Exodus 22:22-24 ESV [22] You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. [23] If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, [24] and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.
I truly love the way God protects those who are less fortunate. He leaves no doubt here! We who follow Jesus and call ourselves Christian should be known for our special care for those in need. Widows and orphans named here are of special concern. In fact, James 1:27 ESV [27] Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. This is the only time in the New Testament where the word religion is a good thing. Jesus dealt often with religious people who ultimately condemned him to death.
In Matthew 23:27-29 ESV
[27] “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. [28] So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. [29] “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous.
Wow! In Matthew 23 Jesus is speaking to religious people who looked good on the outside, but were rotten on the inside. No mercy. No compassion. Prideful. Arrogant. What a horrible testimony they had. But, a REAL Jesus follower, a true Christian, a person of pure religion, cares and helps the less fortunate.
Exodus 22:25-27 “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. [26] If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, [27] for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
People with pure religion care for the poor. They care because God cares. They help because God helps. They listen for opportunities to help because God listens. He hears their cries. Are we helping those who are less fortunate? Do we Care for widows, orphans, and the poor?
Jesus speaking in Matthew 25:34-36 ESV [34] Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. [35] For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, [36] I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’
Just in case we are wondering what we should be doing to love the world like Jesus did, he gave us a list. When our religion is pure we are going about doing good. Not even a cup of water will go unrewarded. Matthew 10:42 ESV [42] And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”
It is very easy to be discouraged by self righteous “religious” people. It is easy to look at organized religion and walk away disillusioned. But, we are called to serve the Lord in the church. It is his body, his bride, and his building. We must find a body of believers who are living “pure religion” and join them in the kingdom work. When we love Jesus we love what he loves. Is our religion pure? Do we care and serve the less fortunate?