alms Summary and Overview

Not found in the Old Testament, but repeatedly in the New. The Mosaic legislation (Lev. 25:35; Deut. 15:7) tended to promote a spirit of charity, and to prevent the occurrence of destitution among the people. Such passages as these, Ps. 41:1; 112:9; Prov. 14:31; Isa. 10:2; Amos 2:7; Jer. 5:28; Ezek. 22:29, would also naturally foster the same benevolent spirit. In the time of our Lord begging was common (Mark 10:46; Acts 3:2). The Pharisees were very ostentatious in their almsgivings (Matt. 6:2). The spirit by which the Christian ought to be actuated in this duty is set forth in 1 John 3:17. A regard to the state of the poor and needy is enjoined as a Christian duty (Luke 3:11; 6:30; Matt. 6:1; Acts 9:36; 10:2, 4), a duty which was not neglected by the early Christians (Luke 14:13; Acts 20:35; Gal. 2:10; Rom. 15:25-27; 1 Cor. 16:1-4). They cared not only for the poor among themselves, but contributed also to the necessities of those at a distance (Acts 11:29; 24:17; 2 Cor. 9:12). Our Lord and his attendants showed an example also in this (John 13:29). In modern times the "poor-laws" have introduced an element which modifies considerably the form in which we may discharge this Christian duty.

The duty of alms-giving, especially in kind, consisting chiefly in portions to be left designedly from produce of the field, the vineyard and the oliveyard, #Le 19:9,10; 23:22; De 15:11; 24:19; 26:2-13; Ru 2:2| is strictly enjoined by the law. Every third year also, #De 14:28| each proprietor was directed to share the tithe of his produce with "the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless and the widow." The theological estimate of alms-giving among the Jews is indicated in the following passages: #Job 31:17; Pr 10:2; 11:4; Es 9:22; Ps 112:9, Ac 9:36| the case of Dorcas; #Ac 10:2| of Cornelius; to which may be added Tobit 4:10,11; 14:10,11, and Ecclus. 3:30; 40:24. The Pharisees were zealous in almsgiving, but too ostentatious their mode of performance, for which our Lord finds fault with them. #Mt 6:2| The duty of relieving the poor was not neglected by the Christians. #Mt 6:1-4; Lu 14:13; Ac 20:35; Ga 2:10| Regular proportionate giving was expected. #Ac 11:30; Ro 15:25-27; 1Co 16:1-4|

ALMS DEEDS The word is not found in the Authorized Version of the Old Testament, but is frequent in the New Testament. The duty was, however, enjoined very strictly upon the Jews, who by law were required always to leave gleanings in the fields that the poor might be fed. Jer Lev. 19:9, 10; Jer 23:22; Deut 15:11; Deut 24:19;Deut 26:2-13; Ruth 2:2. Every third year the tithe of the produce of the farmers was to be shared with the Levite, the fatherless, the stranger, and the widow. Deut 14:28. Alms-giving is a subject of praise in the Old Testament; e.g. Job 31:17; Ps 41:1 and Ps 112:9. In the temple there was one box for the reception of alms to be dedicated to the education of the poor children of good family. Alms-giving was a part of Pharisaic practice. Our Lord did not rebuke them for it, but for their self-satisfaction in the performance. Matt 6:2. In Acts 10:31; Rom 15:25-27; 1 Cor 16:1-4 the Christian mode of relieving the wants of others is set forth.

From Greek eleemosyne. The Hebrew "righteousness" in Old Testament and the Greek in many manuscripts of Matthew 6:1, stands for ALMS. So Daniel 4:27, "Break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor." The poor were entitled to leavings from the produce of the field, the vineyard, and the olive yard (Leviticus 19:9-10; Leviticus 23:22; Deuteronomy 15:11; Deuteronomy 24:19; Deuteronomy 26:2-13), the third year's tithing for the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, the widow. Compare Job 31:17; Job 29:16; "I was a father to the poor." Nehemiah 8:10; Proverbs 10:2; Proverbs 11:4; Esther 9:22; Psalm 41:1; Psalm 112:9. Dorcas (Acts 9:36). Cornelius (Acts 10:2). God prefers such neighborly love to fasting (Isaiah 58:7). Thirteen receptacles for free offerings were in the women's court of the temple (Mark 12:41-44). Begging was a practice only known after the captivity. In every city there were three collectors who distributed alms of two kinds: 1. Of money collected in the synagogue chest every sabbath for the poor of the city, "the alms of the chest." 2. Of food and money received in a dish, "alms of the dish." The Pharisees gave much alms, but with ostentation, figuratively blowing the trumpet before them (the figure being from the trumpet blowing in religious feasts): Matthew 6:1-2. The duty was recognized among Christians as a leading one (Luke 14:13; Romans 15:25-27; Galatians 2:10). A laying by for alms in proportion to one's means on every Lord's day is recommended (1 Corinthians 16:1-4; Acts 11:29-30; Acts 20:35). Jesus and the twelve, out of their common purse, set the pattern (John 13:29). Not the costliness, but the love and self denial, and the proportion the gift bears to one's means, are what God prizes (Mark 12:42-44). Such "come up as a memorial before God" (Acts 9:36; Acts 10:2; Acts 10:4). The giving was not imposed as a matter of constraint, but of bounty, on Christians (Acts 5:4). The individual was not merged in the community, as in socialism; each freely gave, and distribution was made, not to the lazy who would not work, but to the needy (Acts 2:45; 2 Thessalonians 3:10). A mendicant order is the very opposite of the Christian system. The Jewish tithe was not imposed, but the principle of proportionate giving having been laid down, the definite proportion is left to each one's faith and love to fix (2 Corinthians 9:5-7). Love will hardly give less than legalism. An ecclesiastical order of widowhood attended to charitable ministrations in the early church (1 Timothy 5:10). The deacons were appointed primarily for the distribution of alms (Acts 6). Alms are "righteousness," not that they justify a man (which Romans 3; 4; 5 prove they do not), but they are the doing that which is right and which our neighbor has a rightful claim upon us for, in the court of God's equity, though not of human law. God gives us means for this very end (Ephesians 4:28).