God has a lot to say about helping the poor.
With more than 2,000+ verses in the Bible (wow!) about loving the stranger, widow, orphan, impoverished, immigrant, and helpless among us … the Bible makes it clear that this is important to God’s heart and the Christian walk. Just like He rescues and provides for us – so should we for others.
Instead of listing all 2,000+, here's 14 verses about helping the poor that stand out to us here at Oliver Gospel. We hope you find these passages encouraging, challenging, and motivating (just like we do!).
1) Psalm 82:3
“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.”
2) Psalm 140:12
“I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.”
3) Proverbs 14:31
“Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.”
4) Proverbs 14:21
“It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.”
5) Proverbs 31:8-9
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
6) Isaiah 58:6-8
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.”
7) Luke 3:11
“John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”
8) 1 John 3:16-18
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
9) James 1:27
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
10) Luke 14:13-14
“But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
11) Isaiah 1:17
“Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.”
12) Acts 20:35
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
13) Psalm 35:10
“My whole being will exclaim, “Who is like you, LORD? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.”
14) Luke 6:29-36
“To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
So, what verse stood out most to you? Are there verses we didn’t include that have impacted you personally?
We’d love to hear about it! Take a minute to send us an email at ogm@olivergospel.org and let us know your thoughts.