GOVERNMENTS AND CHARITY

A candidate for the highest office in our land has misused the words of our Lord to try to convince voters that government should do more for the poor. In Matthew 25:40 Jesus said, “. . .Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” To whom did Jesus speak these words? It was not to any government or governmental official but to His sheep among the Gentiles or the righteous that He spoke (Matt. 25:31-37).

About whom did Jesus speak these words? It was those whom He called His brethren. Who are the Lord’s brethren? Let Jesus answer that question: “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matt. 12:50). See also Matthew 28:10; Romans 8:29; Hebrews 2:11-13. These and other passages make plain that His brethren are only those who have trusted Him as Savior and committed their lives unto Him. To apply these words to all who are poor is to cheapen them.

About what did Jesus speak these words? He spoke concerning Christian charity toward other Christians. Charity is not the domain of government. Government does not have any money with which to be charitable except that which it collects as taxes. For any government to collect taxes from some citizens and give a portion to other citizens as if it were charitable is like my robbing one person and giving a portion to my neighbor and calling it a gift. Charity is properly the work of private citizens and fraternal organizations, not the government. Neither the Scriptures nor the Constitution gives our government the right to collect money from some citizens and give it to other citizens. Such is a raw abuse of power.