Topical Bible: The Poor: Christ Preached To

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In the New Testament, the ministry of Jesus Christ is notably marked by His attention to the poor and marginalized. This focus is evident in His teachings, parables, and actions, which consistently highlight the value and dignity of the poor in the eyes of God. Jesus' ministry to the poor is a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and a demonstration of the Kingdom of God's values.

Old Testament Background

The Old Testament lays a foundation for understanding God's concern for the poor. The Law of Moses includes numerous provisions for the care of the poor, such as gleaning laws (Leviticus 19:9-10) and the Year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25). The prophets frequently rebuked Israel for neglecting the poor and emphasized justice and mercy (Isaiah 1:17, Amos 5:11-12).

Jesus' Mission to the Poor

Jesus explicitly stated His mission to the poor at the outset of His ministry. In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus reads from the scroll of Isaiah in the synagogue of Nazareth: "The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor." This declaration aligns His mission with the prophetic tradition and underscores His commitment to the poor.

Teachings and Parables

Throughout His ministry, Jesus taught about the blessedness of the poor. In the Beatitudes, He begins with, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God" (Luke 6:20). This pronouncement elevates the status of the poor, promising them a place in God's kingdom.

Jesus' parables often feature the poor as central figures. The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) contrasts the earthly wealth of the rich man with the poverty of Lazarus, ultimately showing Lazarus in a place of honor in the afterlife. This parable serves as a stark reminder of the eternal consequences of neglecting the poor.

Interactions with the Poor

Jesus' interactions with the poor were marked by compassion and healing. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and associated with those considered outcasts. In Matthew 11:5, Jesus responds to John the Baptist's inquiry about His messianic identity by highlighting His works: "The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor."

The Early Church and the Poor

The early Christian community continued Jesus' mission to the poor. The Book of Acts records the sharing of resources among believers to ensure that no one was in need (Acts 2:44-45, 4:32-35). The Apostle Paul also emphasized remembering the poor in his ministry (Galatians 2:10).

Conclusion

Jesus' ministry to the poor is a central theme in the Gospels, reflecting God's heart for justice and mercy. His teachings and actions challenge believers to prioritize the needs of the poor and to embody the values of the Kingdom of God in their lives.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 4:18
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Preaching for the Poor
... I. First, then, THE AUTHORISED VERSION, "The poor have the gospel preached to them."
It was so in Christ's day; it is to be so with Christ's gospel to the end ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/preaching for the poor.htm

Christ Lifted Up
... to preach that the servant maid can understand, that the coachman can understand,
that the poor and illiterate ... If Christ Jesus be earnestly preached he will ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/christ lifted up.htm

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners Or, a Brief Relation of ...
... 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. ...
/.../bunyan/grace abounding to the chief of sinners/grace abounding to the chief.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xi. 2, "Now when John Heard in ...
... sakes did Christ say, "The blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hear, the lepers are
cleansed, the dead are raised, the poor have the Gospel preached to them ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xvi on the words.htm

John's Doubts and Christ's Praise
... to report these, with one additional fact"that good tidings were preached to the
poor. ... It is to be noted that the words which Christ bids the disciples ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/johns doubts and christs praise.htm

What Think Ye of Christ?
... Lord, I the days of his flesh, preached on a ... he has changed his nature, and forgets
poor sinners; now ... abandoned of sinners, come and believe on Jesus Christ. ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/what think ye of christ.htm

The Physician's Calling (Preached at Whitehall for St. George's ...
... THE PHYSICIAN'S CALLING (Preached at Whitehall for St ... They preach to the poor that
they are, through ... so intend), these hospitals bear direct witness for Christ. ...
/.../the water of life and other sermons/sermon ii the physicians calling.htm

Bunyan's Last Sermon --Preached July 1688.
... BUNYAN'S LAST SERMON"PREACHED JULY 1688. ... born again, they cannot live without some
promise of Christ to keep them alive, as he did to the poor infant in ...
/.../bunyan/miscellaneous pieces/bunyans last sermonpreached july 1688.htm

Preached on Occasion of the Death of the Rev. Mr. John Fletcher ...
... Mr. Hill's family, he did not know Christ in his ... And for the good of his neighbour,
(the poor in particular ... fever began to rage among us, he preached a sermon ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 133 preached on occasion.htm

The Righteousness of Christ, an Everlasting Righteousness
... had been a very intemperate man) but he preached to him of ... righteousness, or the
righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ to be imputed to poor sinners upon ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the righteousness of christ an.htm