| Church School Lesson: Giving Generously |
"Giving Generously"
March 15, 2026
Background: Deuteronomy 15:1-11; Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 10:25-37; James 1:27;2;14-17;
Print: Deut. 15:4-11; Matthew 25:42-45; Key Verse: Deut. 15:11; Devotional: Exodus 20:12-17
Deuteronomy 15:4-11 (ESV)
4 But there will be no poor among you; for the LORD will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess—
5 if only you will strictly obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all this commandment that I command you today.
6 For the LORD your God will bless you, as he promised you, and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow, and you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you.
7 “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother,
8 but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.
9 Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the LORD against you, and you be guilty of sin.
10 You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.
11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’
Matthew 25:42-45 (ESV)
42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’
44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’
45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.
Deuteronomy Chapter 15/Matthew Chapter 25 (Commentary)
Deuteronomy15:4-6 If the people would obey these principles of generosity, the Lord would bless them in the land, and he would ensure that there would be no poor among them (15:4-5). Moreover, if they were financially obedient, God would guarantee that Israel would lend to and rule nations, but they would never borrow from or be ruled by those lands (15:6). Sadly, history would show that Israel was unfaithful to God’s economic commands. Too often the church similarly fails to exercise biblical justice by taking action that helps the oppressed, transforms communities, and empowers the poor through opportunities.
15:7-11 Moses continued the emphasis on compassion and generosity. God commanded the Israelites to help the poor who were among them. They were not to be hardhearted or tightfisted (15:7). But God also knew the human heart’s tendencies, so he had Moses add a stern warning. If someone realized that the seventh year, the year of canceling debts was near, and therefore chose not to give to a poor brother in need, that cheapskate would stand guilty in God’s eyes (15:9).
What at first seems a harsh judgment toward someone who hadn’t robbed anyone, but had only held on to his own money lest he make a poor investment boils down to this. God commanded his people to trust him and to be generous. This is an important kingdom principle. Giving to others as God commands is crucial because it shows how much you value him, and it expresses your faith in his ability and willingness to provide. The Sabbath year with its debt forgiveness and care for the poor was not really about financial transactions; it was a test of whether God’s people would trust him even when doing so didn’t make sense on the ledger. Furthermore, to provide for someone in need is the fulfillment of the second most important commandment: “love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev 19:18; Mark 12:28-31).
Don’t suppose that 15:11 contradicts 15:4. Verse 4 was a statement of God’s will for his people if they obeyed. Verse 11 is a sad mention of what God knew would become reality because of sin. He thus required his people to be generous toward the needy.
Matthew 25:41-46 Jesus will tell the goats to depart into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels (25:41). For they refused to minister to the Jewish people during the tribulation period (25:42-45). Thus, Jesus will indict them for their indifference. This will be in keeping with the Abrahamic covenant in which God promised Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you,” and “I will curse those who treat you with contempt” (Gen 12:3). Thus, the unrighteous of the nations will be sent away into eternal punishment (25:46).