Acts 2:43-45: They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
“There shall be no poor among you,” Yahweh told Israel. Yahweh promised to bless Israel in the land so that there would be plenty for all, as long as they kept covenant. Israel failed miserably.
They did not keep Sabbath years or cancel debts. They enslaved one another. They never restored land in the Jubilee. There were poor among them, and they were abused. Eventually Yahweh drove them from the land.
After the coming of the Spirit of Jesus at Pentecost, the church began to fulfill the aims of Israel. They had no poor among them because many sold their own houses and property to give to “anyone who had need.”
Yahweh’s promise to Israel comes in the middle of a passage on the Sabbath. Israel’s holy days and festivals were signs that the poor would be provided for. It was the same for the early church. Because they continued in fellowship and the breaking of bread and common prayer, they had things in common and shared their goods.
Every member of the church is invited to this table. Here Jesus feeds the hungry, all of the hungry. By sharing in this table, we commit ourselves to following Jesus’ example. If a brother eats with us at this table, can we ignore his hunger tomorrow or next week? By sharing this table, we commit ourselves to fulfill the unfulfilled promise of Israel: “There shall be no poor among you.”
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