THE POOR
Notes
Transcript
MATTHEW 26:11
MATTHEW 26:11
“POOR” = destitute, or of little value
The Poor will always be a part of society; usually a majority, and are of great value in the eyes of God.
EVEN IN THE OT: Deuteronomy 15:7-11
If there is a poor person among you from among one of your brothers in one of your towns that Yahweh your God is giving to you, you shall not harden your heart, and you shall not shut your hand toward your brother who is poor. But you shall certainly open your hand for him, and you shall willingly lend to him enough to meet his need, whatever it is. Take care so that there will not be a thought of wickedness in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of the remission of debt is near,’ and you view your needy neighbor with hostility, and so you do not give to him, and he might cry out against you to Yahweh, and you would incur guilt against yourself. By all means you must give to him, and you must not be discontented at your giving to him, because on account of this very thing, Yahweh your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. For the poor will not cease to be among you in the land; therefore I am commanding you, saying, ‘You shall willingly open your hand to your brother, to your needy and to your poor that are in your land.’
God’s concern for the poor is of utmost importance, and therefore should be of great importance to us as Followers of Jesus.
According to Pew Research, 71% of the global population lives on less than $10 per day ($3650/year).
Half of the global population lives on less that $5.50 per day.
If you make more than $34,000 a year, you are part of the top 1%.
Why is this an important issue? Because it was important to our Lord.
JESUS WAS BORN IN POVERTY, IN HUMBLE CIRCUMSTANCES. LUKE 2:7-14
And she gave birth to her firstborn son, and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds in the same region, living out of doors and keeping watch, guarding over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terribly frightened. And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring good news to you of great joy which will be for all the people: that today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. And this will be the sign for you: you will find the baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace
among people with whom he is pleased!”
2. JESUS’ CARE FOR THE POOR WAS A SIGN THAT HE WAS THE MESSIAH OF ISRAEL
LUKE 4:18; 6:20-26; 7:22
And he answered and said to them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear; the dead are raised, the poor have good news announced to them.
3. JESUS COMMANDED HIS DISCIPLES TO SEEK OUT AND WELCOME THE POOR
And he also said to the one who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or wealthy neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and repayment come to you. But whenever you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they are not able to repay you. For it will be paid back to you at the resurrection of the righteous.”
4. GOD WILL ONE DAY VINDICATE THE POOR WHO BELONG TO HIM
But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you received your good things during your life, and Lazarus likewise bad things. But now he is comforted here, but you are suffering pain.
5. JESUS EXPECTS HIS DISCIPLES TO BE WILLING TO BE MADE POOR FOR HIS SAKE AND HIS KINGDOM
And when he heard this, Jesus said to him, “You still lack one thing: Sell all that you have, and distribute the proceeds to the poor—and you will have treasure in heaven—and come, follow me.”
6. JESUS SEES CARING FOR THE POOR AS A SIGN OF TRUE SALVATION
And Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I am giving to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone, I am paying it back four times as much!”