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Throughout the [[Old Testament|Old]] and [[New Testament]] scripture, there are numerous instances in which the faithful are exhorted to help the poor:
[[Psalter|Book of Psalms]] 112:9{{ref|1}}: "He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth forever; his horn shall be exalted with honour." {{ref|1}}
[[Proverbs]] 19: 17, "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord, and that which he hath given will he pay him again."{{ref|1}}
[[Isaiah]] 58:10: "And if you give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness, and your gloom will become like midday. And the LORD will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail."
[[Isaiah]] 58:66ff: "Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke? Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?"
[[Micah]] 6:8: "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"
[[Gospel of Matthew]] 196:202-214: The young man saith unto him, ‘All these things have I kept from my youth, what lack I yet?’ "[Jesus said unto him:] 'When therefore you give alms, ‘If thou wilt be perfectdo not sound a trumpet before you, go as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and sell in the streets, that thou hastthey may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, and they have their reward in full. But when you give to the pooralms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your alms may be in secret; and thou shalt have treasure your Father who sees in heaven: and come and follow mesecret will repay you.’' "
[[Gospel of LukeMatthew]] 319:1120ff: ["The young man said to Him, 'All these commands I have kept; what am I still lacking?' Jesus] answereth and saith unto themsaid to him, He that hath two coats'If you wish to be complete, let him impart go and sell your possessions and give to him that hath nonethe poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and he that hath meatcome, let him do likewisefollow Me.' "
[[Gospel of Luke]] 43:16-2111: And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; "[Jesus] answereth and as was His customsaith unto them, 'He entered the synagogue on the Sabbaththat hath two coats, and stood up let him impart to read... "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He appointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, him that hath none; and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtroddenhe that hath meat, to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD... Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearinglet him do likewise.' "
[[Gospel of Luke]] 144:1216-1421: "When you give a luncheon or a dinnerAnd [Jesus] came to Nazareth, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighborswhere He had been brought up; and as was His custom, lest they also invite you in returnHe entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and repayment come stood up to youread. But when you give a reception.. 'The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, invite because He appointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor, . He has sent Me to proclaim release to the crippled, the lamecaptives, and recovery of sight to the blind, and you will be blessedto set free those who are downtrodden, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at proclaim the resurrection favorable year of the righteousLORD... Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.' "
[[Gospel of Luke]] 12:44: "[Jesus said:] 'Sell your possessions and give alms; make yourselves purses which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near, nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.' "[[Gospel of Luke]] 6:33ff: "[Jesus said:] 'And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, in order to receive back the same.' "
[[Gospel of MatthewLuke]] 1914:20ff12-14: The young man said to Him, "All these commands I have kept; what am I still lacking?" [Jesus said to him:] 'When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, "If lest they also invite you wish to be completein return, go and sell your possessions and repayment come to you. But when you give to a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you shall will be blessed, since they do not have treasure in heaventhe means to repay you; and come, follow Mefor you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.' "
The [[Gospel Acts of Lukethe Apostles]] 64:33ff32-35: "And if you do good to the congregation of those who do good believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to youhim was his own, what credit is that but all things were common property to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you lend with great power the apostles were giving witness to those from whom you expect to receivethe resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. For there was not a needy person among them, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles' feet; and they would be distributed to sinnerseach, in order to receive back the sameas any had need."
[[Gospel of Matthew]] 6:2-4: "When therefore you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you." The Book of [[Acts]] 4:32-35: And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles' feet; and they would be distributed to each, as any had need. 1 John 3:17]]: "But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?"
====On the philanthropy of Christ====
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich" ([[2 Corinthians ]] 8:9).{{ref|2}}
===The Church Fathers on Philanthropy===