Do the Poor Have Rights?

From the Old Testament,

Proverbs 14:31, Anyone who oppresses the poor is insulting God who made them. To help the poor is to honor God.

19:17, When you help the poor you are lending to the Lord and He pays wonderful interest on your loan!

21;13, He who shuts his ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in his own time of need.

Late St. Anba Abraamm

 

The New Testament

Matthew 19:20, Jesus told the rich man, "If you want to bo perfect, go and sell everything you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow me."

The Divine Liturgy

From the Prayer for the crops: " Bless the fullness of the year out of your goodness, for the sake of the poor of your people, for the widow, the orphan, the stranger, and the visitor, and for us all, we who hope in you and seek your Holy Name."