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Alms: The duty of alms-giving, especially in kind, consisting chiefly in portions to be left designedly from produce of the field, the vineyard and the oliveyard, Le 19:9,10; 23:22; De 15:11; 24:19; 26:2-13; Ru 2:2 is strictly enjoined by the law. Every third year also, De 14:28 each proprietor was directed to share the tithe of his produce with "the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless and the widow." The theological estimate of alms-giving among the Jews is indicated in the following passages: Job 31:17; Pr 10:2; 11:4; Es 9:22; Ps 112:9, Ac 9:36 the case of Dorcas; Ac 10:2 of Cornelius; to which may be added Tobit 4:10,11; 14:10,11, and Ecclus. 3:30; 40:24. The Pharisees were zealous in almsgiving, but too ostentatious their mode of performance, for which our Lord finds fault with them. Mt 6:2 The duty of relieving the poor was not neglected by the Christians. Mt 6:1-4; Lu 14:13; Ac 20:35; Ga 2:10 Regular proportionate giving was expected. Ac 11:30; Ro 15:25-27; 1Co 16:1-4
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