In this week’s article, I want to return to some questions raised earlier. In the article, “But Won’t The Know We are Christians By Our Love?”, we ended with three questions for further exploration. The first related to the story of the Good Samaritan. Having examined that, we are now ready for the second question – “Doesn’t Scripture say that true religion is about caring for widows and orphans? “

Indeed, James 1:27 says, “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”

James is addressing believers who are not living out their faith (1:19-25). Specific problems include favoring the rich among the assembly, while neglecting the poor, and exhibiting speech that is destructive and reflects ungodliness. To these people, he says, “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.” This is followed by the words above.  Widows and orphans would part of the neglected group within the church, but since James makes no other mention of them, we must look elsewhere for more details.

Luke describes a controversy in the Jerusalem church because the widows of the church, who were from other parts of the Empire were being ignored, while the local widows were being fed daily (Acts 6:1-6). From this account, it is clear that the issue of widows was significant in the first-century church, and that it concerned widows within the church.

Later, in his instructions to Timothy, Paul gives an extended treatment of the issue, specifying the widows for which the church was responsible (1 Timothy 5:3-16). While some of the details are uncertain, it is clear that, to be cared for by the church, a widow would:

• Have no descendants who could care for her.
• Be a believer who had fixed her hope completely on God
• Be at least 60.
• Have been devoted to her husband.
• Have a reputation of good works

These requirements would exclude, not only un-believers, but any believing widow who had not lived an exemplary Christian life. Rather than making us responsible for caring for all widows, the New Testament severely limits our responsibility for widows to a select few within the church.

But what about all of the Old Testament passages that speak to the issue of widows? (e.g., Exodus 22:22-24; Deuteronomy 10:18; 14:29; 16:11, 14; 24:17-21; 26:12-13; 27:19; Psalm 68:5; 94:6; 146:9; Proverbs 15:25; Isaiah 1:17, 23; 10:2; Jeremiah 7:6; 22:3; Ezekiel 22:7; Zechariah 7:10; Malachi 3:5) From these, it is clear that God took the treatment of widows, as well as orphans and foreigners, very seriously. They were not to be oppressed, and, in fact, provision was to be made for them.

However, we must be careful when applying God’s instructions to Israel to our situation today. It is critical to recognize that Israel was unique. Of all nations, they alone had a covenant relationship with God, spelled out in Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy. It is in these books where we find many of the passages listed above. And it is the failure of Israel to keep these obligations toward widows, orphans, and foreigners, that the passages listed from the prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah and Malachi) condemn. Thus, the obligation of Israel to care for these groups were part of their covenant relationship with God.

Also, we should note that, the focus is exclusively on widows, orphans, and foreigners dwelling in their midst, that is, within the covenant community. Israel was never responsible to care for widows, orphans, or foreigners in other nations.

At this point, we should consider Isaiah 9:17, “Therefore, the Lord does not take pleasure in their young men, Nor does He have pity on their orphans or their widows; For every one of them is godless and an evildoer, And every mouth is speaking foolishness. In spite of all of this, His anger does not turn away And His hand is still stretched out.” The preceding verses reveal that God’s anger is the result of the unresponsiveness of the people to His discipline. For our discussion, there are two things worth noting – 1) God hates His people’s refusal to respond to His discipline, so much that, 2) He will not care for widows and orphans in that situation. This second point is consistent with the teaching in 1 Timothy 5 – even within the covenant community, only those who have demonstrated a commitment to walk with God can expect to be cared for.

Which brings us back to the issue of the covenant community. As we said, God’s covenant people in the Old Testament was Israel. The terms of that covenant are given in the Law, as spelled out in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. Although this covenant provided for God to dwell in the midst of His people, access to Him was severely limited by the Law, and was mediated by priests.

But Jeremiah looks forward to a New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34), which is different from, and replaces, the covenant of the Law. In this New Covenant, God’s people will not be separated from Him by their sin, but will each know Him personally and directly.

The transition from the Law to the New Covenant occurred when the veil of the Temple was torn in two at the death of Christ, making the Old Covenant (the Law) void, and activating the New Covenant, with it’s direct access. As the church, we celebrate this New Covenant in the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:20). Thus, at the present time, God’s covenant community is not Israel, but the church.

So, far from having mandate to go out into the world to care for widows and orphans, we see that God’s concern for their care is focused within the covenant community, which today is the church.

On a broader note, this is consistent with what we have already learned – it is our care for one another within the believing community, not loving acts directed toward unbelievers, that is to be our witness to the world.