Question about Sirach?

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fireproofpoodle

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How does Sirach 12:4-7, which teaches that we should not give alms to sinners, relate to other Bible verses which say we should?
 
fireproofpoodle said:
How does Sirach 12:4-7, which teaches that we should not give alms to sinners, relate to other Bible verses which say we should?
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Let’s look at the quote:
4 Give to the good man, refuse the sinner; refresh the downtrodden, give nothing to the proud man. ***5 ******No arms for combat should you give him, lest he use them against yourself; ******6 ******With twofold evil you will meet for every good deed you do for him. ******7 ***The Most High himself hates sinners, and upon the wicked he takes vengeance.
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It looks like sound advice. What’s the problem?
 
Don’t othe bible verses say we should help sinners?
 
fireproofpoodle said:
Don’t othe bible verses say we should help sinners?
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Yes, but not necessarily with money.

Ya gotta be careful with the wisdom books though. They’re hard to interpret. I’d use a commentary (of course a commentary is always a good thing but especially with the wisdom books). They were written for a very ancient people and make lots of allusions that we completely miss; the ancient Israelites probably would not interpret literally many things that we tend to.
 
FirePoodle,
My guess is it something along the lines of ‘don’t give money (help) to ‘arrogant’ sinners’. You and I should not support Larry Flint in the least.
However, it would be merciful to help a drug addict who is also ‘generally’ understood to be ‘a sinner’, but not a proud arrogant one.

The larger context of the story might bear this out - I admit I have not read it.

Interesting question.

Peter K
 
I think it is saying we should not give alms to those who will use what we give them to commit sins i,e, giving a cocain addict money to buy cocain. but giving that same cocain addict money for treatment would be a good thing. the scripture passages here are warning about aiding in someones sin.
 
fireproofpoodle said:
Don’t othe bible verses say we should help sinners?
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It may say help the sinner, but it doesn’t say help the sinner continue to sin.

For instance, whenever Jesus helped the sinner, he commanded them to refrain from sinning again.
 
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