The Stranger, The Fatherless, And The Widow

Throughout the Bible, we find numerous commands to protect and honor three vulnerable groups of people: (1) the stranger, (2) the fatherless, and (3) the widow. This is especially prevalent in the Old Testament but is certainly echoed throughout the entire Bible. I believe this consistency is important and has a significant New Testament application to believers. Let us begin by taking a look at Deuteronomy 24:19-21 (KJV):

"19 When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands. 20 When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. 21 When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow."

The Lord gives commandment to the children of Israel to leave their surplus crops, grapes, etc. out in the field so that any passing by stranger, fatherless, or widow in need may be assisted. The following verse gives incentive as to why they should do this, “22 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt.” God was compassionate to the children of Israel to bring them out of bondage when they were strangers in Egypt, therefore they are exhorted to do the same to strangers in their land.

In my research, I discovered at least 17 verses that mention all three of these groups and dozens more that mention at least one or two with similar admonitions. Other similar passages regarding the stranger, fatherless, and widow are Jeremiah 7:6, 22:3, Zechariah 7:10, Malachi 3:5, and several others. 

This is consistent with the New Testament. James 1:27 (KJV) states, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction…” As Christians, we are to be compassionate to those less fortunate. Not a respecter of persons, but becoming all things to all men, considering the infirmities of the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow so that we may comfort them with the comfort whereby we ourselves are comforted. We are told in 1 Timothy 5:3 to, “Honor widows that are widows indeed.” There is no doubt that these are practical exhortations and should be followed in the New Testament just as much as in the Old, however, I would like to suggest a deeper symbolic meaning to the stranger, fatherless, and widow and the reason that I think these three categories are emphasized and repeated so many times in scripture. 
 
We Were Strangers 
Just as the Lord says about the slavery of the children of Israel in Egypt before he delivered them into the promise land, “…ye were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Ex. 22:21), so were we also strangers to God in this world, enslaved to sin.

“12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:12-13 (KJV)

Before we became citizens of Heaven through faith in Jesus Christ, we were counted as a stranger. Thankfully, God sent his Son as a forerunner to enter in on our behalf (Hebrews 6:20) so that we may obtain an inheritance. Even though we had no good in us to offer, God, being merciful unto us as he was with the children of Israel, made way for us to be partakers of his heavenly kingdom.

“19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God” Ephesians 2:19 (KJV)

It is important for us to remember our sinful state as a stranger before we received Christ (remember Deut. 24:22) because there are those who are still strangers in this world and have not yet placed their faith in Jesus for their salvation. Egypt has often been associated with the world/sin in passages such as Exodus 13:17 and Revelations 11:8. The children of Israel are warned numerous times not to return to Egypt the same way that New Testament believers are warned not to backslide to our sin (Hebrews 10:26-29). This does not mean a Christian can lose their salvation, which is clarified in verses 38-39 of the same chapter, but that we should not desire the life of a sinful stranger after we become partakers of the promise land the way some Israelites did when they said, “…wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land… let us return into Egypt” (Numbers 14:3-4). It is the natural desire of our flesh to do that which is easy and sinful, but as a born-again believer, we must take up our cross daily and let our mindset reflect the habitation of our souls, not our temporary dwelling on earth. For we are no longer a stranger to Heaven living for the world, but a stranger and pilgrim in this world living for the Kingdom of God (Hebrews 11:13).  

“1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:1-2 (KJV)
 
We Were Fatherless 
To elaborate on this analogy, I will take a deep dive into Ezekiel chapter 16, where Israel’s adoption to God is laid out in a way that eagerly reflects the father/son relationship that is offered to us in the New Testament.

 “3 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of 
Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite.” Ezekiel 16:3 (KJV)

This chapter begins with the Lord commanding Ezekiel to “cause Jerusalem to know her abominations” (v. 2). Two cities from the wicked nation of Canaan are used to portray Israel’s mother and father. This could represent our being born into sin as human beings. Verses 4-5 picture Israel as a child destitute of compassion and care, “…thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. None eye pitied thee…” As a natural born sinner into this merciless world, there is none to pity the fatherless transgressor. There is no hope or comfort that the world may offer, just as there was no care offered to the metaphorical newborn child of Israel from the Amorite or the Hittite.

“6 And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.” Ezekiel 16:6 (KJV)

The good news is in verse 6, where the beautiful picture of the gospel is uttered in the phrase, “I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.” This reminds me of one of my favorite verses in Romans Chapter 5 (KJV), “8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Even as we were yet in our sinful state, a rebellious and fatherless child, God looked on us with compassion to offer us his wonderful adoption.

“8 Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.” Ezekiel 16:8 (KJV)

There is a beautiful reflection of Christ’s blood atonement in the phrase “I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness.” Nakedness is associated with sin and shame as far back as Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve tried to cover their nakedness with the fruit of the ground, but to no avail because there was no blood shed. Our fruit (works) cannot cover our nakedness (sin); therefore, we need God to cover us. The following verse states, “I throughly washed away thy blood from thee” (v. 9), using the same language as verse six, “when thou wast in thy blood”. There is no power in our sinful blood, that is why we need the blood of Christ to cover our nakedness.

“For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:28 (KJV)

“…and without shedding of blood is no remission.” Hebrews 9:22 (KJV)

Because of this remission, we are enabled to become children of God. Though we were once fatherless, in our blood, stained with sin, Christ offers us justification by grace through faith in HIS blood and HIS righteousness. To conclude this point, I will list some of my favorite New Testament verses that depict our adoption as children of God far better than I could explain it myself.

“15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 (KJV)
“5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” Galatians 4:5-6 (KJV)

“5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will” Ephesians 1:5 (KJV)

“12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” John 1:12 (KJV)

“26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” Galatians 3:26 (KJV)
 
We Were Widows 
What a beautiful allegory of our relationship to Christ is that of a husband and a wife. 
Ephesians chapter 5, as well as many other passages of scripture, portrays our relationship to Christ as a reverent wife to a loving husband. But before we met our beloved husband waiting for us with open arms, we were married to this wicked world, and in turn, death.

 “5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.” Romans 7:5 (KJV)

 “20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.” Romans 6:20-21 (KJV)

What’s worse than being a literal widow is being spiritually married to death itself. Without the imputation of the righteousness of Christ upon us, we are hopelessly obedient to the death that works in our members. A one-way faithful relationship leading to Hell unless we divorce our carnal flesh to be joined with Christ. This concept is brought to light in Romans 7:1-4 (KJV):

“1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. 4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.”

We see that the only way to be freed from the law (i.e. death), is to become “dead to the law” through faith in Christ. Our marriage (or rather, slavery) to sin, like an earthly marriage, is “till death do us part”. We must die to the law so that we may be properly married to Christ. So, what does it mean to be “dead to the law”.

Before a person is saved, they are a guilty transgressor of God’s perfect law (Romans 3:23). Having not been married to Christ through faith, that person must be judged according to the law on judgement day (Rev. 20:12). The only way for us to break free and not be condemned for the wrong we have done is to realize that we are unable to keep the whole law ourselves, and we need a substitute. Jesus Christ was made to become sin for us (though he knew no sin), so that we could escape the judgement and be counted as righteous before God. The perfect sacrifice of a loving husband toward his bride was paid in full when Christ offered his life in place of ours, and if we trust in his payment on the cross, we will be presented as a spotless bride on the day of the great marriage supper of the Lamb.

“7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.” Revelations 19:7-8 (KJV)
 
Being now united with God as a citizen, a child, and a bride, we ought to have the most earnest appreciation for the tender grace of God. We should be moved to also have compassion on those who are still entangled in this world, knowing that it is not too late for us to humble ourselves and share the gospel to these spiritually vulnerable groups, that they may come to the saving knowledge of our Savior. It is indeed what Christ did when he was made lower than the angels and was touched with our infirmities, having compassion upon us, the stranger, fatherless, widow.

Cite: Merritt, S. (2024). The Stranger, the Fatherless, and the Widow. Science Faith and Reasoning. Retrieved from: ​https://www.scifr.com/articles/the-stranger-the-fatherless-and-the-widow 

Shepard Merritt

Writer for Science Faith & Reasoning