Verse 17

But if a man has this world's goods, and sees that his brother is in need, and keeps his heart shut against his brother, how is it possible for the love of God to be in him?

Referenced Verses

  • 1 John 4:20 : 20 If a man says, I have love for God, and has hate for his brother, his words are false: for how is the man who has no love for his brother whom he has seen, able to have love for God whom he has not seen?
  • Heb 13:16 : 16 But go on doing good and giving to others, because God is well-pleased with such offerings.
  • Prov 19:17 : 17 He who has pity on the poor gives to the Lord, and the Lord will give him his reward.
  • Isa 58:7-9 : 7 Is it not to give your bread to those in need, and to let the poor who have no resting-place come into your house? to put a robe on the unclothed one when you see him, and not to keep your eyes shut for fear of seeing his flesh? 8 Then will light be shining on you like the morning, and your wounds will quickly be well: and your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will come after you. 9 Then at the sound of your voice, the Lord will give an answer; at your cry he will say, Here am I. If you take away from among you the yoke, the putting out of the finger of shame, and the evil word; 10 And if you give your bread to those in need of it, so that the troubled one may have his desire; then you will have light in the dark, and your night will be as the full light of the sun:
  • Deut 15:7-9 : 7 If in any of your towns in the land which the Lord your God is giving you, there is a poor man, one of your countrymen, do not let your heart be hard or your hand shut to him; 8 But let your hand be open to give him the use of whatever he is in need of. 9 And see that there is no evil thought in your heart, moving you to say to yourself, The seventh year, the year of forgiveness is near; and so looking coldly on your poor countryman you give him nothing; and he will make an outcry to the Lord against you, and it will be judged as sin in you. 10 But it is right for you to give to him, without grief of heart: for because of this, the blessing of the Lord your God will be on all your work and on everything to which you put your hand. 11 For there will never be a time when there are no poor in the land; and so I give orders to you, Let your hand be open to your countrymen, to those who are poor and in need in your land.
  • 2 Cor 9:5-9 : 5 So it seemed to me wise for the brothers to go before, and see that the amount which you had undertaken to give was ready, so that it might be a cause for praise, and not as if we were making profit out of you. 6 But in the Writings it says, He who puts in only a small number of seeds, will get in the same; and he who puts them in from a full hand, will have produce in full measure from them. 7 Let every man do after the purpose of his heart; not giving with grief, or by force: for God takes pleasure in a ready giver. 8 And God is able to give you all grace in full measure; so that ever having enough of all things, you may be full of every good work: 9 As it is said in the Writings, He has sent out far and wide, he has given to the poor; his righteousness is for ever.
  • 1 Tim 6:17-18 : 17 Give orders to those who have money and goods in this life, not to be lifted up in their minds, or to put their hope in the uncertain chances of wealth, but in God who gives us in full measure all things for our use; 18 And to do good, having wealth in good works, being quick to give, taking part with one another;
  • Jas 2:15 : 15 If a brother or a sister is without clothing and in need of the day's food,
  • Prov 12:10 : 10 An upright man has thought for the life of his beast, but the hearts of evil-doers are cruel.
  • Prov 28:9 : 9 As for the man whose ear is turned away from hearing the law, even his prayer is disgusting.
  • Luke 3:11 : 11 And he made answer and said to them, He who has two coats, let him give to him who has not even one; and he who has food, let him do the same.
  • 2 Cor 8:9 : 9 For you see the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, how though he had wealth, he became poor on your account, so that through his need you might have wealth.
  • 2 Cor 8:14-15 : 14 But so that things may be equal; that from those things of which you have more than enough at the present time their need may be helped, and that if you are in any need they may be a help to you in the same way, making things equal. 15 As it says in the Writings, He who had taken up much had nothing over and he who had little had enough.
  • 1 John 5:1 : 1 Everyone who has faith that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God: and everyone who has love for the Father has love for his child.