Widows and Orphans

There are some stark differences in the treatment of widows and orphans between the Law of Moses and the Law of Jesus Christ.

In Ex. 22:22-24,

“Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless”.

You can see in this verse that the instruction is based upon actively harming the “widows or orphans” and God’s anger for this sort of behavior and his punishment for it.

Note the contrast in the New Testament.

James 1:27,

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world”.

Religion in the Mosaic system was not practicing harm to the helpless. Religion in the Christian system is actively practicing good for the helpless. One of the problems among God’s people today is living such isolated lives that we limit our knowledge of and association with those who are in need of help. Sometimes that is a deliberate action and sometimes that is a lazy action.

Widows, orphans and other needy exist in our world. Those who are truly religious should look for those who need help and let their lights shine.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).