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You asked

how do jesus' teachings on wealth and lending compare with this law from deuteronomy?

The passage, plainly, with room to sit with it.

Deuteronomy 15:7-8

If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, within any of your gates in your land which Yahweh your God 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 sufficient for his need, in that which he wants.

This passage is part of a larger section in Deuteronomy where Moses is giving instructions to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the promised land. It emphasizes how the community is to care for its members, particularly the poor, reflecting a vision for an equitable society under God's covenant.

What does 'lending sufficient for his need' imply about our responsibility to understand the needs of others?

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Read alongside it

  • Luke 6:34-35

    Jesus teaches his followers to lend without expecting repayment, extending the Deuteronomic principle to an even broader and more sacrificial generosity.

  • Proverbs 28:27

    This proverb connects giving to the poor with not experiencing poverty oneself, reinforcing the idea of divine blessing tied to generosity.

  • Matthew 25:35-40

    Jesus identifies himself with the poor and needy, implying that acts of charity toward them are acts of service to him.

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