{"id":416,"date":"2014-10-06T12:00:52","date_gmt":"2014-10-06T12:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/forbiblestudynerds\/?p=416"},"modified":"2014-09-30T04:19:08","modified_gmt":"2014-09-30T04:19:08","slug":"matthew-61-4-giving-to-the-needy-historical-backgrounds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/forbiblestudynerds\/2014\/10\/matthew-61-4-giving-to-the-needy-historical-backgrounds.html","title":{"rendered":"Matthew 6:1-4; Giving to the Needy (Historical Backgrounds)"},"content":{"rendered":"

In ancient Israeli society, giving to the needy ranked among one of the highest religious duties. As such, it was a regular, ordinary part of the Jewish person\u2019s experience.<\/p>\n

Historians tell us that, \u201cIn every city there were collectors who distributed alms of two kinds, i.e. money collected in the synagogue chest every Sabbath for the poor, and food and money received in a dish.\u201d Contrary to our modern experience, it was not the government that shouldered responsibility for the welfare of the poorer and needier members of the locality. It was the religious community.<\/p>\n

In spite of the intent of this provision, poverty was rampant in Jesus\u2019 time. \u201cThere were few middle-class Jews,\u201d scholars report. \u201cIf you were not rich, you were probably poor. And in the cities, divorced from the productive land, that meant that you were very poor indeed.\u201d This economic disparity, coupled with the unique circumstances of living in a Roman-conquered territory, created a large population of beggars and day laborers who woke up each morning\u00a0not knowing how they’d meet the day’s necessities.<\/p>\n

It was in this setting that Jesus took to task those who viewed others’\u00a0poverty and hardship as an opportunity for self-aggrandizement. Although almsgiving was a basic responsibility everyone shared in that society, some demanded public praise in repayment for fulfilling this obligation. They would announce with fanfare the amount of their gifts in the synagogue, or call attention to themselves when delivering a coin or sustenance to a beggar on the street. Generosity toward God\u2019s loved ones was irrelevant unless it also gave them better social or political standing in the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you give to the needy,\u201d Jesus rebuked his hearers, \u201cdo not announce it\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Giving to others, he seems to be saying, is a matter best left between you and God.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Works Cited<\/a>:<\/p>\n

[ID1, 33; JHT, 74-75]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2126\u2126\u2126<\/p>\n

About: For Bible Study Nerds\u2122<\/a><\/p>\n

About: Mike Nappa<\/a><\/p>\n

Copyright \u00a9 2014 to present by\u00a0Nappaland Communications Inc<\/a>. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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