Shepherd of Hermas command #2: Part 2 Almsgiving/Giving to the poor

This week we will continue with the second part of the second commandment which is to help the poor.

Helping the poor

 “Practice goodness; and from the rewards of your labors, which ELOHIM gives you, give to all the needy in simplicity, not hesitating as to whom you are to give or not to give. Give to all, for ELOHIM wishes His gifts to be shared amongst all. They who receive, will render an account to ELOHIM why and for what they have received. For the afflicted who receive will not be condemned, but they who receive on FALSE PRETENSES will suffer punishment. He, then, who gives is guiltless. For as he received from YAHWEH, so has he accomplished his service in simplicity, not hesitating as to whom he should give and to whom he should not give. This service, then, if accomplished in simplicity, is esteem with ELOHIM. He, therefore, who thus ministers in simplicity, will live to ELOHIM. Keep therefore these commandments, as I have given them to you, that your repentance and the repentance of your house may be found in simplicity, and your heart may be pure and stainless.”

The malach (angel) of repentance makes it clear that you are to give to ANYONE who is need and not hesitate in doing so.

Testament of Zebulon 7:1-4

Now I will declare to you what I did, I saw a man in distress, being naked in wintertime, and had compassion on him, and secretly took a garment from my dad’s house, and gave it to him who was in distress. Therefore you, my children, should also do, from that which ELOHIM gives to you, show compassion and kindness WITHOUT HESITATION to ALL MEN, and give to every man with a good heart. And if you do have the means to give to him that is in need, have compassion for him in bowels of kindness. I know that my hand did not find the means to give to him that needed, and I walked with him weeping for seven furlongs (7/8 of a mile), and my bowels yearned towards him in compassion.”

Mathew 6:3 (Aramaic English New Testament)

But whenever you do almsgiving (charity), you should not reveal what your left hand does to your right hand.”

Your left hand not knowing what the right hand does is to say that you are giving in simplicity and not giving thinking about whether you should or should not give, you give out of love from your heart without even thinking about it. How many people have used the excuse by saying “Well, I don’t know what they are going to use the money for!” or “They are probably living in a mansion and don’t need the money!” or “They will probably just use it on drugs!” etc. Of course, you don’t know them personally to even make that decision; therefore, we are to give in simplicity. It’s not up to us to decide who gets and who doesn’t, because if they are NOT in need and they take the money then they will have to answer for it, but you will be innocent. But if you don’t give and they are in need they you will be guilty! So just give! Plus, you never know if you are entertaining a malach (angel):

Hebrews 13:1-2

Let love for the brothers dwell among you. And do not forget kindness to strangers; for by this some have been privileged to entertain messengers without even knowing!”

Supporting scriptures

Luke 3:10-11

And the crowds would say to him (John the Baptist), “What then should we do?” And he answered and said to them, “He who has two coats let him give to him who does not have. And he who has food, likewise let him do.”

Proverbs 14:21, 31

He who despises his neighbor sins; but he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.” Verse 31 “He who oppresses the poor provokes his Maker; but he who honors YAHWEH has mercy on the needy.”

Proverbs 19:17

He who has pity upon the poor is a companion of YAHWEH; and he shall be repaid according to his works.”

Proverbs 21:13

He who closes his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry to ELOHIM, but he shall not answer him.”

Proverbs 28:27

He who gives to the poor shall not lack; but he who turns his eyes away from the needy shall have many a curse.”

Psalm 41:1

Blessed is he who looks after the poor; YAHWEH will deliver him in time of trouble.”

Tobiyah 4:7-11, 16

Give charity of your substance; and when you give charity, do not let your eye be envious, neither turn your face from any poor and the face of ELOHIM shall not be turned away from you. If you have abundance give charity; accordingly, if you have but a little, do not be afraid to give according to that little, for you lay up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity. Because that charity delivers from death and does not allow you to come into darkness. Verse 16 “Give bread to the hungry and of your garments to those who are naked; and according to your abundance give charity: and do not let your eye be envious (stingy), when you give charity.”

James 2:14-17

Or if a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of food, and one of you say to them, “Go in peace, warm yourselves, and be full;” and you do not give them the necessities of the body, what is the use? So also belief alone, without works is dead.”

1 John 3:17-18

But whoever has worldly possessions and sees his brother in need and closes off his bowels (of merciful nature) from him, how is the love of ELOHIM in him? My children, let us not love one another in words and in tongue, but in acts and in truth.”

Sirach 4:1-6

My son do not defraud the poor of his living do not make the needy eyes wait long. Do not make a hungry soul sorrowful; neither provoke a man in his distress. Do not add more trouble to a heart that is vexed; and postpone giving to him that is in need. Do not reject the supplication of the afflicted, neither turn away your face from a poor man. Do not turn your eye away from the needy and give him no occasion to curse you: for if he curses you in the bitterness of his soul his prayer shall be heard by Him that made him.”

Deuteronomy 15:7-9

If there is among you a poor person of one of your brethren within any of your towns in the land which YAHWEH your ELOHIM gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother: But you shall open your hand wide to him, and shall surely lend him whatsoever he lacks. Beware that there be not a wicked thought in your heart, and you say, the seventh year, the year of release, is near; and your eye be evil toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing; and he cry to YAHWEH against you, and it be SIN TO YOU.”

Sirach 7:32

And stretch your hand to the poor, that your blessing may be perfected.”

Sirach 18:25

When you have enough, remember the time of hunger: and when you are rich, think of poverty and need.”

Sirach 29:9

Help the poor for the commandment’s sake and do not turn him away because of his poverty.”

Testament of Benjamin 4:4

If anyone is esteemed, he does not envy him; if anyone is rich, he is not jealous; if anyone is valiant, he praises him; he exalts the virtuous man; he shows kindness to the poor man; he has compassion on the weak; he sings praises to ELOHIM.”

Job 31:16-22 (Aramaic Peshitta)

If I have withheld the poor from his desire, or have defrauded the widow, or have eaten my bread alone, and the orphans did not eat of it because from my youth I was brought up in sorrows, and from my mother’s womb with sighing; if  have seen anyone perishing for want of clothing, or any poor without covering (but they were reared upon my knees, and were warmed with the fleece of my sheep); If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless (when I saw him at the door I helped him); then let my arm fall from my shoulder blade from the bone.”

Don’t forget about the orphans and widows

James 1:27

For the worship that is pure and set-apart before ELOHIM the Father is this: to visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction; and: that one keep himself without blemish from the world.”

1 Timothy 5:3

Honor widows who are truly widows”

Sirach 4:10

Be as a dad to the dad less and in place of a husband to their mother: so shall you be as the son of the Most High and He shall love you more than your mother does.”

Psalm 82:3

Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy out of the hand of the wicked.”

Job 29:12

Because I delivered the poor out of distress, and the fatherless who had none to help him.” The blessing of him who was ready to perish came upon me; and I caused the widow’s heart to rejoice.”

Deuteronomy 10:18

He does execute justice for the dad less and the widows, and loves him who turns to him, and gives him food and clothing.”

Deuteronomy 26:12

When you have finished tithing all the tithes of your produce in the third year, which is the year of tithing, then you shall give to the Levite, the sojourner, the dad less, and the widow, that they may eat within your towns and be filled.”

Exodus 22:22

You shall not harm any widow or orphan. If you harm them, and they pray before Me, I will surely hear their prayer; and my wrath shall kindle, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall become widows and your children dad less.”

Mathew 23:14 (Aramaic Peshitta)

Woe to you scribes and Pharisee’s hypocrites for you embezzle the property of widows, and that for a pretense you lengthen your prayers. Because of this you will receive a greater judgment.”

Sirach 35:14-16

He will not despise the supplication of the dad less; nor the widow, when she pours out her complaint, do not the tears run down the widow’s cheeks and is not her cry against him that causes them to fall?”

As we can see, helping the poor, needy, dad less, orphans and widows is a huge part of being a servant of YAHWEH and YESHUA, so remember to give freely to all those in need without hesitation. Then according to the malach of YAHWEH, you will live unto ELOHIM! As always, may our Father YAHWEH bless you in YESHUA’s Name!