Poor: The Mosaic legislation regarding the poor is specially important.1. They had the right of gleaning the fields
(Leviticus 19:9,10)
(Deuteronomy 24:19,21)
2. In the sabbatical year they were to have their share of the
produce of the fields and the vineyards
(Exodus 23:11; Leviticus 25:6)
3. In the year of jubilee they recovered their property
(Leviticus 25:25-30)
4. Usury was forbidden, and the pledged raiment was to be returned
before the sun went down
(Exodus 22:25-27; Deuteronomy 24:10-13) The rich were
to be generous to the poor
(Deuteronomy 15:7-11)
5. In the sabbatical and jubilee years the bond-servant was to go
free
(Deuteronomy 15:12-15; Leviticus 25:39-42,47-54)
6. Certain portions from the tithes were assigned to the poor
(Deuteronomy 14:28,29; 26:12,13)
7. They shared in the feasts
(Deuteronomy 16:11,14; Nehemiah 8:10)
8. Wages were to be paid at the close of each day
(Leviticus 19:13)
9. In the New Testament
(Luke 3:11; 14:13; Acts 6:1; Galatians 2:10; James 2:15,16)
we have similar injunctions given with reference to the poor.
10. Begging was not common under the Old Testament, while it was so in
the New Testament times
(Luke 16:20,21) etc. But begging in the
case of those who are able to work is forbidden, and all such are
enjoined to "work with their own hands" as a Christian duty
(1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-13; Ephesians 4:28) This word is used figuratively
in
(Matthew 5:3; Luke 6:20; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Revelation 3:17)