ALMS

'ALMS noun, 'amz. [Eng. almesse; Latin eleemosyna; Gr. to pity.]Any thing given gratuitously to relieve the poor, as money, food, or clothing, otherwise called charity.A lame man was laid daily to ask an alms Acts 3:2.Cornelius gave much alms to the people. Acts 10:2.Tenure by free alms or frank-almoign, in England, is that by which the possessor is bound to pray for the soul of the donor, whether dead or alive; a tenure by which most of the ancient monasteries and religious houses in England held their lands, as do the parochial clergy, and many ecclesiastical and eleemosynary establishments at this day. Land thus held was free from all rent or other service.

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Alms. Alms
Not found in the Old Testament, but repeatedly in the New. The Mosaic legislation (Lev. 25:35; Deut. 15:7) tended to promote a spirit of charity, and to prevent the occurrence of destitution among the people. Such passages as these, Ps. 41:1; 112:9; Prov. 14:31; Isa. 10:2; Amos 2:7; Jer. 5:28; Ezek. 22:29, would also naturally foster the same benevolent spirit.

In the time of our Lord begging was common (Mark 10:46; Acts 3:2). The Pharisees were very ostentatious in their almsgivings (Matt. 6:2). The spirit by which the Christian ought to be actuated in this duty is set forth in 1 John 3:17. A regard to the state of the poor and needy is enjoined as a Christian duty (Luke 3:11; 6:30; Matt. 6:1; Acts 9:36; 10:2, 4), a duty which was not neglected by the early Christians (Luke 14:13; Acts 20:35; Gal. 2:10; Rom. 15:25-27; 1 Cor. 16:1-4). They cared not only for the poor among themselves, but contributed also to the necessities of those at a distance (Acts 11:29; 24:17; 2 Cor. 9:12). Our Lord and his attendants showed an example also in this (John 13:29).

In modern times the “poor-laws” have introduced an element which modifies considerably the form in which we may discharge this Christian duty.

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ALMS. → Asking Joh 9:8; Ac 3:2 → COMMANDMENTS AND PRACTICES CONCERNING Le 25:35; De 14:28,29; 15:7-11; Isa 58:6,7; Mt 5:42; 6:1-4; 19:21; Lu 11:41; 12:33; Ro 12:8; 2Co 9:5-7; Ga 2:10; 1Ti 6:18; Heb 13:16; 1Jo 3:17
* See BENEFICENCE
* See GIFTS
* See GIVING
* See LIBERALITY
* See POOR

→ INSTANCES OF GIVING
* Zaccheus Lu 19:8
* Dorcas Ac 9:36
* Cornelius Ac 10:2
* The early Christians Ac 2:44,45; 4:34-37; 6:1-3; 11:29,30; 24:17; Ro 15:25-28; 1Co 16:1-4; 2Co 8:1-4; 9:1; Heb 6:10

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The duty of alms-giving, especially in kind, consisting chiefly in portions to be left designedly from produce of the field, the vineyard and the oliveyard, (Leviticus 19:9,10; 23:22; 15:11; 24:19; 26:2-13; Ruth 2:2) is strictly enjoined by the law. Every third year also, (14:28) each proprietor was directed to share the tithe of his produce with "the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless and the widow." The theological estimate of alms-giving among the Jews is indicated in the following passages: (Job 31:17; Proverbs 10:2; 11:4; Esther 9:22; Psalms 112:9; Acts 9:36) the case of Dorcas; (Acts 10:2) of Cornelius; to which may be added Tobit 4:10,11; 14:10,11, and Ecclus. 3:30; 40:24. The Pharisees were zealous in almsgiving, but too ostentatious their mode of performance, for which our Lord finds fault with them. (Matthew 6:2) The duty of relieving the poor was not neglected by the Christians. (Matthew 6:1-4; Luke 14:13; Acts 20:35; Galatians 2:10) Regular proportionate giving was expected. (Acts 11:30; Romans 15:25-27; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4)

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alms. Alms, n. sing. or pl. a gift, to the poor, charity

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Alms (a̤mz), n. sing. & pl. [[OE. almes, almesse, AS. ælmysse, fr. L. eleemosyna, Gr. ελεημοσὔνη mercy, charity, alms, fr. ελεεἰ̑ν to pity. Cf. Almonry, Eleemosynary.]] Anything given gratuitously to relieve the poor, as money, food, or clothing; a gift of charity. A devout man . . . which gave much alms to the people. Acts x. 2. Alms are but the vehicles of prayer. Dryden. Tenure by free alms. See Frankalmoign. Blackstone. ☞ This word alms is singular in its form (almesse), and is sometimes so used; as, “asked an alms.” Acts iii. 3. “Received an alms.” Shak. It is now, however, commonly a collective or plural noun. It is much used in composition, as almsgiver, almsgiving, alms bag, alms chest, etc.