Deuteronomy 24:10-13 Poor

 10When you lend anything to your neighbor, do not enter his house to collect security. 11You are to stand outside while the man to whom you are lending brings the security out to you. 12If he is a poor man, you must not go to sleep with the security in your possession; 13be sure to return it to him by sunset, so that he may sleep in his own cloak and bless you, and this will be credited to you as righteousness before the LORD your God.

“God does not condemn the principle of taking a pledge, only commanding that it be received humanely. The idea of taking collateral for a loan is valid because it encourages personal responsibility in the one receiving the loan.” (Guzik)

If the man was poor he would often only have a cloak or blanket which was the reason the Lord wanted it returned before sunset. In a sense this loan to the poor was charity allowing the poor man to keep his dignity by calling it a loan.

“The Jews in several cases did act contrary to this rule, and we find them cuttingly reproved for it by the Prophet Amos, chap. ii. 8.” (Clarke)

Amos 8: 4Hear this, you who trample the needy,

who do away with the poor of the land,

5asking, “When will the New Moon be over,

that we may sell grain?

When will the Sabbath end,

that we may market wheat?

Let us reduce the ephah and increase the shekel;

let us cheat with dishonest scales.

6Let us buy the poor with silver

and the needy for a pair of sandals,

selling even the chaff with the wheat!”

The Lord sent a famine upon the land because they were stealing from the poor!

How do you treat the poor and the needy?

Blessings