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

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17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them,(A) how can the love of God be in that person?(B)

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16 Do not neglect to do good and (A)to share what you have, for such (B)sacrifices are pleasing to God.

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16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others,(A) for with such sacrifices(B) God is pleased.

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“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, (A)you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but (B)you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your (C)eye look grudgingly[a] on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he (D)cry to the Lord against you, and (E)you be guilty of sin. 10 You shall give to him freely, and (F)your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because (G)for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. 11 For (H)there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, (I)‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 15:9 Or be evil; also verse 10

If anyone is poor(A) among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted(B) toward them. Rather, be openhanded(C) and freely lend them whatever they need. Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts,(D) is near,” so that you do not show ill will(E) toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin.(F) 10 Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart;(G) then because of this the Lord your God will bless(H) you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11 There will always be poor people(I) in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.(J)

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20 (A)If anyone says, “I love God,” and (B)hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot[a] love God (C)whom he has not seen.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 John 4:20 Some manuscripts how can he

20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister(A) is a liar.(B) For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen,(C) cannot love God, whom they have not seen.(D)

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11 And he answered them, (A)“Whoever has two tunics[a] is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 3:11 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin

11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”(A)

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Is it not (A)to share your bread with the hungry
    and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
    (B)and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
(C)Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
    (D)and your healing shall spring up speedily;
(E)your righteousness shall go before you;
    (F)the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
    you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you take away (G)the yoke from your midst,
    (H)the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
10 (I)if you pour yourself out for the hungry
    and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
(J)then shall your light rise in the darkness
    and your gloom be as the noonday.

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Is it not to share your food with the hungry(A)
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter(B)
when you see the naked, to clothe(C) them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?(D)
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,(E)
    and your healing(F) will quickly appear;
then your righteousness[a](G) will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.(H)
Then you will call,(I) and the Lord will answer;(J)
    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
    with the pointing finger(K) and malicious talk,(L)
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,(M)
then your light(N) will rise in the darkness,
    and your night will become like the noonday.(O)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 58:8 Or your righteous One

17 (A)Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
    and he (B)will repay him for his (C)deed.

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17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,(A)
    and he will reward them for what they have done.(B)

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15 (A)If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,

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15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.(A)

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So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the (A)gift[a] you have promised, so that it may be ready (B)as a willing gift, (C)not as an exaction.[b]

The Cheerful Giver

The point is this: (D)whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully[c] will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, (E)not reluctantly or under compulsion, for (F)God loves a cheerful giver. And (G)God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency[d] in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written,

(H)“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
    his righteousness endures forever.”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 9:5 Greek blessing; twice in this verse
  2. 2 Corinthians 9:5 Or a gift expecting something in return; Greek greed
  3. 2 Corinthians 9:6 Greek with blessings; twice in this verse
  4. 2 Corinthians 9:8 Or all contentment

So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers(A) to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift,(B) not as one grudgingly given.(C)

Generosity Encouraged

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.(D) Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give,(E) not reluctantly or under compulsion,(F) for God loves a cheerful giver.(G) And God is able(H) to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need,(I) you will abound in every good work. As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts(J) to the poor;
    their righteousness endures forever.”[a](K)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 9:9 Psalm 112:9

14 your abundance at the present time should supply (A)their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, (B)“Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

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14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need,(A) so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”[a](B)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 8:15 Exodus 16:18

17 As for the rich in (A)this present age, charge them (B)not to be haughty, nor (C)to set their hopes on (D)the uncertainty of riches, but on God, (E)who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, (F)to be rich in good works, to be generous and (G)ready to share,

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17 Command those who are rich(A) in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth,(B) which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God,(C) who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.(D) 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds,(E) and to be generous and willing to share.(F)

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If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,
    even his (A)prayer is an abomination.

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If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,
    even their prayers are detestable.(A)

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Overcoming the World

(A)Everyone who believes that (B)Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and (C)everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.

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Faith in the Incarnate Son of God

Everyone who believes(A) that Jesus is the Christ(B) is born of God,(C) and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.(D)

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