Reference: Alms, Almsgiving
Hastings
An alms' (Ac 3:3) is something freely given, in money or in kind, to the needy, from motives of love and pity for the recipient, and of gratitude to the Giver of all. Hence what is given or paid to the poor under the authority and compulsion of law, as the modern poor rate, is not alms. For such legal provision in OT times see Poor. Much might be of the humane spirit which pervades the whole of the Hebrew legislation, and in particular the legislation of Dt, of which, in this respect, De 15:1 may be taken as the epitome: 'Thou shalt surely open thine hand unto thy brother, to thy needy and to thy poor' (RV). The writings of the prophets, also, are full of generous advocacy of the rights of the poor. In the later pre-Christian centuries almsgiving became one of the most prominent of religious duties (Ps 112:9; Pr 14:21; 19:17; 31:20; Job 29:12 f.). The sentiment of the 2nd cent. b.c.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
At the end of every seven years you must declare a cancellation of debts.
for I rescued the poor who cried out for help, and the orphan who had no one to assist him;
He generously gives to the needy; his integrity endures. He will be vindicated and honored.
The one who despises his neighbor sins, but whoever is kind to the needy is blessed.
The one who is gracious to the poor lends to the Lord, and the Lord will repay him for his good deed.
She extends her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hand to the needy.
Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps your prosperity will be prolonged."
"Be careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people. Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in heaven.
"Be careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people. Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in heaven. Thus whenever you do charitable giving, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in synagogues and on streets so that people will praise them. I tell you the truth, they have their reward. read more. But when you do your giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your gift may be in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
For I tell you the truth, whoever gives you a cup of water because you bear Christ's name will never lose his reward.
When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple courts, he asked them for money.
The group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but everything was held in common.
For there was no one needy among them, because those who were owners of land or houses were selling them and bringing the proceeds from the sales
Now in those days, when the disciples were growing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Greek-speaking Jews against the native Hebraic Jews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
By all these things, I have shown you that by working in this way we must help the weak, and remember the words of the Lord Jesus that he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
With regard to the collection for the saints, please follow the directions that I gave to the churches of Galatia:
For it is not necessary for me to write you about this service to the saints,