40 Bible Verses about Benevolence
Most Relevant Verses
“If there is a poor person among you, one of your brothers within any of your gates in the land the Lord your God is giving you, you must not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him enough for whatever need he has. Be careful that there isn’t this wicked thought in your heart, ‘The seventh year, the year of canceling debts, is near,’ and you are stingy toward your poor brother and give him nothing. He will cry out to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty. read more.
Give to him, and don’t have a stingy heart when you give, and because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you do. For there will never cease to be poor people in the land; that is why I am commanding you, ‘You must willingly open your hand to your afflicted and poor brother in your land.’ “If your fellow Hebrew, a man or woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, you must set him free in the seventh year. When you set him free, do not send him away empty-handed. Give generously to him from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. You are to give him whatever the Lord your God has blessed you with. Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you; that is why I am giving you this command today.
In the evening, an old man came in from his work in the field. He was from the hill country of Ephraim but was residing in Gibeah, and the men of that place were Benjaminites. When he looked up and saw the traveler in the city square, the old man asked, “Where are you going, and where do you come from?” He answered him, “We’re traveling from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote hill country of Ephraim, where I am from. I went to Bethlehem in Judah, and now I’m going to the house of the Lord. No one has taken me into his home, read more.
although we have both straw and feed for our donkeys, and bread and wine for me, your female servant, and the young man with your servant. There is nothing we lack.” “Peace to you,” said the old man. “I’ll take care of everything you need. Only don’t spend the night in the square.” So he brought him to his house and fed the donkeys. Then they washed their feet and ate and drank.
“Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “since I intend to show you kindness because of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all your grandfather Saul’s fields, and you will always eat meals at my table.”
“Show loyalty to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite and let them be among those who eat at your table because they supported me when I fled from your brother Absalom.
and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish countrymen who were sold to foreigners, but now you sell your own countrymen, and we have to buy them back.” They remained silent and could not say a word. Then I said, “What you are doing isn’t right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God and not invite the reproach of our foreign enemies? Even I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop charging this interest. read more.
Return their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses to them immediately, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and olive oil that you have been assessing them.” They responded: “We will return these things and require nothing more from them. We will do as you say.”
So I summoned the priests and made everyone take an oath to do this.
Then he said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your stronghold.” And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, since today is holy. Do not grieve.”
When they heard me, they blessed me,
and when they saw me, they spoke well of me.
For I rescued the poor man who cried out for help,
and the fatherless child who had no one to support him.
The dying man blessed me,
and I made the widow’s heart rejoice.
read more.
I clothed myself in righteousness,
and it enveloped me;
my just decisions were like a robe and a turban.
I was eyes to the blind
and feet to the lame.
I was a father to the needy,
and I examined the case of the stranger.
I shattered the fangs of the unjust
and snatched the prey from his teeth.
If I have refused the wishes of the poor
or let the widow’s eyes go blind,
if I have eaten my few crumbs alone
without letting the fatherless eat any of it—
for from my youth, I raised him as his father,
and since the day I was born I guided the widow—
read more.
if I have seen anyone dying for lack of clothing
or a needy person without a cloak,
if he did not bless me
while warming himself with the fleece from my sheep,
if I ever cast my vote against a fatherless child
when I saw that I had support in the city gate,
then let my shoulder blade fall from my back,
and my arm be pulled from its socket.
For disaster from God terrifies me,
and because of His majesty I could not do these things.
For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.Happy is one who cares for the poor;
the Lord will save him in a day of adversity.
He distributes freely to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.
His horn will be exalted in honor.
When it is in your power,
don’t withhold good from the one it belongs to.
Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go away! Come back later.
I’ll give it tomorrow”—when it is there with you.
A generous person will be enriched,
and the one who gives a drink of water
will receive water.
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
The one who gives to the poor
will not be in need,
but one who turns his eyes away
will receive many curses.
Bring water for the thirsty.
The inhabitants of the land of Tema
meet the refugees with food.
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
to bring the poor and homeless into your house,
to clothe the naked when you see him,
and not to ignore your own flesh and blood?
and if you offer yourself to the hungry,
and satisfy the afflicted one,
then your light will shine in the darkness,
and your night will be like noonday.
He doesn’t oppress anyone but returns his collateral to the debtor. He does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.
Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
“If you want to be perfect,” Jesus said to him, “go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
For I was hungry
and you gave Me something to eat;
I was thirsty
and you gave Me something to drink;
I was a stranger and you took Me in;
I was naked and you clothed Me;
I was sick and you took care of Me;
I was in prison and you visited Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? read more.
When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or without clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?’ “And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’ Then He will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels! For I was hungry
and you gave Me nothing to eat;
I was thirsty
and you gave Me nothing to drink;
I was a stranger
and you didn’t take Me in;
I was naked
and you didn’t clothe Me,
sick and in prison
and you didn’t take care of Me.’ “Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help You?’ “Then He will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me either.’
And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of My name, since you belong to the Messiah—I assure you: He will never lose his reward.
He replied to them, “The one who has two shirts must share with someone who has none, and the one who has food must do the same.”
But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back I’ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.’
But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord! And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much!”
Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude,
Now the large group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common. And the apostles were giving testimony with great power to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them. For there was not a needy person among them, because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, read more.
and laid them at the apostles’ feet. This was then distributed for each person’s basic needs. Joseph, a Levite and a Cypriot by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas, which is translated Son of Encouragement, sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
In those days, as the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.
In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. She was always doing good works and acts of charity. In those days she became sick and died. After washing her, they placed her in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him who begged him, “Don’t delay in coming with us.” read more.
So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they led him to the room upstairs. And all the widows approached him, weeping and showing him the robes and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them.
He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God.
Looking intently at him, he became afraid and said, “What is it, lord?”
The angel told him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity have come up as a memorial offering before God.
So each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea.
for Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. Yes, they were pleased, and indeed are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual benefits, then they are obligated to minister to Jews in material needs.
And if I donate all my goods to feed the poor,
and if I give my body in order to boast
but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Now about the collection for the saints: You should do the same as I instructed the Galatian churches. On the first day of the week, each of you is to set something aside and save in keeping with how he prospers, so that no collections will need to be made when I come. When I arrive, I will send with letters those you recommend to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem.
We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God granted to the churches of Macedonia: During a severe testing by affliction, their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity. I testify that, on their own, according to their ability and beyond their ability, read more.
they begged us insistently for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints, and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves especially to the Lord, then to us by God’s will. So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete this grace to you. Now as you excel in everything—faith, speech, knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us—excel also in this grace. I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich. Now I am giving an opinion on this because it is profitable for you, who a year ago began not only to do something but also to desire it. But now finish the task as well, that just as there was eagerness to desire it, so there may also be a completion from what you have. For if the eagerness is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. It is not that there may be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality— at the present time your surplus is available for their need, so their abundance may also become available for our need, so there may be equality. As it has been written:
The person who gathered much
did not have too much,
and the person who gathered little
did not have too little.
Therefore, show them proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you.
Now concerning the ministry to the saints, it is unnecessary for me to write to you.
From Thematic Bible
Benevolence » The duty of » Encouragement to
and satisfy the afflicted one,
then your light will shine in the darkness,
and your night will be like noonday.
Remember this:
Azariah, the chief priest of the household of Zadok,
his righteousness endures forever.
His horn will be exalted in honor.
Benevolence » The duty of » Paul's exhortation
Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works,
Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.
In every way I’ve shown you that by laboring like this, it is necessary to help the weak and to keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, for He said,
Share with the saints in their needs;
Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work
Benevolence » Examples of systematic » Freely
Benevolence » The duty of » Christ's commands
He replied to them, “The one who has two shirts
Benevolence » The duty of » The wise man's advice
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
for after many days you may find it.
Benevolence » Examples of systematic » Scriptural rules for giving
Everyone must appear with a gift suited to his means, according to the blessing the Lord your God has given you.
Benevolence » The duty of » Moses injunction
"If your fellow Hebrew, a man or woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, you must set him free in the seventh year. When you set him free, do not send him away empty-handed. Give generously to him from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. You are to give him whatever the Lord your God has blessed you with.
Benevolence » Examples of systematic » Regularly, every week
On the first day of the week,
Benevolence » Examples of systematic » Cheerfully
Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of necessity, for God loves
Benevolence » Examples of systematic » With simplicity
giving, with generosity;
leading,
showing mercy, with cheerfulness.
Benevolence » Examples of systematic » Without ostentation
Benevolence » The duty of » The prophet's words
to bring the poor and homeless into your house,
to clothe the naked when you see him,
and not to ignore
Christ, our example » Conformity to, required in » Benevolence
In every way I’ve shown you that by laboring like this, it is necessary to help the weak and to keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, for He said,
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though He was rich,
Now as you excel in everything—faith, speech, knowledge,
required Expression » Different forms of religious expression required » Benevolence
Perfection » Some essential elements of » Benevolence
Sacrifices » Illustrative of » Benevolence
Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.
But I have received everything in full,
Social duties » Sympathy the marks of true » Benevolence
to bring the poor and homeless into your house,
to clothe the naked when you see him,
and not to ignore
Sympathy » The marks of true » Benevolence
to bring the poor and homeless into your house,
to clothe the naked when you see him,
and not to ignore