Mission to the Poor and Needy


Job 29:12-13 (NLT2) 

 For I assisted the poor in their need and the orphans who required help. 

I helped those without hope, and they blessed me. And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy.



Isaiah 1:17 (NASB) 

Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow. 


Jeremiah 22:3 (NASB)
 'Thus says the LORD, "Do justice and righteousness, and... do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow." 


Deuteronomy 24:19 (NLT2)
 “When you are harvesting your crops and forget to bring in a bundle of grain from your field, don’t go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigners, orphans, and widows. Then the LORD your God will bless you in all you do."


Isaiah 10:1-2 (NLT2)
  What sorrow awaits the unjust judges and those who issue unfair laws. 2 They deprive the poor of justice and deny the rights of the needy among My people. They prey on widows and take advantage of orphans. 


Deuteronomy 27:19 (NLT2)
 ‘Cursed is anyone who denies justice to foreigners, orphans, or widows.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’ 


Isaiah 1:23 (NLT2)
Your leaders are rebels, the companions of thieves. All of them love bribes and demand payoffs, but they refuse to defend the cause of orphans or fight for the rights of widows. 


Matthew 25:31-46 (NASB) 

"But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32  "All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33  and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. 34  "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35  'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36  naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' 37  "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38  'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39  'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' 40  "The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'"  

Our Love and Care of the Needy

Isaiah 58:6-12 (NLT2) 

“No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. 7 Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. 8  “Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind. 9 Then when you call, the LORD will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply. “Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors! 10 Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. 11 The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. 12 Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes. 

The  Hungry

Psalm 72:12 (NASB)
For he will deliver the needy when he cries for help, The afflicted also, and him who has no helper. 


Psalm 74:21 (NASB)
Let not the oppressed return dishonored; Let the afflicted and needy praise Your name. 


Matthew 25:31-46 (NASB)
"Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat."   

The Thirsty

Psalm 70:5 (NASB)

But I am afflicted and needy; Hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; 

O LORD, do not delay. 


Psalm 82:4 (NASB)
Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked. 


Ezekiel 22:29 (NASB)
 "The people of the land have practiced oppression and committed robbery, and they have wronged the poor and needy and have oppressed the sojourner without justice."


Matthew 25:31-46 (NASB)
"Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 'For I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink"   

The Orphan

Exodus 22:22 (NLT2) 

 “You must not exploit a widow or an orphan."


Proverbs 23:10b (NLT2)

Don’t don’t take the land of defenseless orphans. 


Deuteronomy 10:17-18 (NASB)
"For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who ... executes justice for the orphan..."


Zechariah 7:9-10 (NASB)
"Thus has the LORD of hosts said, 'Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; 10 and do not oppress the the orphan... or the poor"


Psalm 35:10 (NLT2)
With every bone in my body I will praise him: “LORD, who can compare with you? Who else rescues the helpless from the strong? Who else protects the helpless and poor from those who rob them?” 


The Poor

Psalm 40:17 (NASB)
Since I am afflicted and needy, Let the Lord be mindful of me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God. 


Psalm 9:18 (NLT2)
But the needy will not be ignored forever; the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed. 


Isaiah 58:6-12 (NLT2) 

“No, this is the kind of fasting I want:... Share your food with the hungry... Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble." 


Zechariah 7:9-10 (NASB)
"Thus has the LORD of hosts said, 'Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; 10 and do not oppress... the poor." 

The Widow

Deuteronomy 10:17-18 (NASB) 
"For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who ... executes justice for the widow..."


1 Timothy 5:5 (NLT2)
Now a true widow, a woman who is truly alone in this world, has placed her hope in God. She prays night and day, asking God for his help. 


Ecclesiastes 4:10 (NASB)
For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. 


Zechariah 7:9-10 (NASB) 
"Thus has the LORD of hosts said, 'Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion... and do not oppress the widow." 

The Elderly Woman

Psalm 71:9 (NASB)
Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my strength fails. 


Psalm 142:4 (NLT2)
I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me. 


Leviticus 19:32 (NIV)
 "'Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD."


Psalm 88:18 (NLT2)
You have taken away my companions and loved ones. Darkness is my closest friend. 


Psalm 88:8 (NASB) 
You have removed my acquaintances far from me;... I am shut up and cannot go out. 

The Elderly Man

Proverbs 16:31 (ESV)

Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.


Proverbs 20:29b (NASB)
The honor of old men is their gray hair. 


Proverbs 19:7 (NLT2)
The relatives of the poor despise them; how much more will their friends avoid them! Though the poor plead with them, their friends are gone. 


Psalm 69:8 (NLT2)
Even my own brothers pretend they don’t know me; they treat me like a stranger.


Zechariah 7:9-10 (NASB)
"Thus has the LORD of hosts said, 'Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; and do not oppress... the stranger or the poor." 

The  Stranger

Matthew 25:31-46 (NASB) 
"Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 'For I was a stranger, and you invited Me in." 


Zechariah 7:9-10 (NASB)

"Thus has the LORD of hosts said, 'Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; and do not oppress... the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.'  

The Lonely

Job 19:13 (NLT2)
 “My relatives stay far away, and my friends have turned against me."


Psalm 142:4 (NLT2)
I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me. 


Psalm 102:7 (NLT2) 

I lie awake, lonely as a solitary bird on the roof. 


Psalm 35:10 (NLT2) 

With every bone in my body I will praise him: “LORD, who can compare with you? Who else rescues the helpless from the strong? Who else protects the helpless and poor from those who rob them?” 


Psalm 68:6a (NASB) 
God makes a home for the lonely. 

The Homeless

Isaiah 58:6-12 (NLT2) 

“No, this is the kind of fasting I want: ... give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them... Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble." 


Zechariah 7:9-10 (NASB) 

"Thus has the LORD of hosts said, 'Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; and do not oppress the... the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another." 


Psalm 88:8 (NASB)
You have removed my acquaintances far from me; You have made me an object of loathing to them.