Then you will be children of your Father who is in heaven. He causes his sun to shine on evil people and good people. He sends rain on those who do right and those who don’t.
“‘ Suppose any of your own people become poor. And suppose they can’t take care of themselves. Then help them just as you would help an outsider or a stranger. In that way, the poor can continue to live among you.Do not charge them interest of any kind. Instead, have respect for God. Then those who have become poor can continue to live among you.If you lend them money, you must not charge them interest. And you must not sell them food for more than it cost you.
“ Suppose you lend money to one of my people among you who is in need. Then do not treat it like a business deal. Do not charge any interest at all.Suppose your neighbor owes you money and gives you a coat as a promise to pay it back. Then return it by sunset.
We belong to the same family lines as the rest of our people. Our children are as good as theirs. But we’ve had to sell them off as slaves. Some of our daughters have already been made slaves. But we can’t do anything about it. That’s because our fields and vineyards now belong to others.”I heard them when they cried out. And I was very angry when I heard what they were saying.I thought it over for a while. Then I accused the nobles and officials of breaking the law. I told them,“ You are charging your own people interest!” So I called together a large group of people to handle the matter.
Neither will thieves or those who always want more and more. Neither will those who are often drunk or tell lies or cheat. People who live like that will not receive God’s kingdom.
As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew. He was sitting at the tax collector’s booth.“ Follow me,” Jesus told him. Matthew got up and followed him.
