Caring for the Widow, the Orphan, and the Stranger
When Christians talk about justice, it’s not a trendy word we borrow from politics or culture. Justice has always been at the very heart of God’s character and at the center of the biblical story. From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture consistently calls God’s people to embody His justice on earth. If we want to understand what it means to live faithfully today, we have to look closely at the biblical and theological roots of justice.
Justice in the Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible paints a clear picture of justice as both relational and societal. One of the most repeated refrains throughout the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings is the call to protect the most vulnerable in society: “the widow, the orphan, and the alien.” These three groups symbolized those who lacked social, economic, and political protection. Over and over again, God reminds Israel that their treatment of the marginalized reveals the condition of their covenant faithfulness.
Exodus 22:22-23 warns: “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt. Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. If you do, and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry.”
Isaiah 1:17 commands: “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”
Micah 6:8 distills God’s requirement: “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Justice in the Old Testament is not simply about law enforcement or fairness. It is covenantal and it flows out of God’s character. Yahweh identifies Himself as the defender of the powerless, and Israel’s vocation was to mirror His justice in community life.
Justice in the New Testament
When we turn to the New Testament, we see continuity with the Old Testament vision, but now embodied in the life and ministry of Jesus. He proclaimed that the arrival of the Kingdom of God is marked by justice, mercy, and peace.
In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus declares His mission using Isaiah’s words: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor… to set the oppressed free.”
In His parables, Jesus elevates the importance of caring for the least of these (Matthew 25:31-46).
The early church lived this out by sharing possessions so no one was in need (Acts 2:44-45).
Paul, too, emphasizes justice in community life. His teachings on reconciliation, equity, and mutual care show that the gospel is not just about personal salvation but also about transformed relationships that reflect God’s justice.
Justice as a Core Christian Tenet
When we talk about justice as Christians, we are not adding something extra to our faith. We are returning to its roots. Justice is woven into the very fabric of Scripture and God’s heart for the world.
To care for the widow, the orphan, and the alien today is to care for those who are most vulnerable in our own context: the refugee/immigrant, the single parent, the homeless, the marginalized. Justice is not optional; it is divine mandate.
The biblical call is clear: God’s people are to reflect His character by doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with Him. Anything less distorts the gospel.
A Reflective Moment
Join me today by pausing and asking yourself: Who are the “widow, orphan, and alien” in my community? What would it look like for me, my family, and my church to embody God’s justice in tangible ways this week?
Justice is not just a theory; it’s a way of life. And when Christians live out this mandate, the world catches a glimpse of the Kingdom of God.