¹¹ There will always be poor people^(A) in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.^(B)

⁷ The poor you will always have with you,^[a] and you can help them any time you want.^(A) But you will not always have me.

¹¹ The poor you will always have with you,^[a](A) but you will not always have me.

⁸ You will always have the poor among you,^[a](A) but you will not always have me.”

⁸ Rather, be openhanded^(A) and freely lend them whatever they need.

¹⁶ This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.^(A) And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.^{(B) 17} If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them,^(C) how can the love of God be in that person?^{(D) 18} Dear children,^(E) let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.^(F)

The Believers Share Their Possessions

³² All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.^{(A) 33} With great power the apostles continued to testify^(B) to the resurrection^(C) of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace^(D) was so powerfully at work in them all ³⁴ that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them,^(E) brought the money from the sales ³⁵ and put it at the apostles’ feet,^(F) and it was distributed to anyone who had need.^(G)

³³ Sell your possessions and give to the poor.^(A) Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven^(B) that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.^(C)