The Term Itself
1.1. This term developed within Judaism.
1.2. It refers to giving to the poor and/or needy.
1.3. The English word “almsgiving” comes from a contraction of the Greek term eleēmosunē.
Old Testament Concept
2.1. The concept of helping the poor was expressed early in the Torah:
– Typical context: Deut. 15:7-11
– “Gleaning”: leaving part of the harvest for the poor (Lev. 19:9; 23:22; Deut. 24:20)
– “Sabbath year”: allowing the poor to eat the produce of the seventh, fallow year (Exod. 23:10-11; Lev. 25:2-7)
2.2. The concept was developed further in Wisdom Literature:
– Selected examples: Job 5:8-16; 29:12-17 (the wicked described in 24:1-12)
– The Psalms: 11:7
– Proverbs: 11:4; 14:21,31; 16:6; 21:3,13
Development in Judaism
3.1. The first division of the Mishnah addresses how to treat the poor, needy, and local Levites.
3.2. Selected quotes:
– Ecclesiasticus (Wisdom of Ben Sirach):
– 3:30: “As water extinguishes a blazing fire, so almsgiving atones for sin.” (NRSV)
– 29:5: “Store up almsgiving in your treasury and it will rescue you from every disaster.” (NRSV)
– Tobit:
– 4:6-11: Encourages giving alms proportionately to one’s possessions, highlighting almsgiving as a safeguard against death and darkness.
– 12:8-9: Emphasizes almsgiving as better than wealth, linking it to righteousness and salvation.
3.3. Theological development:
– In the Septuagint, the Greek term for “almsgiving” (eleēmosunē) became a synonym for “righteousness” (dikaiosunē).
– Human acts of compassion became viewed as a means to personal abundance and salvation, overshadowing the original focus on motive and divine judgment (cf. Micah 6:8).
New Testament Reaction
4.1. The term is found in:
– Matt. 6:1-4
– Luke 11:41; 12:33; 18:9 (where righteousness is equated with almsgiving)
– Acts 3:2-3,10; 10:2,4,31; 24:17
4.2. Jesus addresses the traditional understanding of righteousness in Matthew 6, focusing on:
– Almsgiving (Matt. 6:2-4)
– Prayer (Matt. 6:5-6)
– Fasting (Matt. 6:16-18)
4.3. Jesus’ teaching reorients righteousness in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7):
– Emphasizes trusting in divine performance (Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:26-27) rather than human actions.