His Holiness Pope Shenouda III speaks about the commandment of Christ: “Give to him who asks you,” explaining that Christian giving must be accompanied by wisdom and discernment, and not be blind giving without understanding. The believer is called to give with love, but also with awareness of what benefits a person and what harms him.
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that a person should not give something that may harm others or corrupt them, such as giving a dangerous tool to an unstable person, or giving money in a way that spoils a person and destroys his character and dependence on himself. True giving is the giving that builds the person spiritually and psychologically, not the giving that leads him to dependence or loss.
He also confirms that applying the divine commandments always needs wisdom and spiritual discernment, because the commandment is not applied in a rigid literal way, but according to the spiritual benefit of the person. He gives the example of God’s response to prayers, as God does not give everything a person asks for, but gives what benefits him for his salvation and spiritual growth.
He also points out that God refused to remove the illness from Saint Paul the Apostle because this illness had a spiritual benefit for him, and therefore He said to him: “My grace is sufficient for you.” From this, he explains that the lack of response to some requests does not mean God’s rejection or lack of love, but means that the request is not beneficial for the person.
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III also explains the verse: “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly,” clarifying that the meaning is not only sinful requests or sins, but also everything that is not beneficial for the person spiritually or practically.
At the end of the lecture, he confirms that God’s money intended for the needy should not be given to deceivers or to those who do not deserve it, because Christian giving should be with wisdom, responsibility, and faithfulness before God.
“For better translation support, please contact the center.”
The Sermon on the Mount – If anyone asks you, give to them
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III speaks about the commandment of Christ: “Give to him who asks you,” explaining that Christian giving must be accompanied by wisdom and discernment, and not be blind giving without understanding. The believer is called to give with love, but also with awareness of what benefits a person and what harms him.
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that a person should not give something that may harm others or corrupt them, such as giving a dangerous tool to an unstable person, or giving money in a way that spoils a person and destroys his character and dependence on himself. True giving is the giving that builds the person spiritually and psychologically, not the giving that leads him to dependence or loss.
He also confirms that applying the divine commandments always needs wisdom and spiritual discernment, because the commandment is not applied in a rigid literal way, but according to the spiritual benefit of the person. He gives the example of God’s response to prayers, as God does not give everything a person asks for, but gives what benefits him for his salvation and spiritual growth.
He also points out that God refused to remove the illness from Saint Paul the Apostle because this illness had a spiritual benefit for him, and therefore He said to him: “My grace is sufficient for you.” From this, he explains that the lack of response to some requests does not mean God’s rejection or lack of love, but means that the request is not beneficial for the person.
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III also explains the verse: “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly,” clarifying that the meaning is not only sinful requests or sins, but also everything that is not beneficial for the person spiritually or practically.
At the end of the lecture, he confirms that God’s money intended for the needy should not be given to deceivers or to those who do not deserve it, because Christian giving should be with wisdom, responsibility, and faithfulness before God.
“For better translation support, please contact the center.”