(As it is written, He has dispersed abroad; he has given to the poor: his righteousness remains forever.
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Ambrosiaster
AD 400
If the righteousness of a man who gives to the poor endures forever, how much more will this be true of a man who gives to the saints. For the poor are obvious to all, but the saints are known only to those who can discern them, for they are servants of God who are constant in prayer and fasting and who lead a pure life. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad ( Psalm 112:9). In all necessities, in all places, and at all times, a merciful Prayer of Manasseh , such as S. Laurence, of whom the Church sings, distributes his goods and his alms; in the same way he who sows scatters his seed. The Apostle wishes to prove that God makes all grace to abound towards almsgivers, and gives them full sufficiency for that grace (beneficence). He proves this from the fact that the giver of alms of his sufficiency distributes his alms, disperses them as seed on every side, not among his boon-companions or free-lovers, but among the poor. Å’cumenius says that the word "dispersed" denotes the largeness of the alms given. It also implies that these alms are not wasted or thrown away.
His righteousness remaineth for ever. Remains in God"s memory and in its eternal reward, as in its harvest. Song of Solomon , too, when the husbandman scatters his seed he does not lose it, but entrusts it to the ground, that he may rece...
The things themselves do not remain, but their effects do. Therefore we should not be mean and calculating with what we have but give with a generous hand. Look at how much people give to players and dancers—why not give just half as much to Christ? Homilies on the Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians
This is the import of abound; for the words, he has dispersed abroad, signify nothing else but the giving plentifully. For if the things themselves abide not, yet their results abide. For this is the thing to be admired, that when they are kept they are lost; but when dispersed abroad they abide, yea, abide for ever. Now by righteousness, here, he means love towards men. For this makes righteous, consuming sins like a fire when it is plentifully poured out.
3. Let us not therefore nicely calculate, but sow with a profuse hand. Do you see not how much others give to players and harlots? Give at any rate the half to Christ, of what they give to dancers. As much as they give of ostentation to those upon the stage, so much at any rate give thou unto the hungry. For they indeed even clothe the persons of wantons with untold gold; but thou not even with a threadbare garment the flesh of Christ, and that though beholding it naked. What forgiveness does this deserve, yea, how great a punish...
