Deuteronomy 14:29
Then the Levite (because he has no portion or inheritance among you), the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow within your gates may come and eat and be satisfied. And the LORD your God will bless you in all the work of your hands.
Then the Levite
The Levites were a tribe set apart for religious duties and service to God. They did not receive a territorial inheritance like the other tribes of Israel (Numbers 18:20-24). This phrase underscores their dependence on the community's faithfulness to God's commands for their sustenance. The Levites' role was to serve in the temple and teach the law, making them integral to Israel's spiritual life.

because he has no portion or inheritance among you
This highlights the unique position of the Levites, who were given no land to cultivate. Their "portion" was the Lord Himself (Deuteronomy 10:9). This arrangement required the Israelites to support them through tithes and offerings, emphasizing communal responsibility and the importance of spiritual service over material wealth.

the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow
These groups represent the marginalized and vulnerable in society. The foreigner (or sojourner) was someone living among the Israelites without land or family ties. The fatherless and widows were often without means of support. God's law consistently commands care for these groups, reflecting His justice and compassion (Exodus 22:21-24, James 1:27).

within your gates
This phrase refers to the local community or town. It implies that the care for the Levite, foreigner, fatherless, and widow is a communal responsibility, not just an individual one. The gates were the place of gathering and judgment, symbolizing the heart of community life.

may come and eat and be satisfied
This promise of satisfaction indicates God's provision through the obedience of His people. It is a picture of abundance and communal sharing, where everyone has enough. This reflects the biblical principle of generosity and the idea that God’s blessings are meant to be shared.

And the LORD your God will bless you
This is a conditional promise, linking obedience to God's commands with His blessing. It underscores the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where faithfulness leads to divine favor. The blessing is not just material but encompasses peace, prosperity, and spiritual well-being.

in all the work of your hands
This phrase signifies that God's blessing extends to every aspect of life and labor. It is a reminder that all success and provision come from God, encouraging a posture of gratitude and dependence on Him. It also implies that diligent work, when aligned with God's commands, is honored and rewarded by Him.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Levites
A tribe set apart for religious duties and service to God, without a land inheritance like the other tribes of Israel.

2. Foreigners
Non-Israelites living among the Israelites, often without the same rights and privileges.

3. Fatherless
Orphans who lacked familial support and protection.

4. Widows
Women who had lost their husbands and often faced economic and social vulnerability.

5. Gates
The city gates, which were central places for community gathering, legal matters, and social interaction.
Teaching Points
God's Provision for the Vulnerable
God commands His people to care for those who are marginalized, ensuring that they have enough to eat and are satisfied. This reflects God's heart for justice and compassion.

Blessing Through Obedience
The promise of blessing in all the work of one's hands is tied to obedience in caring for the needy. This teaches that God's blessings often follow our faithfulness in fulfilling His commands.

Community Responsibility
The community is called to take collective responsibility for the welfare of the Levites, foreigners, fatherless, and widows. This encourages believers to look beyond individual needs and consider the well-being of the entire community.

Reflecting God's Character
By providing for the vulnerable, believers reflect God's character of love, mercy, and justice. This is a practical demonstration of living out one's faith.

Practical Generosity
The passage encourages practical acts of generosity, such as sharing resources and ensuring that no one in the community is left in need.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the inclusion of the Levites, foreigners, fatherless, and widows in this passage reflect God's character and priorities?

2. In what ways can we, as a church or community, ensure that we are caring for the vulnerable among us today?

3. How does the promise of God's blessing in this passage encourage you to be obedient in caring for others?

4. What are some practical ways you can demonstrate generosity and support to those in need in your community?

5. How do the teachings in Deuteronomy 14:29 connect with Jesus' teachings in the New Testament about caring for "the least of these"?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Leviticus 19:9-10
This passage also emphasizes the importance of leaving portions of the harvest for the poor and the foreigner, highlighting God's concern for the marginalized.

James 1:27
This New Testament verse underscores the importance of caring for orphans and widows, aligning with the Old Testament's call to support the vulnerable.

Matthew 25:35-40
Jesus speaks about serving "the least of these," which echoes the call to care for those in need as seen in Deuteronomy 14:29.
God's Claim Upon Our Money GainsD. Davies Deuteronomy 14:22-29
Systematic Provision for Beneficent WorkJohn Ross.Deuteronomy 14:22-29
Systematic Provision for Fellowship with GodR.M. Edgar Deuteronomy 14:22-29
The Second TitheJ. Orr Deuteronomy 14:22-29
People
Dishon, Hen, Levites, Moses, Shaphan
Places
Beth-baal-peor
Topics
Alien, Aliens, Allotment, Bless, Blessing, Child, Doest, Eat, Eaten, Fatherless, Filled, Foreigner, Gates, Hands, Heritage, Inheritance, Levite, Order, Orphan, Portion, Satisfied, Sojourner, Strange, Stranger, Town, Towns, Widow, Widows, Within
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Deuteronomy 14:29

     5939   satisfaction
     7530   foreigners

Deuteronomy 14:22-29

     7266   tribes of Israel

Deuteronomy 14:28-29

     4430   crops
     8488   tithing

Library
List of Abbreviations Used in Reference to Rabbinic Writings Quoted in this Work.
THE Mishnah is always quoted according to Tractate, Chapter (Pereq) and Paragraph (Mishnah), the Chapter being marked in Roman, the paragraph in ordinary Numerals. Thus Ber. ii. 4 means the Mishnic Tractate Berakhoth, second Chapter, fourth Paragraph. The Jerusalem Talmud is distinguished by the abbreviation Jer. before the name of the Tractate. Thus, Jer. Ber. is the Jer. Gemara, or Talmud, of the Tractate Berakhoth. The edition, from which quotations are made, is that commonly used, Krotoschin,
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Parable of the Pharisee and Publican.
^C Luke XVIII. 9-14. ^c 9 And he spake also this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and set all others at nought [It is commonly said that this parable teaches humility in prayer, but the preface and conclusion (see verse 14) show that it is indeed to set forth generally the difference between self-righteousness and humility, and that an occasion of prayer is chosen because it best illustrates the point which the Lord desired to teach. The parable shows that
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners Or, a Brief Relation of the Exceeding Mercy of God in Christ, to his Poor Servant, John Bunyan
In this my relation of the merciful working of God upon my soul, it will not be amiss, if in the first place, I do in a few words give you a hint of my pedigree, and manner of bringing up; that thereby the goodness and bounty of God towards me, may be the more advanced and magnified before the sons of men. 2. For my descent then, it was, as is well known by many, of a low and inconsiderable generation; my father's house being of that rank that is meanest, and most despised of all the families in
John Bunyan—Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners

In Judaea
If Galilee could boast of the beauty of its scenery and the fruitfulness of its soil; of being the mart of a busy life, and the highway of intercourse with the great world outside Palestine, Judaea would neither covet nor envy such advantages. Hers was quite another and a peculiar claim. Galilee might be the outer court, but Judaea was like the inner sanctuary of Israel. True, its landscapes were comparatively barren, its hills bare and rocky, its wilderness lonely; but around those grey limestone
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Deuteronomy
Owing to the comparatively loose nature of the connection between consecutive passages in the legislative section, it is difficult to present an adequate summary of the book of Deuteronomy. In the first section, i.-iv. 40, Moses, after reviewing the recent history of the people, and showing how it reveals Jehovah's love for Israel, earnestly urges upon them the duty of keeping His laws, reminding them of His spirituality and absoluteness. Then follows the appointment, iv. 41-43--here irrelevant (cf.
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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