The Bible consistently emphasizes the importance of caring for the poor and the foreigner, reflecting God's compassion and justice. This theme is woven throughout both the Old and New Testaments, highlighting the responsibility of God's people to provide for those in need.

Old Testament Foundations

In the Old Testament, the Law given to Israel includes specific instructions for the care of the poor and the foreigner. Leviticus 19:9-10 commands, "When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You must not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God." This directive ensures that the marginalized have access to food and sustenance.

Deuteronomy 15:7-8 further instructs, "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, you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother. Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him whatever he needs." This passage underscores the call to generosity and open-handedness towards those in need.

The Year of Jubilee, described in Leviticus 25, also serves as a provision for the poor, allowing for the restoration of property and freedom from debt every fifty years. This system was designed to prevent the permanent impoverishment of individuals and families.

Prophetic Emphasis

The prophets frequently called Israel back to the principles of justice and mercy, particularly concerning the treatment of the poor and the foreigner. Isaiah 58:6-7 declares, "Is not this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"

Similarly, Zechariah 7:9-10 admonishes, "Thus says the LORD of Hosts: 'Administer true justice. Show loving devotion and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. And do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.'"

New Testament Teachings

In the New Testament, Jesus exemplifies and teaches care for the poor and the foreigner. In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus illustrates that love for one's neighbor transcends ethnic and social boundaries, calling His followers to show mercy and compassion to all.

Jesus' teaching in Matthew 25:35-40 further emphasizes this responsibility: "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 looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me." The righteous are commended for their acts of kindness, which are seen as service to Christ Himself.

The early church continued this practice, as seen in Acts 4:34-35 , where believers shared their possessions so that "there were no needy ones among them." The apostle Paul also encouraged generosity, instructing in Galatians 2:10 to "remember the poor."

Theological Implications

The biblical mandate to care for the poor and the foreigner is rooted in the character of God, who is described as a defender of the marginalized. Psalm 146:9 states, "The LORD watches over the foreigner; He sustains the fatherless and the widow, but the ways of the wicked He frustrates." This divine concern is to be mirrored by God's people, reflecting His justice and mercy in their communities.

The provision for the poor and the foreigner is not merely a social obligation but a spiritual act of worship and obedience, demonstrating the transformative power of God's love in the lives of believers.