Who is a widow?

Applying the spirit of the law to a new class of orphans | Marvin Olasky

The most famous Old Testament phrase about how we are to act toward others is "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18b). Perhaps the most famous New Testament phrase is "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress ..." (James 1:27a).

That doesn't sound too hard. Neighbors live next door to us. Widows are women whose husbands have died. Orphans are children whose parents have died. Easy to know our obligations ... right?

Not so fast. When a lawyer Y2K ago wanted to limit his responsibility, he asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus in response told of the priest and the Levite passing by the mugged traveler, and the Samaritan helping. Jesus then asked, "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The chastened lawyer responded, "The one who had mercy on him," and Christ commanded, "Go and do likewise."

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