40 Bible Verses about Benevolence

"If there should be a poor man among your relatives in one of the cities of the land that the LORD your God is about to give you, don't be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your poor relative. Instead, be sure to open your hand to him and lend him enough to lessen his need. Be careful not to think this wicked thought to yourselves: "The seventh year, the year of remission, is drawing near,' and you show ill will toward your poor relative and not give to him. He may then call to the LORD on account of you, and you will be guilty of sin. read more.
You must certainly give to him and not feel regret for doing so. Because of this, the LORD your God will bless all your works and everything you do. Since poor people won't cease to exist in the land, therefore I'm commanding you: Be sure to be generous to your poor and needy relatives in your land." "When a fellow Hebrew male or female slave is sold to you and serves you for six years, then in the seventh year you are to set them free. But when you set them free, don't send them away empty-handed. Provide for them liberally from your flock, threshing floor, and wine vat. As the LORD your God has blessed you, so give to them. Don't ever forget that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, yet the LORD your God redeemed you. Therefore, I'm giving you these commands today.

After they entered the city, they had to sit down in the public square because no one would take them into their home for the night. Just then, an old man was coming out of the fields that evening from work. The man was from the mountainous region of Ephraim and had been staying in Gibeah, even though the men of that place were descendants of Benjamin. As the old man looked up and saw the traveling man in the public square of the city, he asked, "Now then, where are you headed? And where are you from?" He replied, "We're traveling from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote part of the mountainous region of Ephraim, because I'm from there, and I've been visiting Bethlehem in Judah. I'm going home now, but no one will take me into his home. read more.
Meanwhile, we also have straw and fodder for our donkeys, and bread and wine for me, for this young woman servant, and for the young man who is with your servants. We don't need anything else." The old man replied, "Don't be alarmed. I'll take care of all your needs. Just don't spend the night in the public square." So he took him into his home and fed the donkeys while they refreshed themselves and had dinner.

"Don't be afraid," David reassured him, "because I'm going to show gracious love to you in memory of your father Jonathan. I'm going to restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you'll always have a place at my table!"

Be gracious to the descendants of Barzillai the Gileadite, and provide for them in your household, because they helped me when I had to run from your brother Absalom.

I accused them, "To the best of our ability, we've been buying back our fellow Jews who had been sold to foreigners. Even now you're selling your fellow countrymen, only for them to be sold back to us!" They kept quiet and never spoke a word. So I said, "What you're doing isn't right! Shouldn't you live in the fear of our God to avoid shame from our foreign enemies? I'm also lending money and grain, as are my fellow-Jews and my servants, but let's not charge interest. read more.
So today please restore to them their fields, vineyards, olive orchards, and homes, along with the one percent interest charge that you've assessed them on the grain, wine, and oil." They responded, "We will restore these things, and will assess no interest charges against them. We will do what you are requesting!"

He also told them, "Go eat the best food, drink the best wine, and give something to those who have nothing, since this day is holy to our Lord. Don't be sorrowful, because the joy of the LORD is your strength." The descendants of Levi also calmed all the people by saying, "Be still, for the day is holy. Don't be sorrowful!"

"When people heard me speak, they blessed me; when people saw me, they approved me, because I delivered the poor who were crying for help, along with orphans who had no one to help them. Those who were about to die blessed me, and I made widows sing for joy.read more.
I put on righteousness like clothing; my just decisions were like a robe and a turban. I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame. I was a father to the needy; I diligently inquired into the case of those I didn't know. I broke the fangs of the wicked, and made him drop the prey."

"If I refused to grant the desire of the poor or exhausted the eyes of the widow, if I ate my meals by myself without feeding orphans, (even a poor man had grown up with me as if I were his father, and even though I had guided the widow from the time I was born),read more.
if I've observed someone who is about to die for lack of clothes or if I have no clothing to give to the poor, if he hadn't thanked me from the bottom of his heart, if he had not been warmed by wool from my sheep, if I've raised my hand against an orphan when I thought I would against him in court, then let my arm fall from its socket; and may my arm be torn off at the shoulder. For I'm terrified of what calamity God may have in store for me; and I cannot endure his grandeur."

Blessed is the one who is considerate of the destitute; the LORD will deliver him when the times are evil.

He gives generously to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back. I will pay you tomorrow," when you have cash with you.

A generous person will prosper, and anyone who gives water will receive a flood in return.

Whoever is generous will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.

If your enemy hungers, give him food to eat; and if he thirsts, give him water to drink.

Whoever gives to the poor will never lack, but whoever shuts his eyes to their poverty will be cursed.

Bring water for the thirsty, you who live in the land of Tema. Meet the fugitive with bread,

Isn't it to share your bread with the hungry, and to bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him with clothing, and not to raise yourself up from your own flesh and blood?"

if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the needs of afflicted souls, then your light will rise in darkness, and your night will be like noonday.

if he doesn't oppress anyone, but instead returns the debtor's security for his debt, if he doesn't rob anyone, but instead shares his food with the hungry and gives clothes to those who are naked,

Give to the person who asks you for something, and do not turn away from the person who wants to borrow something from you."

Jesus told him, "If you want to be perfect, go and sell what you own and give the money to the destitute, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come back and follow me."

because 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 welcomed me. 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 say to him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you something to eat, or thirsty and give you something to drink? read more.
When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or see you naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' The king will answer them, "I tell all of you with certainty, since you did it for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.' "Then he will say to those on his left, "Get away from me, you who are accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the Devil and his angels! Here's why: 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 welcome me. I was naked, and you didn't clothe me. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me.' "Then they will reply, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or as a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and didn't help you?' Then he will say to them, "I tell all of you with certainty, since you didn't do it for one of the least important of these, you didn't do it for me.'

I tell all of you with certainty, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to the Messiah will never lose his reward."

He answered them, "The person who has two coats must share with the one who doesn't have any, and the person who has food must do the same."

But as he was traveling along, a Samaritan came across the man. When the Samaritan saw him, he was moved with compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. 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 and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, "Take good care of him. If you spend more than that, I'll repay you when I come back.'

So give what is inside to the poor, and then everything will be clean for you.

Later, Zacchaeus stood up and announced to the Lord, "Look! I'm giving half of my possessions to the destitute, and if I have accused anyone falsely, I'm repaying four times as much as I owe."

All the believers were united and shared everything with one another. They made it their practice to sell their possessions and goods and to distribute the proceeds to anyone who was in need. United in purpose, they went to the Temple every day, ate at each other's homes, and shared their food with glad and humble hearts.

Now all the believers were one in heart and soul, and nobody called any of his possessions his own. Instead, they shared everything they owned. With great power, the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was on them all, since none of them needed anything, because everyone who had land or houses would sell them and bring the money received for the things sold read more.
and lay it at the apostles' feet. Then it was distributed to anyone who needed it. One man, Joseph, a descendant of Levi and a native of Cyprus, who was named Barnabas by the apostles (the name means "a son of encouragement"), sold a field that belonged to him, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

In those days, as the number of the disciples was growing larger and larger, a complaint was made by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food.

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was known for her good actions and acts of charity that she was always doing. At that time, she got sick and died. After they had washed her, they laid her in an upstairs room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him and begged him, "Come here quickly!" read more.
So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him upstairs. All the widows gathered around Peter, crying and showing him all the shirts and coats Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

He was a devout man who feared God, as did everyone in his home. He gave many gifts to the poor among the people and always prayed to God.

He stared at the angel in terror and asked, "What is it, Lord?"

So all of the disciples decided they would send a contribution to the brothers living in Judea, as they were able,

because the believers in Macedonia and Achaia have been eager to share their resources with the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. Yes, they were eager to do this, and in fact they are obligated to help them, for if the gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they are obligated to be of service to them in material things.

Even if I give away everything that I have and sacrifice myself, but have no love, I gain nothing.

Now concerning the collection for the saints, you should follow the directions I gave to the churches in Galatia. After the Sabbath ends, each of you should set aside and save something from your surplus in proportion to what you have, so that no collections will have to be made when I arrive. When I arrive, I will send letters along with the men you approve to take your gift to Jerusalem.

We want you to know, brothers, about God's grace that was given to the churches of Macedonia. In spite of their terrible ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and deep poverty have led them to be abundantly generous. I can testify that by their own free will they have given to the utmost of their ability, yes, even beyond their ability. read more.
They begged us earnestly for the privilege of participating in this ministry to the saints. We did not expect that! They gave themselves to the Lord first and then to us, since this was God's will. So we urged Titus to finish this work of kindness among you in the same way that he had started it. Indeed, the more your faith, speech, knowledge, enthusiasm, and love for us increase, the more we want you to be rich in this work of kindness. I am not commanding you but testing the genuineness of your love by the enthusiasm of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah. Although he was rich, for your sakes he became poor, so that you, through his poverty, might become rich. I am giving you my opinion on this matter because it will be helpful to you. Last year you were not only willing to do something, but had already started to do it. Now finish what you began, so that your eagerness to do so may be matched by your eagerness to complete it. For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you do not have. Not that others should have relief while you have hardship. Rather, it is a question of fairness. At the present time, your surplus fills their need, so that their surplus may fill your need. In this way things are fair. As it is written, "The person who had much did not have too much, and the person who had little did not have too little."

Therefore, demonstrate to the churches that you love them and show them publicly why we boast about you.

I do not need to write to you any further about the ministry to the saints.