People need hope. Especially when they’re experiencing setbacks like not having enough food to eat. Below, you’ll find some Bible verses about feeding the hungry and helping to poor.
As you read the verses, please remember that people can’t eat Bible verses. Meaning that someone will have to help them. God can certainly help them but often, He chooses to partner with people to answer the prayers of hungry people. So how will you respond?
Why Should Christians Care About Feeding the Hungry
We care about feeding the hungry because it’s how we’re called to live. God created all people in His image and everyone has value and dignity. So, caring for the hungry is a real way to show love and concern for our fellow human beings and live out our faith in a practical and meaningful way.
Additionally, we see feeding the hungry as a way to serve others and to embody the teachings of Jesus. He taught that serving others is a key to living a faithful and meaningful life. That’s why so many of the Bible verses about feeding the hungry come from Jesus. By caring for the hungry and those in need, Christians can fulfill the commandment to love their neighbor as themselves and to be a light to the world, showing others the love and compassion of Jesus
We should care about feeding the hungry because it is an expression of our faith and a way to serve others. It’s one of the best ways to live and love like Jesus today.
13 Verses About Feeding the Hungry
Here are 13 verses from the New International Version of the Bible about feeding the hungry:
- “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the world’s creation. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’” –Matthew 25:34-36
- “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord your God.” –Leviticus 19:9-10
- “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” –1 John 3:17
- “The one who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the one who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones.” –Luke 16:10
- “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?” –Matthew 25:37
- “Blessed are those who consider the poor; the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.” –Psalm 41:1
- “The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land.” –Proverbs 10:30
- “Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.” –Proverbs 28:27
- “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?” –1 John 3:17
- “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.” –Deuteronomy 10:17
- “He who has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.” –Proverbs 22:9
- “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” –Matthew 6:19
- “Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.” – Psalm 82:3
What do the Bible verses about feeding the hungry tell us about God?
The Bible verses about feeding the hungry demonstrate several things about God’s character and his priorities.
First, they show that God cares deeply about the welfare of all people, including the poor and the hungry. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, God is depicted as a protector, peacemaker, and provider for those in need, and feeding the hungry is often seen as an expression of God’s love and compassion.
Second, feeding the hungry is seen as an act of justice. The Bible verses about feeding the hungry teach that God cares about fairness and equity and that it is unjust for some to have plenty while others suffer from hunger. By feeding the hungry, we fulfill God’s call for justice and compassion for those in need.
Finally, feeding the hungry is a way of showing our love for God. The Bible teaches that when we care for those in need, we serve God and fulfill his commandments. By doing this, we are also demonstrating our love and devotion to God and showing that we truly follow in Jesus’ footsteps.
The Bible verses about feeding the hungry show that God is compassionate and loving. It also shows that caring for those in need is an essential expression of our faith as we imitate Jesus.
Bible Verses About Feeding the Hungry Call Us to Do Justice
Feeding the hungry is considered justice because it addresses the societal imbalance of resources and power. When some people have access to food and others do not, it creates a situation of inequality and unfairness.
The hungry are often the most vulnerable and marginalized members of society and are often unable to access the resources they need to survive. By feeding the hungry, we are helping to address this imbalance and restore fairness to the distribution of resources. Being hungry can also cause a cascade of negative effects throughout a person’s life. Grades, job performance, and even sleep suffer when a person is hungry.
The Bible verses about feeding the hungry reveal God’s concern for justice. When we feed the hungry, we are fulfilling God’s call to do justice and show our commitment to God’s value of compassion.
Jesus Said to Feed the Hungry
Jesus had a lot to say about feeding the hungry; these teachings are recorded in many Bible verses about feeding the hungry. Jesus saw feeding the hungry as a way to show love and compassion to others and as a practical expression of one’s faith. He taught that caring for the hungry and those in need was important to living a faithful life.
For example, in the parable of the sheep and the goats, Jesus speaks about the importance of caring for the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned. He says that when we care for these individuals, we are caring for him (Matthew 25:31-46). This passage makes it clear that feeding the hungry is a central part of living out one’s faith as a Christian.
In another passage, Jesus says, “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). This verse highlights the idea that caring for the hungry is an act of love and compassion not just for the individual in need, but for Jesus himself.
In yet another passage, Jesus teaches that when we feed the hungry, we are satisfying their physical and spiritual hunger. He says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6).
In conclusion, Jesus had a lot to say about feeding the hungry, and these teachings are recorded in Bible verses about feeding the hungry. Jesus saw feeding the hungry as an expression of love and a vital part of living a faithful life. He taught that caring for the hungry is not just a physical but spiritual act.
Jesus was Hungry Too
Jesus being hungry is mentioned in the Bible several times. For example, in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, there are accounts of Jesus fasting for 40 days in the wilderness before he began his public ministry (Matthew 4:2, Mark 1:13, Luke 4:2). During this time, he was tempted by the devil. Still, he resisted and relied on the word of God to sustain him.
Another account of Jesus being hungry is found in the Gospel of John, where Jesus and his disciples were in Bethany before the Last Supper. Mary, the sister of Lazarus, anointed Jesus with expensive perfume and wiped his feet with her hair. Some of the disciples were indignant and suggested the perfume should have been sold and the money given to the poor. But Jesus defended her, saying she had anointed him for his burial (John 12:1-8).
These extra Bible verses about feeding the hungry show that Jesus was fully human and experienced hunger, just as we do. However, they also demonstrate Jesus’ devotion to God and his reliance on God’s word and strength to sustain him, even in times of hardship and hunger.
In conclusion, Jesus got hungry several times, showing that he was fully human and experienced physical needs. Yet, despite these challenges, Jesus remained steadfast in his devotion to God and relied on God’s word and strength to sustain him.
Quotes About Feeding the Hungry
People throughout history have been led to act because of Bible verses about feeding the hungry. Here are a few powerful quotes from influential leaders:
- “The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because they are generally the same people.” – G.K. Chesterton
- “To feed the hungry is not just a duty, it is a privilege.” – Billy Graham
- “Feeding the hungry is not just a matter of charity, it’s an act of justice.” – Jimmy Carter
- “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” – Mother Teresa of Calcutta
- “We are called to love the hungry and thirsty, not simply in theory but in practice.” – Pope Francis
- “The hungry are not just faceless strangers in a far-off land. They are the people we meet every day, our neighbors and friends.” – Richard Stearns
- “We cannot do great things, only small things with great love.” – Mother Teresa of Calcutta
These quotes show the importance Christians have placed on feeding the hungry and caring for those in need throughout history. Feeding the hungry is not just a matter of charity but an act of justice and an expression of love for one’s neighbor. These quotes inspire Christians to act and live out their faith by caring for those in need.
People Can’t Eat Bible Verses About Feeding the Hungry
So what will you do with these Bible verses about feeding the hungry? Will you use them to prove a point, or will you let them bring tangible peace to people today? If you have something to share, then share it. Don’t wait. Make a difference in your community today.
For more on doing justice, check out this post.