Deuteronomy 15 · a question people ask
"There will be no poor with you", or "the poor will never cease"? Which is it?
Both are in this chapter, seven verses apart. "However there will be no poor with you (for the LORD will surely bless you in the land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance to possess)" (15:4). "For the poor will never cease out of the land. Therefore I command you to surely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor, in your land" (15:11). Christians read the two together in two main ways, each resting on verses. All agree that both stand in the same law, and that both lead to the same command: "you shall surely open your hand to him" (15:8).
How Christians read it
Where Christians differ, Favor sets out the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
A promise that rests on listening
Those who hold this view read 15:4 with the words that follow it: "if only you diligently listen to the LORD your God’s voice, to observe to do all this commandment which I command you today" (15:5). On this reading 15:4 says what would be if Israel listened, as the blessings of 28:1-2 do: "if you listen to the LORD your God’s voice" (28:2). And 15:11 says what Moses expected would be, from a people of whom he said, "For I know your rebellion and your stiff neck" (31:27).
Deuteronomy 15:5 · Deuteronomy 28:1-2 · Deuteronomy 31:27 · Deuteronomy 15:11
Always some in need, and none left in need
Those who hold this view note that the law expects poor people among Israel even in the land: "If a poor man, one of your brothers, is with you within any of your gates in your land" (15:7). On this reading 15:4 says what the release and the open hand would do, so that no one stays in want among them: "shall surely lend him sufficient for his need, which he lacks" (15:8). And 15:11 gives the reason for the command itself: "Therefore I command you to surely open your hand" (15:11).
Deuteronomy 15:7-8 · Deuteronomy 15:11 · Deuteronomy 15:4
The verses
“However there will be no poor with you (for the LORD will surely bless you in the land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance to possess)”
“For the poor will never cease out of the land. Therefore I command you to surely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor, in your land.”
“but you shall surely open your hand to him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need, which he lacks.”