Deuteronomy 16:17
Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God that he has given you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's beautiful here is that giving isn't about a strict percentage, but about responding to God's abundance. It's a recognition that whatever we have comes from His blessing, so our giving should reflect that generous spirit. This shifts giving from an obligation to an act of gratitude that flows from God's own provision.
This verse comes right after instructions for the three major annual feasts, emphasizing joyful celebration and attendance before the Lord. It follows the command that everyone must appear before God three times a year. Therefore, this verse functions as a principle for giving generously during these times of joyous assembly, tying one's offerings directly to the blessings already received from God.
Have you ever felt pressured to give a certain amount, or compared your giving to others? This verse offers a different perspective.
Deuteronomy 16:17 lays out a beautiful principle for giving: 'Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God that he has given you.'
Ability, Not Obligation
Notice the emphasis isn't on a fixed percentage or a specific amount. Instead, it's on 'as he is able.' This means our giving should be proportional to what God has enabled us to do.
Acknowledging God's Source
The second part, 'according to the blessing of the LORD your God that he has given you,' is crucial. It reminds us that whatever we have – our resources, our abilities, our opportunities – comes from God. Our giving isn't just an outflow of our generosity; it's a response to His prior blessings.
The feasts in Deuteronomy were times of intense worship and celebration. How does giving fit into that picture?
The verse we're looking at is part of the instructions for the great feasts – Passover, the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), and the Feast of Tabernacles.
More Than Just Tithes
These feasts weren't just about attending; they were about rejoicing before the Lord. The 'giving' mentioned here is tied into this context of joyful worship and celebration. It was a way for the Israelites to express their gratitude and participate fully in the communal feasting and worship.
Sharing the Blessing
When the text says 'according to the blessing of the LORD your God,' it implies that God's blessings are meant to be shared. Generous giving, especially during these festivals, allowed for the inclusion of the Levites (who had no inheritance), the fatherless, and the widows. It was a tangible expression of God's provision and a way to ensure communal joy and well-being.
Understand the original words
berakah · Hebrew Noun
In the biblical context, this refers to the favor, grace, and material prosperity bestowed upon individuals by God as a result of His covenantal love and care.
This New Testament passage echoes Deuteronomy's principle, instructing believers to set aside funds 'in keeping with income,' directly linking giving to one's blessings.
2 Corinthians 9:7Paul expands on the spirit of joyful, generous giving here, stating 'Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver,' reflecting the voluntary but blessed nature of giving mentioned in Deuteronomy.
Luke 12:48Jesus' teaching about accountability – 'Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required' – subtly reinforces the idea that blessings from God imply a responsibility to use them wisely, including sharing them.
Proverbs 3:9-10This wisdom passage promises God's blessing and provision when we honor Him with our wealth, mirroring the underlying principle that giving is an act of trust and obedience that aligns with God's own generous nature.
pooleDeuteronomy 16:17: "Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee."
No text from Poole on this verse.
gillDeuteronomy 16:17: "Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee."
Every man shall give as he is able,.... The quantity to be given is not fixed in the law, but the wise men appointed it, as observed on Deuteronomy 16:16 but it is left by the Lord to the generosity of the people, only giving this general rule, that they should do according to their ability, and as the Lord had prospered them; see 1 Corinthians 16:2 so Jarchi,"every m…
What's beautiful here is that giving isn't about a strict percentage, but about responding to God's abundance. It's a recognition that whatever we have comes from His blessing, so our giving should reflect that generous spirit. This shifts giving from an obligation to an act of gratitude that flows from God's own provision.
This verse comes right after instructions for the three major annual feasts, emphasizing joyful celebration and attendance before the Lord. It follows the command that everyone must appear before God three times a year. Therefore, this verse functions as a principle for giving generously during these times of joyous assembly, tying one's offerings directly to the blessings already received from God.
This verse comes right after instructions for the three major annual feasts, emphasizing joyful celebration and attendance before the Lord. It follows the command that everyone must appear before God three times a year. Therefore, this verse functions as a principle for giving generously during these times of joyous assembly, tying one's offerings directly to the blessings already received from God.
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"Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God that he has given you." — What's beautiful here is that giving isn't about a strict percentage, but about responding to God's abundance. It's a recognition that whatever we have comes from His blessing, so our giving should r…
