Thematic Bible: The reward for being charitable

Jesus answered him, “If you wish to be perfect [that is, have the spiritual maturity that accompanies godly character with no moral or ethical deficiencies], go and sell what you have and give [the money] to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me [becoming My disciple, believing and trusting in Me and walking the same path of life that I walk].”

Verse Concepts

Giving, Of PossessionsFollowing Jesus ChristCommitment, to Jesus Christethics, socialChristlikenessGenerosity, Humandiscipleship, nature ofChallengesBeggarsAlms, Good DeedsHeaven, Inheritance OfInvitationsPoverty, Attitudes TowardsPoverty, Remedies ForReligionRestitutionReward, For God's PeopleRich, TheSelf Denial

Self SacrificeStewardshipStoringTreasureFinanceSpiritual InvestmentHoardingGain Through LossBenevolenceSpiritual TreasuresPeople Made PerfectBelonging To HeavenGiving To The PoorInstructions About FollowingTreasure In HeavenGiving Money To The Churchpossessionssales

If there is among you a poor man, one of your kinsmen in any of the towns of your land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not harden your [minds and] hearts or close your hands to your poor brother; But you shall open your hands wide to him and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks. Beware lest there be a base thought in your [minds and] hearts, and you say, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand, and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and he cry to the Lord against you, and it be sin in you. read more.
You shall give to him freely without begrudging it; because of this the Lord will bless you in all your work and in all you undertake. For the poor will never cease out of the land; therefore I command you, You shall open wide your hands to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor in your land.

But love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; for your reward will be great (rich, abundant), and you will be sons of the Most High; because He Himself is kind and gracious and good to the ungrateful and the wicked.

Verse Concepts

CoolActs of Kindnessevil, believers' responses toGood WorksInterestKindnessGod Shows Loving KindnessCourtesyCharacter Of WickedNames And Titles For The ChristianSons Of GodSpiritual Adoption

Believers As Sons Of GodDo Good!Love Your Neighbour!Loving Your EnemiesReward For WorksTurning The Other CheekEnemiesGood ChildrenRewardGiving Without Expecting Returnexpectations

And if you pour out that with which you sustain your own life for the hungry and satisfy the need of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in darkness, and your obscurity and gloom become like the noonday. And the Lord shall guide you continually and satisfy you in drought and in dry places and make strong your bones. And you shall be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not.

Jesus also said to the man who had invited Him, When you give a dinner or a supper, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, lest perhaps they also invite you in return, and so you are paid back. But when you give a banquet or a reception, invite the poor, the disabled, the lame, and the blind. Then you will be blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied), because they have no way of repaying you, and you will be recompensed at the resurrection of the just (upright).