Beggars

People in great need who appeal for help, both from others and from God.

Appeals for material help

2 Kings 6:26 During a time of famine; Luke 16:3 See also 2 Kings 8:3–5; Job 19:16, Job 24:4–5, Job 29:11–12; Psalm 37:25 never having to beg seen as God's blessing; Psalm 109:10 begging seen as God's judgment; Lamentations 4:4

As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, “Help me, my lord the king!”

The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking away my position? I am too weak to dig and too ashamed to beg.

Appeals for mercy from others

Esther 8:3 See also 1 Samuel 15:25; 2 Samuel 14:4; 2 Kings 1:13; Esther 4:8, Esther 7:7; Job 30:28; Matthew 18:26–32

And once again, Esther addressed the king. She fell at his feet weeping and begged him to revoke the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews.

Examples of beggars

Mark 10:46 parallel Luke 18:35 blind Bartimaeus; Luke 16:20–21 Lazarus; John 9:8 the man born blind; Acts 3:2–3 the crippled man at the temple gate

Care for the destitute commended

Isaiah 58:6–7; Matthew 26:11 parallels Mark 14:7, John 12:8 Jesus Christ implies that we should care for them. See also Deuteronomy 15:11; Proverbs 19:17 kindness to the poor rewarded; Proverbs 21:13, Proverbs 22:9, Proverbs 28:27, Proverbs 31:9, Proverbs 31:20 the behaviour of the wife of noble character; Zechariah 7:10; Matthew 5:42 parallel Luke 6:30; Matthew 19:21 parallels Mark 10:21, Luke 18:22 Jesus Christ and the rich young man; Luke 12:33, Luke 14:13

Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.

Pleas for God's help

From the Israelites

Exodus 2:23 In the OT there are many examples of the Israelites begging God for his help in times of dire need. See also Joshua 24:7; Judges 4:3, Judges 6:6; 2 Chronicles 14:11; Amos 7:5

After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned and cried out under their burden of slavery, and their cry for deliverance from bondage ascended to God.

From individuals

Psalm 18:6 See also 2 Samuel 24:10 parallel 1 Chronicles 21:8; Psalm 28:2; Jonah 2:2; Habakkuk 1:2; Luke 16:27

In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for His help reached His ears.

People begged Jesus Christ for help

Matthew 14:35–36 parallel Mark 6:56 See also Matthew 8:31 parallels Mark 5:12, Luke 8:32; Matthew 15:22 parallel Mark 7:26; Mark 7:32, Mark 10:47; Luke 5:12 parallel Mark 1:40; Luke 8:28, Luke 9:38–40; John 4:47

And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding region. People brought all the sick to Him and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.