These So-Called "Contradictions" In The Bible.

betsy · July 24, 2017

1 hour ago, Rue said:

In my beliefs, you Judge yourself long before you you "die". I have witnessed people doing just that. As their bodies prepare to break down their unresolved issues rise to the top like methane gas from the bottom of a marsh and they reach the surface and become exposed and have to be dealt with.

I have seen some people die happily or gently having resolved many of these issues and simply having a faith to let the others go and forgive themselves while others cling to them and refuse to let them go screaming to the next level after death.

How we let go of conflict is the key. When we learn to swim the first thing we do is to have faith in water to let us float. We have to confront and ignore all our senses that tell us fight the water and simply trust it.

Death I believe is like learning to float on water. One needs to let go and trust something larger to take place.

In our material world, we learn to hold on and not dispose of things or if we do dispose of them, its because we devalue them.

Its the price of living in a material world.

However that may not be healthy. It may be we have to learn to let things go not because we believe they have no value but precisely because we believe they have great value.

I agree with the Taoists and Buddhists and mystic Christians and Jews or Hindus or Hains when they say the things of greatest value we must learn to let go of.

So your reference to a God judging people I moved on from. To me in Judaism that judegemental God is portrayed as very angry and ill tempered with the mistakes of humans.

I think that is a human projection on the qualities of "God". I see God not as a person, but as an abstract concept dealing with the movement of all energy on a constant basis of evolutionary and mutating movement and essence.

I don't see judgement-I do see energy that has to balance itself-I see it as a balancing act not a judgement.

Interestingly in some Christian and Jewish tales of the Judgement day-that Judgement exercise is seen as reviewing he Good and Bad of one's live (negative, positive energy) and seeing how the two add up. Some believe if the negative consquences of one' life outweigh the positive ones, an act of correction must then happen to assure a balance of the two.

Some believe you must keep living lives until you balance things out and then get to move on to a higher level of existence-others believe being reborn is a trap or a punishment for not having evolved properly.

I don't see any of that other than I think all energy is constantly balancing its negative and positive streams. I leave speculation about divine punishment and judgement for others.

I personally believe speculation about punishment, judgement, are human projections-things humans construct based on how they learned their life lessons.

You're entitled to your own belief. It's irrelevant though, to the discussion.

Gosthacked was aiming to show contradiction in the Bible by giving that post along the context of

Christian belief.

Edited July 24, 2017 by betsy

hot enough · July 24, 2017

2 hours ago, betsy said:

along the context of

Christian belief.

Christian belief means that there can be no discussions of science because science requires impartiality and impartiality/evenhandedness/rational thought is something that is light years away from the beliefs of christians and christianity.

betsy · July 24, 2017

1 hour ago, hot enough said:

Christian belief means that there can be no discussions of science because science requires impartiality and impartiality/evenhandedness/rational thought is something that is light years away from the beliefs of christians and christianity.

Hahahahahaha

...........whatever.

Edited July 24, 2017 by betsy

hot enough · July 24, 2017

13 minutes ago, betsy said:

Hahahahahaha

...........whatever.

Thank you for your dandy example of your ability to be impartial and scientific, Betsy.

GostHacked · July 25, 2017

23 hours ago, Rue said:

You don't speak for Christians and in particular those Christians who use Christ as a symbol for the personification of behaviours they believe will heal the world.

I speak for myself, but don't let me stop you from speaking for me too.

August1991 · July 26, 2017

On 7/24/2017 at 2:03 PM, betsy said:

Hahahahahaha

...........whatever.

Betsy,

I reckon that no true Christian would use such emoticons in response to anyone, for any reason.

Christ never taught to belittle. I have not followed this discussion - so maybe I'm wrong.

betsy · July 26, 2017

8 hours ago, August1991 said:

Betsy,

I reckon that no true Christian would use such emoticons in response to anyone, for any reason.

Christ never taught to belittle. I have not followed this discussion - so maybe I'm wrong.

To find humor in an insult - especially nonsense - is preferable than getting into downright explosive anger! It's my way of "turning the other cheek." Heard of that phrase?

Prov 9

⁸Mockers stir up a city,
but the wise turn away anger.

Furthermore, this is a forum.

Btw, have you seen Jesus in action when He was debating or involved in a heated discussion with the Pharisees? The reason behind their debate, isn't the same with ours, though. But just to show you that there's a difference between debating, and making conversations.

Here's a sample:

Matthew 22

The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?

¹⁵Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. ¹⁶And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. ¹⁷Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

¹⁸But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?

¹⁹Show Me the tax money.”

So they brought Him a denarius.

²⁰And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”

²¹They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”

And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

I could envision an eye-roll at the end of that last statement.....or a "doh."

I could hear what I imagine, to be frustration in His statement. It would be interesting to know the body-language of Jesus (or even His facial expression)!

Since you've admitted that you've not followed the discussion - knowing what the issue is all about, should be your first step before you jump into any fray to give an opinion, or especially.......before you single out anyone to castigate.

Not particularly Christ teaching, but just as sensible, no?

Prov 29

20 Do you see someone who speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool than for them.

Edited July 26, 2017 by betsy

Omni · July 26, 2017

How did Jesus get his point across without emotions I wonder.

hot enough · July 26, 2017

12 hours ago, betsy said:

And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

I could envision an eye-roll at the end of that last statement.....or a "doh."

I could hear what I imagine, to be frustration in His statement. It would be interesting to know the body-language of Jesus (or even His facial expression)!

WHAT???!!! Are you telling me that they didn't record Jesus's actions, facial gestures and further comments.

There are so many contradictions, Betsy, in everything you put forward from the bible and in your own contradictory take on all those biblical contradictions.

Edited July 26, 2017 by hot enough

betsy · July 27, 2017

WAS GOD SEEN BY ANY MAN?

Does John 1 contradict the Old Testament?

John 1

¹⁸No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

And yet, it's written that some people from the OT had seen God. Genesis 18:1, Exodus 3:2, Genesis 32:30

No contradiction.

God, is a spirit. He's invisible. So, no one can really see Him......therefore, no one has really seen Him.
He can, however, manifest Himself however He want - example, as the Burning Bush (Moses), or as man (Abraham).

Edited July 27, 2017 by betsy

Omni · July 27, 2017

And on the seventh day he made emoticons.

GostHacked · July 27, 2017

34 minutes ago, Omni said:

And on the seventh day he made emoticons.

Just before the 8th day when he made bold and italic text!

hot enough · July 27, 2017

13 hours ago, betsy said:

WAS GOD SEEN BY ANY MAN?

Does John 1 contradict the Old Testament?

...

No contradiction.

God, is a spirit. He's invisible. So, no one can really see Him......therefore, no one has really seen Him.
He can, however, manifest Himself however He want - example, as the Burning Bush (Moses), or as man (Abraham).

Nor any proof, just a bunch of folks who want so desperately to believe that they make up the most phantasmagorical stories and call them science.

blackbird · August 19, 2017

On 7/27/2017 at 4:49 PM, hot enough said:

Nor any proof, just a bunch of folks who want so desperately to believe that they make up the most phantasmagorical stories and call them science.

Science and the Bible are two different things. Science is defined as a branch of knowledge conducted on objective principles involving the systematized observation of and experiments with phenomena, esp. concerned with the material and functions of the physical universe. (Oxford dictionary)

On the other hand the Bible is a written revelation from God and a supernatural book. Much of what is recorded in the Bible is supernatural in character or nature. It does not claim to fit the definition of science according to the Oxford definition of science.

People sometimes add confusion to the subject by arguing the Bible is scientific. It is not meant to be and is not a scientific book. The events recorded such as the creation account in the beginning part of Genesis in the King James Bible (1611) are supernatural. While I believe they occurred as they are written, it is not meant to try to fit it into a scientific mould. God who created everything did it in a supernatural way and is not required to prove how he did it. Neither are believers required to prove how God created the universe out of nothing. The evidence is all around us in the creation and the Bible itself gives ample evidence that it is indeed the word of God. One either accepts it by faith or doesn't.

Edited August 19, 2017 by blackbird

hot enough · August 19, 2017

8 hours ago, blackbird said:

Science and the Bible are two different things. Science is defined as a branch of knowledge conducted on objective principles involving the systematized observation of and experiments with phenomena, esp. concerned with the material and functions of the physical universe. (Oxford dictionary)

On the other hand the Bible is a written revelation from God and a supernatural book. Much of what is recorded in the Bible is supernatural in character or nature. It does not claim to fit the definition of science according to the Oxford definition of science.

The evidence is all around us in the creation and the Bible itself gives ample evidence that it is indeed the word of God. One either accepts it by faith or doesn't.

You have a terribly specious idea of what evidence is. You think brainwashing constitutes evidence. The bible is a bunch of crap, the very brainwashing that I speak of. You speak of evidence and then you contradict by saying one accepts it by "faith or doesn't".

You might as well believe in the flying spaghetti monster.

blackbird · August 20, 2017

14 hours ago, hot enough said:

You have a terribly specious idea of what evidence is. You think brainwashing constitutes evidence. The bible is a bunch of crap, the very brainwashing that I speak of. You speak of evidence and then you contradict by saying one accepts it by "faith or doesn't".

You might as well believe in the flying spaghetti monster.

Eyewitness accounts of many supernatural events does constitute evidence. It is your bias that is getting in your way. Without knowing beans about it, you dismiss it as brainwashing. The irony is you are the most brainwashed person on here with your constant nonsense about the U.S. and west. So you are the last person who should speak of brainwashing.

hot enough · August 20, 2017

10 minutes ago, blackbird said:

Eyewitness accounts of many supernatural events does constitute evidence. It is your bias that is getting in your way.

Eyewitness accounts of a bunch of brainwashed people looking for proof of their dog almighty. Then these same brainwashed people write their accounts for what purpose, to brainwash others into believing the totally unsubstantiated crap they themselves desperately want to believe. It's self fulfilling brainwashing that y'all do to children. leave them alone and most will chuck the crap you feed them.

Quote

Without knowing beans about it, you dismiss it as brainwashing. The irony is you are the most brainwashed person on here with your constant nonsense about the U.S. and west. So you are the last person who should speak of brainwashing.

Illustrative of how brainwashed you are. You provide zero evidence. Do you not grasp that this is exactly how brainwashing works?

marcus · September 2, 2017

If Jesus was alive today, right wing christians would call him an unpatriotic lefty libtard who loves foreigners.

Altai · September 2, 2017

There is nothing to discuss, todays corrupted Bibles are not even written in their own language. So no translations can 100% reflect the original meaning.

betsy · September 2, 2017

6 hours ago, marcus said:

If Jesus was alive today, right wing christians would call him an unpatriotic lefty libtard who loves foreigners.

He's not a liberal - that's an ignorant assumption, or a narrative being pushed by those with socialist agenda, or by Liberal Christians!

2 Corinthians 6:14

¹⁴Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Quote

A yoke is a wooden bar that joins two oxen to each other and to the burden they pull. An “unequally yoked” team has one stronger ox and one weaker, or one taller and one shorter. The weaker or shorter ox would walk more slowly than the taller, stronger one, causing the load to go around in circles. When oxen are unequally yoked, they cannot perform the task set before them. Instead of working together, they are at odds with one another.

https://www.gotquestions.org/unequally-yoked.html

Ezra 7

²⁵And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.

²⁶And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

Proverbs 24

⁵A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

⁶For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

^{Proverbs 24}

¹⁰If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

¹¹If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;

¹²If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

Romans 13

13 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

²Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

³For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

⁴For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

⁵Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

1 Peter 2

¹³Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

¹⁴Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

¹⁵For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

¹⁶As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

¹⁷Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Edited September 2, 2017 by betsy

marcus · September 2, 2017

Good try but here is Jesus on immigration:

Leviticus 19:33-34 ESV / 4,644

“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

Exodus 22:21 ESV / 2,803

“You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.

Exodus 23:9 ESV / 2,025

“You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.

Matthew 25:35 ESV / 1,855

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,

Malachi 3:5 ESV / 1,823

“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.

Deuteronomy 27:19 ESV / 1,660

“‘Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

Romans 13:1-7 ESV / 1,354

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. ...

Jeremiah 7:5-7 ESV / 1,307

“For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another, if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm, then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever.

Hebrews 13:2 ESV / 1,252

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Leviticus 25:35 ESV / 1,217

“If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you.

Exodus 12:49 ESV / 1,179

There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.”

Zechariah 7:9-10 ESV / 1,069

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.”

Deuteronomy 24:19-22 ESV / 1,012

“When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over them again. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not strip it afterward. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this.

Genesis 12:1 ESV / 861

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.

Exodus 20:10 ESV / 833

But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.

Leviticus 24:22 ESV / 831

You shall have the same rule for the sojourner and for the native, for I am the Lord your God.”

Deuteronomy 10:19 ESV / 807

Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.

Psalm 146:9 ESV / 804

The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

Deuteronomy 27:17 ESV / 798

“‘Cursed be anyone who moves his neighbor's landmark.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

Deuteronomy 26:5 ESV / 773

“And you shall make response before the Lord your God, ‘A wandering Aramean was my father. And he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, few in number, and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous.

Romans 13:1-14 ESV / 766

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. ...

Philippians 3:20 ESV / 754

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Genesis 11:1-32 ESV / 754

Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. ...

Deuteronomy 24:14 ESV / 752

“You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers or one of the sojourners who are in your land within your towns.

Deuteronomy 10:18-19 ESV / 748

He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.

James 1:27 ESV / 737

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Matthew 25:31-46 ESV / 737

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ...

Leviticus 23:22 ESV / 727

“And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.”

Leviticus 19:9-10 ESV / 714

“When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.

Genesis 12:10 ESV / 695

Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land.

Ezekiel 22:7 ESV / 657

Father and mother are treated with contempt in you; the sojourner suffers extortion in your midst; the fatherless and the widow are wronged in you.

Isaiah 19:19-25 ESV / 650

In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border. It will be a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry to the Lord because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them. And the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day and worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows to the Lord and perform them. And the Lord will strike Egypt, striking and healing, and they will return to the Lord, and he will listen to their pleas for mercy and heal them. In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and Assyria will come into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. ...

Galatians 3:28 ESV / 646

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 23:1-6 ESV / 637

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ...

Deuteronomy 28:43-44 ESV / 631

The sojourner who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. He shall lend to you, and you shall not lend to him. He shall be the head, and you shall be the tail.

Acts 17:26-27 ESV / 629

And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

Ephesians 2:11-21 ESV / 616

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, ...

Deuteronomy 14:28-29 ESV / 616

“At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns. And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.

Jeremiah 22:3-5 ESV / 615

Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place. For if you will indeed obey this word, then there shall enter the gates of this house kings who sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their servants and their people. But if you will not obey these words, I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that this house shall become a desolation.

Leviticus 19:10 ESV / 614

And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.

Acts 5:29 ESV / 613

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

James 2:2-15 ESV / 612

For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? ...

Galatians 2:10 ESV / 612

Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

1 Peter 2:13-16 ESV / 610

Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.

Ezekiel 47:21-23 ESV / 610

“So you shall divide this land among you according to the tribes of Israel. You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the sojourners who reside among you and have had children among you. They shall be to you as native-born children of Israel. With you they shall be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. In whatever tribe the sojourner resides, there you shall assign him his inheritance, declares the Lord God.

Jeremiah 22:3 ESV / 610

Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.

Deuteronomy 32:8 ESV / 609

When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God.

Ruth 1:16-17 ESV / 604

But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”

Deuteronomy 10:17-19 ESV / 602

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.

Numbers 9:14 ESV / 597

And if a stranger sojourns among you and would keep the Passover to the Lord, according to the statute of the Passover and according to its rule, so shall he do. You shall have one statute, both for the sojourner and for the native.”

Deuteronomy 26:12-13 ESV / 591

“When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce in the third year, which is the year of tithing, giving it to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your towns and be filled, then you shall say before the Lord your God, ‘I have removed the sacred portion out of my house, and moreover, I have given it to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all your commandment that you have commanded me. I have not transgressed any of your commandments, nor have I forgotten them.

Leviticus 19:33 ESV / 588

“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong.

Leviticus 19:34 ESV / 587

You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

Matthew 25:1-46 ESV / 586

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. ...

Titus 3:1 ESV / 583

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,

Galatians 5:14 ESV / 583

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Proverbs 23:10-11 ESV / 576

Do not move an ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless, for their Redeemer is strong; he will plead their cause against you.

2 Chronicles 36:1-23 ESV / 573

The people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah and made him king in his father's place in Jerusalem. Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. Then the king of Egypt deposed him in Jerusalem and laid on the land a tribute of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. But Neco took Jehoahaz his brother and carried him to Egypt. Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God. ...

Genesis 46:28-34 ESV / 572

He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.” Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father's household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. And the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ ...

marcus · September 2, 2017

Here is Jesus on socialism:

Matthew 6:2-4 ESV / 251 helpful votes

“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 ESV / 107 helpful votes

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.

Acts 2:44-45 ESV / 102 helpful votes

And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

2 Corinthians 8:13-15 ESV / 76 helpful votes

For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

Ephesians 4:28 ESV / 54 helpful votes

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

Galatians 6:2 ESV / 42 helpful votes

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Acts 4:32-35 ESV / 38 helpful votes

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

Matthew 19:21 ESV / 32 helpful votes

Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

Luke 3:11 ESV / 26 helpful votes

And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”

1 John 3:17 ESV / 22 helpful votes

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

Acts 4:34-37 ESV / 18 helpful votes

There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Acts 5:1-42 ESV / 14 helpful votes

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. ...

Matthew 6:24 ESV / 14 helpful votes

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Deuteronomy 14:28-29 ESV / 14 helpful votes

“At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns. And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.

Acts 5:4 ESV / 12 helpful votes

While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

Acts 2:44 ESV / 12 helpful votes

And all who believed were together and had all things in common.

Exodus 16:16-18 ESV / 12 helpful votes

This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.’” And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less. But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat.

Acts 4:32-37 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, ...

Amos 8:4-7 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Hear this, you who trample on the needy and bring the poor of the land to an end, saying, “When will the new moon be over, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may offer wheat for sale, that we may make the ephah small and the shekel great and deal deceitfully with false balances, that we may buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals and sell the chaff of the wheat?” The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: “Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.

Galatians 6:5 ESV / 10 helpful votes

For each will have to bear his own load.

Zechariah 11:12 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver.

Proverbs 28:8 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.

1 Corinthians 10:24 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.

Acts 4:34-35 ESV / 8 helpful votes

There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

Luke 3:14 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”

Matthew 25:15 ESV / 8 helpful votes

To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

Revelation 1:1-20 ESV / 7 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood ...

Philippians 2:4 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

1 Corinthians 9:7 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?

Romans 13:1-7 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. ...

Acts 4:1-37 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand. On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, ...

Matthew 25:31-36 ESV / 7 helpful votes

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ...

Matthew 19:23 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.

Proverbs 31:9 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Proverbs 13:4 ESV / 7 helpful votes

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

1 Samuel 2:8 ESV / 7 helpful votes

He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and on them he has set the world.

Leviticus 25:35-38 ESV / 7 helpful votes

“If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you. Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you. You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God.

Leviticus 23:22 ESV / 7 helpful votes

“And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.”

Genesis 1:28 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

James 5:1-6 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. ...

Acts 17:10-11 ESV / 6 helpful votes

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Acts 2:1-47 ESV / 6 helpful votes

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. ...

Matthew 20:1-34 ESV / 6 helpful votes

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. ...

Psalm 112:9 ESV / 6 helpful votes

He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor.

Exodus 23:3 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his lawsuit.

James 1:3 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-18 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; ...

Philippians 4:1-23 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; ...

Philippians 2:1-30 ESV / 5 helpful votes

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ...

Galatians 6:4-9 ESV / 5 helpful votes

But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ...

2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

1 Corinthians 9:3 ESV / 5 helpful votes

This is my defense to those who would examine me.

John 3:16-17 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Luke 16:13 ESV / 5 helpful votes

No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Luke 14:13-14 ESV / 5 helpful votes

But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

Luke 12:30 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

Luke 12:3 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

Luke 3:13-14 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”

Luke 3:3 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 25:3 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,

Matthew 20:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’

Matthew 19:21-24 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

Matthew 13:44 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Zechariah 14:1 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Behold, a day is coming for the Lord, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst.

Ezekiel 17:1-10 ESV / 5 helpful votes

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, propound a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel; say, Thus says the Lord God: A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, rich in plumage of many colors, came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar. He broke off the topmost of its young twigs and carried it to a land of trade and set it in a city of merchants. Then he took of the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil. He placed it beside abundant waters. He set it like a willow twig, ...

Jeremiah 17:1-27 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; with a point of diamond it is engraved on the tablet of their heart, and on the horns of their altars, while their children remember their altars and their Asherim, beside every green tree and on the high hills, on the mountains in the open country. Your wealth and all your treasures I will give for spoil as the price of your high places for sin throughout all your territory. You shall loosen your hand from your heritage that I gave to you, and I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you do not know, for in my anger a fire is kindled that shall burn forever.” Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. ...

Jeremiah 5:1-31 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, look and take note! Search her squares to see if you can find a man, one who does justice and seeks truth, that I may pardon her. Though they say, “As the Lord lives,” yet they swear falsely. O Lord, do not your eyes look for truth? You have struck them down, but they felt no anguish; you have consumed them, but they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to repent. Then I said, “These are only the poor; they have no sense; for they do not know the way of the Lord, the justice of their God. I will go to the great and will speak to them, for they know the way of the Lord, the justice of their God.” But they all alike had broken the yoke; they had burst the bonds. ...

Isaiah 65:21-22 ESV / 5 helpful votes

They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

Isaiah 55:1-13 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. ...

Psalm 118:8 ESV / 5 helpful votes

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.

Psalm 113:3 ESV / 5 helpful votes

From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!

1 Samuel 2:3 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

Deuteronomy 23:24-25 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“If you go into your neighbor's vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes, as many as you wish, but you shall not put any in your bag. If you go into your neighbor's standing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbor's standing grain.

Deuteronomy 15:3 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Of a foreigner you may exact it, but whatever of yours is with your brother your hand shall release.

Leviticus 25:1-55 ESV / 5 helpful votes

The Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you, the land shall keep a Sabbath to the Lord. For six years you shall sow your field, and for six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its fruits, but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the Lord. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard. You shall not reap what grows of itself in your harvest, or gather the grapes of your undressed vine. It shall be a year of solemn rest for the land. ...

Exodus 20:1-26 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, ...

Genesis 1:26-28 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

James 1:27 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

1 Timothy 6:10 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

1 Timothy 6:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes

If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness,

Colossians 3:23 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Galatians 6:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Galatians 5:14 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15 ESV / 4 helpful votes

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. ...

Luke 6:20-24 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.

Matthew 25:45 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’

Matthew 20:1-16 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. ...

Jeremiah 29:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

Proverbs 28:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes

A poor man who oppresses the poor is a beating rain that leaves no food.

Proverbs 19:10 ESV / 4 helpful votes

It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for a slave to rule over princes.

Proverbs 17:16 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?

Deuteronomy 15:11 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’

Exodus 23:10-11 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield, but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave the beasts of the field may eat. You shall do likewise with your vineyard, and with your olive orchard.

Exodus 18:26 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves.

1 Corinthians 12:1-31 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; ...

Luke 3:12-13 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.”

Psalm 109:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes

In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer.

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Acts 20:35 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

betsy · September 3, 2017

2 hours ago, marcus said:

Good try but here is Jesus on immigration:

Leviticus 19:33-34 ESV / 4,644

“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

Exodus 22:21 ESV / 2,803

“You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.

Exodus 23:9 ESV / 2,025

“You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.

My reply also goes to all your other verses that pertain to sojourners and migrants.

:rolleyes:

What's the meaning of sojourn?

Quote

sojourn

a temporary stay

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sojourn

How do you define oppression?

Quote

oppression

unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oppression

Nobody's oppressing the sojourners..........or the immigrants.

Furthermore, our system provides for all those who are living in poverty - through our taxes!

Edited September 3, 2017 by betsy

betsy · September 3, 2017

1 hour ago, marcus said:

Good try but here is Jesus on immigration:

Romans 13:1-7 ESV / 1,354

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. ...

Our rights and freedom (speech, opinion, belief, etc..,) is part of our system. That is how our democratic system works - and we are governed by a democratic government! In fact, we are expected to exercise our rights.

Therefore, there is nothing against that Biblical verse when we exercise our rights.