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Isaiah 58:10
Andif thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darknessbe as the noonday:

Job 22:7
Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.

Job 31:18-21
(For from my youth he was brought up with me, aswith a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;) …

bring

Isaiah 16:3,4
Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth…

Genesis 18:2-5
And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he sawthem, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, …

Genesis 19:2
And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.

cast out.

2 Chronicles 28:15
And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.

Job 31:19,20
If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering; …

Ezekiel 18:7
And hath not oppressed any,but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;

thine own

Genesis 19:14
And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

Judges 9:2
Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whetheris better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal,which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that Iam your bone and your flesh.

Nehemiah 5:5
Yet now our fleshis as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, andsome of our daughters are brought unto bondagealready: neitheris it in our powerto redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.

to bring the poor and homeless into your home
Hospitality is a significant theme throughout the Bible, reflecting God's heart for the marginalized. In ancient Israel, providing shelter was a duty and a sign of righteousness, as seen inJob 31:32, where Job declares that he never let a stranger lodge in the street. This practice is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are encouraged to show hospitality (Hebrews 13:2). The act of bringing the homeless into one's home is a demonstration of God's inclusive love and mirrors the welcoming nature of Christ, who invites all to find rest in Him (Matthew 11:28).

to clothe the naked when you see him
Clothing the naked is a direct response to human need and a reflection of God's care for His creation. In biblical times, clothing was a basic necessity, and providing it was an act of mercy and justice. This action is reminiscent of God's provision for Adam and Eve inGenesis 3:21, where He made garments for them. It also aligns with Jesus' teaching inMatthew 25:36, where He identifies with the needy, stating that whatever is done for the least of these is done for Him. This phrase calls believers to be the hands and feet of Christ, meeting physical needs as a testimony of God's love.

and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
This phrase underscores the importance of familial responsibility and community care. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, family ties were paramount, and caring for one's relatives was a sacred duty. The phrase "flesh and blood" signifies close kinship, and turning away from them would be seen as neglecting God's command to love one's neighbor (Leviticus 19:18). This principle is reinforced in the New Testament, where believers are urged to care for their families (1 Timothy 5:8). It also reflects the broader spiritual family of believers, encouraging unity and support within the body of Christ.

Isaiah’s first clause calls for tangible generosity, not empty ritual. God counts a fast genuine when it breaks bread in two and hands half to someone who has none.

• The Law already framed this expectation: “For there will never cease to be poor… therefore I command you to open your hand” (Deuteronomy 15:11).

• Wisdom literature applauds the same heart: “Blessed is he who is kind to the needy” (Proverbs 14:21).

• Jesus affirmed it: “I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat” (Matthew 25:35).

Real worship, then, starts in the pantry—inviting us to budget less for ourselves so that others eat.

God moves from food to shelter. Hospitality is not optional philanthropy; it is covenant faithfulness.

• Israel was commanded, “The foreigner residing among you must be to you as the native-born” (Leviticus 19:34).

• The New Testament echoes: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers” (Hebrews 13:2).

• John the Baptist made it practical: “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none” (Luke 3:11).

Opening the door, setting an extra place, giving up the guest room—these acts manifest a fast God calls “acceptable” (Isaiah 58:5).

The third command widens compassion to cover the exposed.

• Job testified, “If I have seen one perish for lack of clothing… and his heart did not bless me for warming him” (Job 31:19-20).

• James warns against empty words: “Stay warm and well fed” without action is dead faith (James 2:15-16).

• The apostle John asks, “How can the love of God abide” in anyone who withholds practical help (1 John 3:17)?

From closets to community drives, believers who takeIsaiah 58 seriously turn garments into grace.

Charity begins at home, then radiates outward. Neglecting relatives contradicts worship.

• “If anyone does not provide for his own… he has denied the faith” (1 Timothy 5:8).

• Paul broadens the circle: “Let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith” (Galatians 6:10).

• Jesus rebuked traditions that excused sons from caring for parents (Mark 7:9-13).

In God’s economy, family responsibility is frontline ministry; refusing it voids any claim to piety.

Isaiah 58:7 defines true fasting as active mercy: feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, clothing the naked, and caring for one’s own kin. Ritual without compassion is hypocrisy; tangible love is worship. When believers obey these four commands, they mirror the heart of God, fulfill both Law and Gospel, and experience the promise that follows: “Then your light will break forth like the dawn” (Isaiah 58:8).

The poor that are cast out.--The words include all forms of homelessness--tenants evicted by their landlords, debtors by their creditors, slaves fleeing from their masters' cruelty, the persecuted for righteousness' sake, perhaps even political refugees. Note the parallelism withMatthew 25:35-36.

From thine own flesh.--Usage, as inGenesis 29:14;Nehemiah 5:5, leads us to refer the words primarily to suffering Israelites, but those who have learnt that "God hath made of one blood all the nations of the earth" (Acts 17:26) will extend its range to every form of suffering humanity. . . .