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Bible verses
Bible Verses About Generosity
The Bible calls us to open-handed, cheerful giving, and promises that generosity is its own kind of blessing. Acts 20:35, 2 Corinthians 9:7, Luke 6:38 are among the clearest passages.
Bible verses about generosity
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Acts 20:35 · King James Version (public domain)
“God loveth a cheerful giver.”
2 Corinthians 9:7 · King James Version (public domain)
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over.”
Luke 6:38 · King James Version (public domain)
“The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.”
Proverbs 11:25 · King James Version (public domain)
“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.”
Proverbs 19:17 · King James Version (public domain)
Kindness to the poor is treated by God as a loan to Himself, which He promises to repay.
“He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.”
Proverbs 22:9 · King James Version (public domain)
The one with a bountiful eye who shares bread with the poor is promised God's blessing.
“That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;”
1 Timothy 6:18 · King James Version (public domain)
We are called to be rich in good works, ready to give and glad to share what we have been given.
“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”
2 Corinthians 9:6 · King James Version (public domain)
Generous sowing leads to generous reaping, so open-handed giving is never truly a loss.
“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”
Matthew 10:8 · King James Version (public domain)
Jesus tells us to give freely because we have freely received everything from Him first.
“Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.”
Proverbs 3:27 · King James Version (public domain)
We are not to withhold good from those who need it when it lies within our power to help.
“Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.”
Luke 12:33 · King James Version (public domain)
Christ invites us to give to the poor and gather treasure in heaven that no thief can reach.
“But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
Hebrews 13:16 · King James Version (public domain)
Doing good and sharing with others is called a sacrifice with which God is well pleased.
“For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.”
Deuteronomy 15:11 · King James Version (public domain)
Because there will always be those in need, God commands us to open our hand wide to our brother.
How these verses point to Christ
These verses are not slogans to prop yourself up. Every true word the Bible speaks about generosity finds its yes in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20). He is where generosity, rightly understood, was always leading; come to Him and receive what no verse alone can give.
You do not have to carry this alone
On The Living Bread you can read these passages in full, ask Simon what they mean, hear how Christ has met others in the same place, and pray them with a community that will pray for you by name. You are welcome exactly as you are.
Grounded in Scripture, and made to genuinely help. Our approach to Scripture and trust.