Proverbs 14:31 - Exposition

He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker, even God. who hath placed men in their several conditions ( Proverbs 17:5 ; Proverbs 22:2 ). "The poor shall never cease out of the land" ( Deuteronomy 15:11 ); "The poor ye have always with you," said Christ ( Matthew 26:11 ); therefore to harass and oppress the poor because he is in this lowly condition, is virtually to arraign the providence of God, who is the Father of all, and has made all men brothers, however differing in worldly position. Christ puts the duty of aiding the poor on the high ground of his solidarity with his people ( Matthew 25:40 , Matthew 25:45 ), how that in ministering unto the least of these his brethren men are ministering unto him. "Prosperity and adversity, life and death, poverty and riches, come of the Lord" ( Ecclesiastes 11:1-10 :14). Even the heathen could say—

ἀεὶ νομίζονθ οἱ πένητες τῶν θεῶν .

Deem ever that the poor are God's own gift."

Septuagint, "He that calumniates ( συκοφανῶν ; calumniatur, Vulgate) the poor angers him who made him." This version refers to oppression of the poor by means of calumny or false and frivolous accusation. But he that honoureth him— the Lord— hath mercy on the poor; or, better, he that hath mercy upon the poor honoureth him ; for he shows that he has proper regard to God's ordinance, acts on high motives, and is not led astray by worldly considerations. Christ himself has consecrated poverty by coming in low estate ( 2 Corinthians 8:9 ), and they who love and honour him are glad to minister to his brethren in their poverty and distress (comp. James 1:27 ).