Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Giving To The Poor?
11 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Giving To The Poor in the Bible
Explore what the Bible says about giving to the poor. This collection of 12 key Scripture passages reveals God's wisdom and guidance on this important theme.
Top 10 Verses About Giving To The Poor
- 1Deuteronomy 15:7
“If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:”
KJV - 2Proverbs 19:17
“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. that which: or, his deed”
KJV - 3Proverbs 22:9
“He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. He that: Heb. Good of eye”
KJV - 4Matthew 5:42
“Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.”
KJV - 5Matthew 19:21
“Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.”
KJV - 6Luke 3:11
“He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.”
KJV - 7Luke 6:38
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
KJV - 8Luke 12:33
“Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.”
KJV - 9
- 10Acts 20:35
“I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Giving To The Poor? (3 Verses)
“If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:”
“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. that which: or, his deed”
“He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. He that: Heb. Good of eye”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Giving To The Poor? (8 Verses)
“Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.”
“Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.”
“He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.”
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
“Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.”
“And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.”
“I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
“But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Giving To The Poor
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about giving to the poor. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about giving to the poor and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about giving to the poor is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on giving to the poor needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about giving to the poor with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about giving to the poor, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Giving To The Poor?
You have studied 11 verses about giving to the poor. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.