Commentary on the Gospel of
Tzedakah, which originally meant righteousness, later came to mean charity. In the Middle Ages, Maimonides gave an eight-fold hierarchy of Tsedakah, wherein the highest form—the most worthy form—was to give to the needy in order to enable him or her to live a life of dignified independence, without any expectation of receiving any favors back.
Jesus was anticipating this elaboration of such generosity. Give without expecting to get. By doing so, he wants us to become perfect as the Heavenly Father is perfect (Matt 5:48) as He gives without counting the cost. We may not be able to grasp the depths of God, but by doing so, we will get a little taste of God’s manner of loving, which itself is the greatest reward we can hope for.
Paulson Veliyannoor, CMF
frpaulson@gmail.com