8.5 Do justice to the poor, the sojourners, and the needy

Do not neglect, and do not take advantage of, the poor and needy; rather, make it possible for them to know justice and provision with dignity.

Deuteronomy 15.11

“‘For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, “You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.”’”

Psalm 41.1; Galatians 2.1

Deuteronomy 15.7, 8

“‘If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.’”

Deuteronomy 24.17, 18

“‘You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow’s garment in pledge, but you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this.’”

Deuteronomy 10.18, 19; Malachi 3.5

This series of In the Gates provides the Scriptural support for the Ten Commandments and their supporting statutes, rules, and precepts. A complete version of this series is available as The Law of God.