Thought for Today

Deuteronomy 15:11 Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, "Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land."  

Psalm 9:18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the poor perish forever.  

Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free,  

John 12:5 "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?" . . . 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."  

“Throughout Scripture, oppression is defined as taking advantage of the poor and needy.” (These Days, August 6, 2025)

Is oppression defined as taking advantage of the poor and needy? My computer software could not find a verse in the Bible offering that definition. It did find, “1 a: unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power; b: something that oppresses especially in being an unjust or excessive exercise of power; 2: a sense of being weighed down in body or mind” (www.merriam-webster.com)

The Greek word often translated as oppression is ἀδικία (ahdikia). My lexicon defines that as “generally disregard for what is right, unrighteousness, wrongdoing (Friberg, Analytical Greek Lexicon)

Part of the problem for many of us in dealing with ideas of oppression, being poor or being needy is that those are all subjective situations and conditions. Would almost any resident of Gaza today gladly trade places with even the poorest immigrant in the U.S.A.? Would that resident of Gaza scoff at the idea that anyone in the U.S.A. could be considered needy? Similarly, oppression is subjective. Were we able to interview any victim in one of the Nazi death camps, could they conceive of anyone in the U.S.A. being referred to as oppressed?

In that same devotional today, the author proclaims that the reaction of the audience to Jesus’ words in Luke 4 was because “their way of life was at risk.” If you don’t remember the story, read Luke 4:16-30. Verse 26 reads, “They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff.” Certainly an astounding reaction to Jesus’ referencing their own scriptures.

I believe their reaction was not about anything economic or threatening to their way of life. I believe it was twofold. They were reacting to Jesus’ claim that “21 Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing,” being easily understood as a Messianic claim. They were also reacting to his inclusion of Gentiles in that fulfillment (vss. 26 & 27)

So, what is our response as Christians to oppression, poverty and need? That author today wrote, “As we seek to follow God’s call for justice, we must be ready to risk our way of life so that others may be freed. As Jesus gave up his life for us, we must be ready to give up our comfort for the sake of others.”

I believe that is a misunderstanding of scripture. I do not believe that justice and compassion are primarily economic issues. I do not believe that income equality is the message of the Bible. I accept Jesus’ declaration that “You always have the poor with you.” As I read the scripture, I do not find Jesus as a Robin Hood taking from the rich to give to the poor. I do not find Jesus as an advocate for any economic system at all.

When Jesus was asked to rank order the commandments of scripture, his response is very telling, "Luke 10:27 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." To illustrate his words, Jesus offered what we know as the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

The love offered in scripture is the answer to all questions of oppression, poverty and need. That love begins with love for our Creator God, followed by love for each other. If we can open our hearts to that ἀγάπη (agape), oppression, poverty and need will fall by the wayside. That love truly does conquer all.

Stay safe, live lives of love, trust God,

Pastor Ray