. And he will repay him for his efforts.

³⁵I have revealed all things to you, because by laboring in this way, it is necessary to support the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

¹¹The poor will not be absent from the land of your habitation. For this reason, I instruct you to open your hand to your indigent and poor brother, who lives among you in the land.

⁹Whoever is inclined to mercy shall be blessed, for from his bread he has given to the poor. Whoever gives gifts will acquire victory and honor. But he carries away the soul of the receiver.

²Carry one another’s burdens, and so shall you fulfill the law of Christ.

⁴²Whoever asks of you, give to him. And if anyone would borrow from you, do not turn away from him.

³⁸Give, and it will be given to you: a good measure, pressed down and shaken together and overflowing, they will place upon your lap. Certainly, the same measure that you use to measure out, will be used to measure back to you again.”

¹⁶But do not be willing to forget good works and fellowship. For God is deserving of such sacrifices.

³¹Whoever slanders the indigent argues against his Maker. But he who has compassion on the poor honors his Maker.

³³Sell what you possess, and give alms. Make for yourselves purses that will not wear out, a treasure that will not fall short, in heaven, where no thief approaches, and no moth corrupts. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

³⁵For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in; ³⁶naked, and you covered me; sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.’ ³⁷Then the just will answer him, saying: ‘Lord, when have we seen you hungry, and fed you; thirsty, and given you drink? ³⁸And when have we seen you a stranger, and taken you in? Or naked, and covered you? ³⁹Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit to you?’ ⁴⁰And in response, the King shall say to them, ‘Amen I say to you, whenever you did this for one of these, the least of my brothers, you did it for me.’

²⁷Whoever gives to the poor shall not be in need. Whoever despises his petition will suffer scarcity.

⁴Let each of you not consider anything to be your own, but rather to belong to others.

¹⁷Whoever possesses the goods of this world, and sees his brother to be in need, and yet closes his heart to him: in what way does the love of God abide in him?

¹³in the difficulties of the saints, sharing; in hospitality, attentive.