On the surface, this proverb seems straight forward: "If you feed the poor, you'll be blessed." That's a perfectly appropriate application of the English and seems like the obvious meaning of the passage. However, upon closer examination, we discover that something a bit broader is intended by the original verse, penned in Hebrew.

While many English translations of Proverbs 22:9 seem to be about giving food to the poor, the Hebrew reads more like this: "Whoever is 'good in the eye' will be blessed for helping the feeble or weak." The Hebrew idiom, "good in the eye," was a common saying in antiquity which meant you looked upon others as good and with good in your heart. (In English translations it is often translated as "generous," but the meaning is much broader.) While this verse certainly can be interpreted as saying that, if you are generous with the poor, you'll be blessed; the verse can cover much more than food and poor people.

In essence, the Hebrew of the proverb suggests that 'the person who looks upon others as good, and who assumes the best of the weak, the feeble, the poor, or those who struggle (in some why or with something), will be blessed for assuming the best and doing what they can to help those who cannot help themselves.' Yes, Jesus wants us to help the poor. But our passage for today would suggest that he also wants us to assume the best of the poor—and also those who have struggles other than just financial challenges. The verse is a call for all who believe to look upon others and their challenging circumstances with "good [in our] eye"—and then act according to the needs we see.