If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, then you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother. If there is a poor man among your brothersAn Israelite in need was not to be regarded as an outsider. God’s covenant people were to recognize a shared responsibility for those living in poverty among them. Lev 25:35 then you are to help him as you would a foreigner… within any of the gates The command applied throughout Israel’s towns and villages, where public life, commerce, and legal decisions were commonly conducted. Deu 14:29 Then the Levite (because he has no portion or inheritance… in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, The land was God’s gift to Israel, and its abundance was to be managed according to His commands. Those blessed with resources were accountable to use them rightly. Deu 11:31 For you are about to cross the Jordan… then you are not to harden your heart Poverty was not to be met with indifference, resentment, or a refusal to acknowledge another Israelite’s need. Obedience required a willing and compassionate response. Psa 95:8 do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,… or shut your hand from your poor brother. Care for the poor required practical generosity. An open hand showed that God’s provision was not to be hoarded while a fellow member of the covenant community lacked necessities. Pro 31:20 She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands… Persons / Places / Events 1. The IsraelitesThe original audience of Deuteronomy, the people of Israel, who were given laws and instructions by God through Moses. 2. Moses The leader and prophet who delivered God's laws to the Israelites, including the instructions in Deuteronomy. 3. The Promised Land The land that God promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, where the Israelites were to settle and live according to God's commandments. 4. The Poor Brother Refers to any fellow Israelite who is in need or poverty, highlighting the communal responsibility to care for one another. 5. The LORD (Yahweh) The covenant God of Israel, who commands His people to act with compassion and justice. Teaching Points Compassionate HeartGod calls us to have a heart of compassion, not hardening our hearts against those in need. This requires a conscious decision to be open and generous. Open Hand The instruction to not "shut your hand" implies active generosity. We are to be willing to give and support those who are struggling. Community Responsibility The verse emphasizes the communal aspect of caring for the poor, suggesting that it is a collective responsibility of God's people. Reflecting God's Character By caring for the poor, we reflect God's character of mercy and justice, demonstrating His love to the world. Eternal Perspective Our actions towards the poor have eternal significance, as they are seen and rewarded by God. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the command in Deuteronomy 15:7 challenge our current attitudes towards the poor in our communities?2. In what ways can we ensure that our hearts remain compassionate and our hands open to those in need? 3. How do the teachings in Leviticus 25 and Deuteronomy 15 complement each other in addressing poverty? 4. What practical steps can we take to fulfill the communal responsibility of caring for the poor as described in this passage? 5. How does the New Testament teaching in James 2:14-17 expand on the principles found in Deuteronomy 15:7? Connections to Other Scriptures Leviticus 25:35-37This passage also addresses the treatment of the poor, emphasizing the importance of supporting a fellow Israelite in need without charging interest. Proverbs 19:17 This verse highlights the blessing of lending to the poor, equating it to lending to the Lord, who will repay the kindness. Matthew 25:34-40 Jesus speaks about serving the least of these as serving Him, reinforcing the call to care for those in need. James 2:14-17 James discusses faith and works, emphasizing that faith without action, such as helping those in need, is dead.
People MosesPlaces Beth-baal-peor, EgyptTopics Amongst, Brethren, Brother, Brothers, Cities, Close, Countrymen, Gates, Gives, Giveth, Giving, Harden, Hardhearted, Heart, Needy, Poor, Shut, Tightfisted, Towns, WithinDictionary of Bible Themes Deuteronomy 15:7 5963 sympathy 5449 poverty, remedies 5289 debt Library Homiletical. Twenty-four homilies on miscellaneous subjects, published under St. Basil's name, are generally accepted as genuine. They are conveniently classified as (i) Dogmatic and Exegetic, (ii) Moral, and (iii) Panegyric. To Class (i) will be referred III. In Illud, Attende tibi ipsi. VI. In Illud, Destruam horrea, etc. IX. In Illud, Quod Deus non est auctor malorum. XII. In principium Proverbiorum. XV. De Fide. XVI. In Illud, In principio erat Verbum. XXIV. Contra Sabellianos et Arium et Anomoeos. … Basil—Basil: Letters and Select Works Civ. Jesus Arrives and is Feasted at Bethany. Secondly, for Thy Words. The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire Deuteronomy Links Deuteronomy 15:7 NIVDeuteronomy 15:7 NLT Deuteronomy 15:7 ESV Deuteronomy 15:7 NASB Deuteronomy 15:7 KJV Deuteronomy 15:7 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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