Reference: Alms
Easton
Not found in the Old Testament, but repeatedly in the New. The Mosaic legislation (Le 25:35; De 15:7) tended to promote a spirit of charity, and to prevent the occurrence of destitution among the people. Such passages as these, Ps 41:1; 112:9; Pr 14:31; Isa 10:2; Am 2:7; Jer 5:28; Eze 22:29, would also naturally foster the same benevolent spirit.
In the time of our Lord begging was common (Mr 10:46; Ac 3:2). The Pharisees were very ostentatious in their almsgivings (Mt 6:2). The spirit by which the Christian ought to be actuated in this duty is set forth in 1Jo 3:17. A regard to the state of the poor and needy is enjoined as a Christian duty (Lu 3:11; 6:30; Mt 6:1; Ac 9:36; 10:2,4), a duty which was not neglected by the early Christians (Lu 14:13; Ac 20:35; Ga 2:10; Ro 15:25-27; 1Co 16:1-4). They cared not only for the poor among themselves, but contributed also to the necessities of those at a distance (Ac 11:29; 24:17; 2Co 9:12). Our Lord and his attendants showed an example also in this (Joh 13:29).
In modern times the "poor-laws" have introduced an element which modifies considerably the form in which we may discharge this Christian duty.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Beware of doing your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. When, therefore, you do a charitable deed, do not cause a trumpet to be sounded before you, as the hypocrites do, in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be glorified by men. Verily, I say to you, They have their reward.
And they came to Jericho: and as he was going out of Jericho, with his disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timseus, was sitting on the roadside, begging.
He answered and said to them: He that has two coats, let him give to him that has none; and he that has food, let him do likewise.
Give to every one that asks of you; and of him that takes away your goods, ask them not again.
But when you make a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind;
For some thought, because Judas had the purse, that Jesus had said to him: Buy what we need for the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
And a certain man, lame from his mother's womb, was carried along, whom they laid daily at that gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, that he might ask charity of those who were going into the temple.
Now there was in Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which name, when translated, is Dorcas. She was full of good works and deeds of charity which she did.
a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who did many acts of charity to the people, and prayed to God always.
And having looked steadily on him, he was afraid, and said: "What is it, Lord? He said to him: Your prayers and your charitable deeds have come up for a memorial before God.
And every one of the disciples determined, as he had the means, to send relief to the brethren that dwelt in Judea;
In all things I have taught you by ex ample, that by thus laboring, you ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus; for he himself said, It is more blessed to give, than to receive.
But, after many years, I came to bring charitable gifts to my nation, and offerings.
But now I am going to Jerusalem, to minister to the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor saints who are in Jerusalem: read more. they have been pleased to do so, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have become partakers of their spiritual things, they ought to minister to them in things pertaining to the flesh.
requesting only that we would remember the poor, which same thing I have been diligent in doing.
Whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother have need, and shuts his heart against him, how dwells the love of God in him?
Fausets
From Greek eleemosyne. The Hebrew "righteousness" in Old Testament and the Greek in many manuscripts of Mt 6:1, stands for ALMS. So Da 4:27, "Break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor." The poor were entitled to leavings from the produce of the field, the vineyard, and the olive yard (Le 19:9-10; 23:22; De 15:11; 24:19; 26:2-13), the third year's tithing for the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, the widow.
Compare Job 31:17; 29:16; "I was a father to the poor." Ne 8:10; Pr 10:2; 11:4; Es 9:22; Ps 41:1; 112:9. Dorcas (Ac 9:36). Cornelius (Ac 10:2). God prefers such neighborly love to fasting (Isa 58:7). Thirteen receptacles for free offerings were in the women's court of the temple (Mr 12:41-44). Begging was a practice only known after the captivity. In every city there were three collectors who distributed alms of two kinds:
1. Of money collected in the synagogue chest every sabbath for the poor of the city, "the alms of the chest."
2. Of food and money received in a dish, "alms of the dish." The Pharisees gave much alms, but with ostentation, figuratively blowing the trumpet before them (the figure being from the trumpet blowing in religious feasts): Mt 6:1-2. The duty was recognized among Christians as a leading one (Lu 14:13; Ro 15:25-27; Ga 2:10). A laying by for alms in proportion to one's means on every Lord's day is recommended (1Co 16:1-4; Ac 11:29-30; 20:35). Jesus and the twelve, out of their common purse, set the pattern (Joh 13:29). Not the costliness, but the love and self denial, and the proportion the gift bears to one's means, are what God prizes (Mr 12:42-44). Such "come up as a memorial before God" (Ac 9:36; 10:2,4). The giving was not imposed as a matter of constraint, but of bounty, on Christians (Ac 5:4).
The individual was not merged in the community, as in socialism; each freely gave, and distribution was made, not to the lazy who would not work, but to the needy (Ac 2:45; 2Th 3:10). A mendicant order is the very opposite of the Christian system. The Jewish tithe was not imposed, but the principle of proportionate giving having been laid down, the definite proportion is left to each one's faith and love to fix (2Co 9:5-7). Love will hardly give less than legalism. An ecclesiastical order of widowhood attended to charitable ministrations in the early church (1Ti 5:10). The deacons were appointed primarily for the distribution of alms (Acts 6). Alms are "righteousness," not that they justify a man (which Romans 3; 4; 5 prove they do not), but they are the doing that which is right and which our neighbor has a rightful claim upon us for, in the court of God's equity, though not of human law. God gives us means for this very end (Eph 4:28).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Beware of doing your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
Beware of doing your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
Beware of doing your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
Beware of doing your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. When, therefore, you do a charitable deed, do not cause a trumpet to be sounded before you, as the hypocrites do, in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be glorified by men. Verily, I say to you, They have their reward.
When, therefore, you do a charitable deed, do not cause a trumpet to be sounded before you, as the hypocrites do, in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be glorified by men. Verily, I say to you, They have their reward.
And Jesus, sitting opposite the treasury, observed how the multitude threw money into the treasury. And many rich persons threw in much.
And Jesus, sitting opposite the treasury, observed how the multitude threw money into the treasury. And many rich persons threw in much. And there came one poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
And there came one poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
And there came one poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
And there came one poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called his disciples to him, and said to them: Verily I say to you, this poor widow has thrown in more than all that have thrown into the treasury.
And he called his disciples to him, and said to them: Verily I say to you, this poor widow has thrown in more than all that have thrown into the treasury.
And he called his disciples to him, and said to them: Verily I say to you, this poor widow has thrown in more than all that have thrown into the treasury.
And he called his disciples to him, and said to them: Verily I say to you, this poor widow has thrown in more than all that have thrown into the treasury. For all have thrown in out of their abundance; but she, out of her poverty, has thrown in all that she had, her whole living.
For all have thrown in out of their abundance; but she, out of her poverty, has thrown in all that she had, her whole living.
For all have thrown in out of their abundance; but she, out of her poverty, has thrown in all that she had, her whole living.
For all have thrown in out of their abundance; but she, out of her poverty, has thrown in all that she had, her whole living.
But when you make a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind;
But when you make a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind;
For some thought, because Judas had the purse, that Jesus had said to him: Buy what we need for the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
For some thought, because Judas had the purse, that Jesus had said to him: Buy what we need for the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
and they sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, as each had need.
and they sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, as each had need.
While it remained unsold, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your own disposal? Why have you purposed this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.
While it remained unsold, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your own disposal? Why have you purposed this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.
Now there was in Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which name, when translated, is Dorcas. She was full of good works and deeds of charity which she did.
Now there was in Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which name, when translated, is Dorcas. She was full of good works and deeds of charity which she did.
Now there was in Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which name, when translated, is Dorcas. She was full of good works and deeds of charity which she did.
Now there was in Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which name, when translated, is Dorcas. She was full of good works and deeds of charity which she did.
a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who did many acts of charity to the people, and prayed to God always.
a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who did many acts of charity to the people, and prayed to God always.
a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who did many acts of charity to the people, and prayed to God always.
a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who did many acts of charity to the people, and prayed to God always.
And having looked steadily on him, he was afraid, and said: "What is it, Lord? He said to him: Your prayers and your charitable deeds have come up for a memorial before God.
And having looked steadily on him, he was afraid, and said: "What is it, Lord? He said to him: Your prayers and your charitable deeds have come up for a memorial before God.
And every one of the disciples determined, as he had the means, to send relief to the brethren that dwelt in Judea;
And every one of the disciples determined, as he had the means, to send relief to the brethren that dwelt in Judea; which also they did; and they sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
which also they did; and they sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
In all things I have taught you by ex ample, that by thus laboring, you ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus; for he himself said, It is more blessed to give, than to receive.
In all things I have taught you by ex ample, that by thus laboring, you ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus; for he himself said, It is more blessed to give, than to receive.
But now I am going to Jerusalem, to minister to the saints.
But now I am going to Jerusalem, to minister to the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor saints who are in Jerusalem:
For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor saints who are in Jerusalem: they have been pleased to do so, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have become partakers of their spiritual things, they ought to minister to them in things pertaining to the flesh.
they have been pleased to do so, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have become partakers of their spiritual things, they ought to minister to them in things pertaining to the flesh.
As it respects the collection which is for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so also do you.
As it respects the collection which is for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so also do you. On the first day of the week, let each of you lay by him, and treasure up as he has prospered, that there may be no collections when I come.
On the first day of the week, let each of you lay by him, and treasure up as he has prospered, that there may be no collections when I come. And when I come, whatever per sons you approve, I will send with letters to carry your favor to Jerusalem.
And when I come, whatever per sons you approve, I will send with letters to carry your favor to Jerusalem. And if it be proper that I also should go, they shall go with me.
And if it be proper that I also should go, they shall go with me.
Therefore, I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go before to you, and make ready beforehand your bounty, which has been so much talked of before, that this might be ready as a bounty, and not as a gift extorted from you.
Therefore, I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go before to you, and make ready beforehand your bounty, which has been so much talked of before, that this might be ready as a bounty, and not as a gift extorted from you. But remember this, that he who sows sparingly, shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully, shall also reap bountifully.
But remember this, that he who sows sparingly, shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully, shall also reap bountifully. Let each one give, as he purposes in his heart; not with grief, nor from necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.
Let each one give, as he purposes in his heart; not with grief, nor from necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.
requesting only that we would remember the poor, which same thing I have been diligent in doing.
requesting only that we would remember the poor, which same thing I have been diligent in doing.
Let him that steals, steal no more: but rather let labor, working with his hands that which is good, that he may have something to give to him that has need.
Let him that steals, steal no more: but rather let labor, working with his hands that which is good, that he may have something to give to him that has need.
having a good reputation for good works; if she has borne children, if she has entertained strangers, if she has washed the saints feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.
having a good reputation for good works; if she has borne children, if she has entertained strangers, if she has washed the saints feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.
Morish
Offerings given to the poor. It was righteous to do so: hence, giving to the poor is called righteousness. Ps 112:9; 2Co 9:9. In the law provision was made for the poor. Ex 23:11; Le 19:10. It is declared that the poor would never cease out of the land; and if not relieved and they cried to the Lord, it would be accounted a sin against those who should have aided them. De 15:7-11. On the other hand, we read that "he that hath pity upon the poor lendeth to the Lord, and that which he hath given will he pay him again." Pr 19:17. In the N.T. the same thing is enforced. We are exhorted to do good unto all men, especially unto them of the household of faith. Ga 6:10. "He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly . . . . the Lord loveth a cheerful giver;" and whole chapters were written to stir up the saints to give liberally to the poor in Judaea. "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, but especially to those who are the household of the faith.
Smith
Alms.
The duty of alms-giving, especially in kind, consisting chiefly in portions to be left designedly from produce of the field, the vineyard and the oliveyard,
Le 19:9-10; 23:22; De 15:11; 24:19; 26:2-13; Ru 2:2
is strictly enjoined by the law. Every third year also,
De 14:28
each proprietor was directed to share the tithe of his produce with "the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless and the widow." The theological estimate of alms-giving among the Jews is indicated in the following passages:
Job 31:17; Pr 10:2; 11:4; Es 9:22; Ps 112:9; Ac 9:36
the case of Dorcas;
of Cornelius; to which may be added Tobit 4:10,11; 14:10,11, and Ecclus. 3:30; 40:24. The Pharisees were zealous in almsgiving, but too ostentatious their mode of performance, for which our Lord finds fault with them.
The duty of relieving the poor was not neglected by the Christians.
Mt 6:1-4; Lu 14:13; Ac 20:35; Ga 2:10
Regular proportionate giving was expected.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Beware of doing your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. When, therefore, you do a charitable deed, do not cause a trumpet to be sounded before you, as the hypocrites do, in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be glorified by men. Verily, I say to you, They have their reward.
When, therefore, you do a charitable deed, do not cause a trumpet to be sounded before you, as the hypocrites do, in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be glorified by men. Verily, I say to you, They have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, let not your left hand know what your right hand does; read more. that your charitable deeds may be in secret; and. your Father, who sees in secret, himself will reward you openly.
But when you make a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind;
Now there was in Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which name, when translated, is Dorcas. She was full of good works and deeds of charity which she did.
a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who did many acts of charity to the people, and prayed to God always.
which also they did; and they sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
In all things I have taught you by ex ample, that by thus laboring, you ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus; for he himself said, It is more blessed to give, than to receive.
But now I am going to Jerusalem, to minister to the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor saints who are in Jerusalem: read more. they have been pleased to do so, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have become partakers of their spiritual things, they ought to minister to them in things pertaining to the flesh.
requesting only that we would remember the poor, which same thing I have been diligent in doing.