Alms

Alms are gifts given to help people who are poor. The word “alms” also refers to the practice of giving such gifts. The English word “alms” comes from a longer Greek word used in the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament. That Greek word was used to translate a Hebrew word meaning “righteousness.”

The Hebrew term, in general, is unrelated to almsgiving. So, the Old Testament has no specific reference to almsgiving. The Israelites were expected to care for the poor who lived among them. The law of Moses gives many commands about treating poor people with justice and care. Deuteronomy 15:7–11 is especially important. It recognizes that poverty will continue to exist, but it still commands the people of Israel to act and help those in need.

Every seventh year all fields and gardens were to remain unharvested for the benefit of the poor and needy (Exodus 23:10–11). Every third year, one-tenth of all produce had to be given to the Levites (a Hebrew tribe that had no property), the traveler, the fatherless, and the widow (Deuteronomy 14:28–29). Forgotten bundles of grain and the grain left behind from grain fields at each harvest were left for the needy and the stranger (Leviticus 19:9; 23:22). From every vineyard and olive grove, any fallen fruit and the imperfect and topmost clusters were reserved for them (Leviticus 19:10; Deuteronomy 24:20–21). Likewise, people traveling for the festival were expected to share food with those in need (Deuteronomy 16:11–14).

The Old Testament prophets continued to emphasize the theme of kind treatment for the poor. The strongest expressions of the social justice theme are found in Isaiah (1:23; 3:15; 10:1–2; 11:4–5; 58:5–10) and Amos (2:6–8; 4:1; 5:11; 8:4). Similarly, the Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes each show the need of the poor. These books provide hope to those who are suffering and ask others to take up their cause or to improve their condition. The requests were based on the belief that all human beings are created by the one God. He commanded Israel to deal with the poor who lived with them with kindness that included fair treatment, not just giving.

During the period between the Old and New Testaments, the giving of alms became more important. Leviticus 19:18 offers a general command to show loving-kindness. This became defined as specific individual acts believed to contribute to personal merit and security. Sirach 3:30 says “almsgiving atones for sin." Tobit 4:10 says almsgiving “delivers from death.” Along with prayer and fasting, almsgiving was considered one of the most important expressions of Jewish obedience (Tobit 12:8–9).

Jesus criticized the way many people of his time gave money to the poor (Matthew 6:2–4). He condemned giving that was done to gain praise from others. Jesus said that people who gave for this reason had already received their reward: public attention. By contrast, God blesses those who help poor people without drawing attention to themselves.

The early church continued to care for people in need. Believers in Jerusalem shared their possessions so that poor members of the church had what they needed (Acts 2:45; 4:32–35). The apostle Paul also collected gifts for poor believers and urged churches to support them (Romans 12:13; 15:25–27; 1 Corinthians 16:1–4; 2 Corinthians 8:1–9, 15; Galatians 2:10). James taught that caring for widows and orphans is part of pure religion (James 1:27). John warned that a person who has enough to live on but refuses to help someone in need does not show the love of God (1 John 3:17).