40 Bible Verses about Benevolence

When one of thy brethren among you is waxed poor in any of thy cities within thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, see that thou harden not thine heart nor shut to thine hand from thy poor brother: But open thine hand unto him and lend him sufficient for his need which he hath. And beware that there be not a point of Belial in thine heart, that thou wouldest say, 'The seventh year, the year of freedom is at hand,' and therefore it grieve thee to look on thy poor brother and givest him nought and he then cry unto the LORD against thee and it be sin unto thee.read more.
But give him, and let it not grieve thine heart to give. Because that for that thing, the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works and in all that thou puttest thine hand to. For the land shall never be without poor. Wherefore I command thee, saying, 'Open thine hand unto thy brother that is needy and poor in thy land.' If thy brother, an Hebrew, sell himself to thee, or an Hebrewess, he shall serve thee six years and the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee. And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty: but shalt give him of thy sheep and of thy corn and of thy wine, and give him of that wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee. And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God delivered thee thence: wherefore I command thee this thing today.

But behold, there came an old man from his work, out of the fields, at even - which was also of mount Ephraim, and but a stranger in Gibeah, for the men of the place were of the children of Benjamin. And when he had lifted up his eyes, and saw a wayfaring man in the streets of the city he said, "Whither goest thou? And whence comest thou?" And the other answered him, "We come from Bethlehem Judah toward the side of mount Ephraim: from thence am I, and went to Bethlehem Judah and go now to the house of the LORD. But there is no man that receiveth me to house:read more.
and yet I have straw and provender for our asses, and bread and wine for me and thy handmaid, and thy lad that are with thy servant, and lack nothing." The old man said, "Peace be with thee, all that thou lackest shalt thou find with me: onely abide not in the streets all night." And he brought him into his house, and gave fodder unto his asses. And they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.

And David said, "Fear not, for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan's sake and will restore thee all the fields of Saul thy father, and thou shalt eat meat on mine own table always."

And show kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among them that eat at thine own table, because they so clave to me when I fled from Absalom thy brother.

and said unto them, "We, after our ability, have bought our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the Heathen. And will ye sell your brethren, whom we have bought unto us?" Then held they their peace, and could find nothing to answer. Also I said, "It is not good, that ye do. Ought ye not to walk in the fear of God because of the rebuke of the Heathen our enemies? I and my brethren, and my servants have lent them money and corn: but as for usury, let us leave it.read more.
Therefore this same day see that ye restore them their lands again, their vineyards, oil gardens, and houses, and the hundredth part of the money of the corn, wine, and oil, that ye have won of them." Then said they, "We will restore them again and will require nothing of them and will do as thou hast spoken." And I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do so.

Therefore said he unto them, "Go your way, and eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send part unto them also that have not prepared themselves: for this day is holy unto our LORD. Be not ye sorry therefore: for the joy of the LORD is your strength." And the Levites stilled all the people, and said, "Hold your peace, for the day is holy: vex not ye yourselves."

When all they that heard me, called me happy, and when all they that saw me, wished me good. "For I delivered the poor when he cried, and the fatherless that wanted help. He that should have been lost, gave me a good word, and the widow's heart praised me.read more.
And why? I put upon me righteousness, which covered me as a garment, and equity was my crown. I was an eye unto the blind, and a foot to the lame; I was a father unto the poor, and when I knew not their cause, I sought it out diligently. I brake the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the spoil out of their teeth.

"When the poor desireth anything of me, have I denied it them? Have I caused the widow stand waiting for me in vain? Have I eaten my portion alone, that the fatherless hath had no part with me? For mercy grew up with me from my youth, and compassion from my mother's womb.read more.
Have I seen any man perish through nakedness and want of clothing? Or any poor man for lack of raiment, whose sides thanked me not, because he was warmed with the wool of my sheep? Did I ever lift up my hand to hurt the fatherless; yea, in the gates where I saw myself to be in authority? Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder, and mine arm holes be broken from the joints. For I have ever feared the vengeance and punishment of God, and knew very well that I was not able to bear his burden.

{To the Chanter, a Psalm of David} Blessed is he, that considereth the poor; the LORD shall deliver him in the time of trouble.

He hath dispersed abroad, and given to the poor, his righteousness remaineth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honor.

Refuse not to do good unto him that should have it, so long as thine hand is able to do it. Say not unto thy neighbour, "Go thy way and come again, tomorrow will I give thee"

He that is liberal in giving, shall have plenty; and he that watereth, shall be watered also himself.

A loving eye shall be blessed, for he giveth of his bread unto the poor.

If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;

He that giveth unto the poor, shall not want; but he that turneth away his eyes from such as be in necessity, shall suffer great poverty himself.

Meet the thirsty with water, O ye citizens of Tema; meet those with bread that are fled.

Yea, and to break the bread to the hungry; and to bring the poor that are harborless unto house; and when thou seest a naked, that thou clothe him and that thou shouldest withdraw thyself from helping thine own flesh?

Yea If thou layest away thy burdens, and holdest thy fingers, and ceasest from blasphemous talking; if thou hast compassion upon the hungry, and refreshest the troubled soul: Then shall thy light spring out in the darkness, and thy darkness shall be as the noon day.

he grieveth nobody; he giveth his debtor his pledge again; he raketh none other man's goods by violence; he parteth his meat with the hungry; he clotheth the naked;

Give to him that asketh, and from him that would borrow, turn not away.

And Jesus said unto him, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give it to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."

For I was a hungered, and ye gave me meat. I thirsted, and ye gave me drink. I was harborless, and ye lodged me. I was naked and ye clothed me. I was sick and ye visited me. I was in prison and ye came unto me.' Then shall the righteous answer him saying, 'Master, when saw we thee a hungered, and fed thee? Or athirst, and gave thee drink?read more.
When saw we thee harborless, and lodged thee? Or naked and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison and came unto thee?' And the King shall answer and say unto them, 'Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to me.' Then shall the King say unto them that shall be on the left hand, 'Depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, which is prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was a hungered, and ye gave me no meat. I thirsted, and ye gave me no drink. I was harborless, and ye lodged me not. I was naked, and ye clothed me not. I was sick and in prison, and ye visited me not.' Then shall they also answer him, saying, 'Master, when saw we thee a hungered, or athirst, or harborless, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and have not ministered unto thee?' Then shall he answer them, and say, 'Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.'

"And whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink for my name's sake because ye are belonging to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

He answered and said unto them, "He that hath two coats, let him part with him that hath none: And he that hath meat, let him do likewise."

Then a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came nigh unto him: and when he saw him, had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, and poured in wine, and oil, and put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and made provision for him. And on the morrow, when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host and said unto him, 'Take care of him, and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again I will recompense thee.'

Nevertheless, ye give alms of that ye have, and behold: all is clean to you.

And Zacchaeus stood forth and said unto the Lord, "Behold Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have done any man wrong, I will restore him four fold."

And all that believed kept themselves together, and had all things common. And sold their possessions and goods, and departed them to all men, as every man had need. And they continued daily with one accord in the temple, and brake bread in every house, and did eat their meat together with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God,

And the multitude of them that believed, were of one heart; And of one soul. Also, none of them said that any of the things which he possessed was his own: But had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was with them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked. For as many as were possessors of lands or houses, sold them and brought the price of the things that were sold,read more.
and laid it down at the apostles' feet. And distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. And Joseph, which was also called of the apostles Barnabas - that is to say, the son of consolation - being a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, had land, and sold it, and laid the price down at the apostles' feet.

In those days, as the number of the disciples grew, there arose a grudge among the Greeks against the Hebrews, because their widows were despised in the daily ministration.

There was at Joppa a certain woman, which was a disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: the same was full of good works and alms deeds, which she did. And it chanced in those days that she was sick and died. When they had washed her and laid her in a chamber - Because Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there - they sent unto him, desiring him that he would not be grieved to come unto them.read more.
Peter arose and came with them: And when he was come, they brought him into the chamber, and all the widows stood round about him weeping and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them.

a devout man, and one that feared God with all his household, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed God always.

When he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it Lord?" He said unto him, "Thy prayers and thy alms are come up into remembrance before God.

Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, purposed to send succour unto the brethren which dwelt in Jewry,

For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia, to make a certain distribution upon the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. It hath pleased them verily, and their debtors are they. For if the gentiles be made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is to minister unto them in carnal things.

And though I bestowed all my goods to feed the poor, and though I gave my body even that I burned, and yet had no love, it profiteth me nothing.

Of the gathering for the saints, as I have ordained in the congregations of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon some Sunday, let every one of you put aside at home, and lay up whatsoever he thinketh meet, that there be no gatherings when I come. When I am come, whosoever ye shall allow by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.

I do you to wit, brethren, of the grace of God, which is given in the congregations of Macedonia: how that the abundance of their rejoicing is, that they are tried with much tribulation. And thereto, though they were exceeding poor, yet have they given exceeding richly, and that in singleness. For to their powers - I bear them record - yea and beyond their power, they were willing of their own accord,read more.
and prayed us with great instance, that we would receive their benefit, and suffer them to be partakers with others in ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we looked for; but gave their own selves first to the Lord, and after unto us by the will of God: so that we could not but desire Titus to accomplish the same benevolence among you also, even as he had begun. Now therefore, as ye are rich in all parts, in faith, in word, in knowledge, in all ferventness, and in love, which ye have to us: even so see that ye be plenteous in this benevolence. This say I not as commanding: but because others are so fervent, therefore prove I your love, whether it be perfect or no. Ye know the liberality of our Lord Jesus Christ, which though he were rich, yet for your sakes became poor: that ye through his poverty might be made rich. And I give counsel hereto: For this is expedient for you, which began - not to do only, but also to will - a year ago. Now therefore perform the deed, that as there was in you a readiness to will, even so ye may perform the deed, of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. It is not my mind that other be set at ease, and ye brought into cumbrance: but that there be equalness now at this time, that your abundance succor their lack at this present time of dearth - that their abundance may supply your lack; that there may be equality, agreeing to that which is written, "He that gathered much had never the more abundance, and he that gathered little, had nevertheless."

Wherefore show unto them the proof of your love, and of the rejoicing that we have of you, that the congregations may see it.

Of the ministering to the saints, it is but superfluous for me to write unto you: