Doing Charity and Justice Is Dearer to God Than Sacrifices

"To do charity and justice" (Proverbs 21:3). Rabbi Elazar son of Rabbi Shimon said: Everyone who does charity and justice, Scripture accounts it for him as though he had offered before Me burnt offerings and sacrifices, as it is said, "is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice" (Proverbs 21:3). Rabbi Yirmiyah said: Every day on which there is charity and justice in the world is more beloved before the Holy One, blessed be He, than burnt offerings and sacrifices, as it is said, "is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice." "A gift in secret subdues anger" (Proverbs 21:14). Rabbi Yohanan said: Everyone who gives charity in secret, the Holy One, blessed be He, will subdue the Angel of Death, who is called "anger," away from him and from the members of his household. Rabbi Levi said: Greater is the reward of the one who gives charity than of the one who takes it, for the one who gives it gives it for the sake of charity, but the one who takes it does not know whether he is worthy of it or not. There we learned (Mishnah Pe'ah 8:9): "One who has fifty zuz and does business with them, this one shall not take." And everyone who does not need to take and yet takes will not die of old age until he comes to need other people; and everyone who needs to take and does not take will not depart from the world until he shares of his own with others, and so it says, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD" (Jeremiah 17:7). "He who pursues charity and kindness will find life, charity, and honor" (Proverbs 21:21). Rabbi Elazar son of Rabbi Shimon said: Everyone who pursues charity, he will have children who are masters of charity, masters of Torah, and masters of aggadah. Masters of charity, from where? As it is written, "[He who pursues charity will find] charity." Masters of Torah, from where? It is written here "[He who pursues charity will find] life," and it is written there, "For it is your life and the length of your days" (Deuteronomy 30:20). Masters of aggadah, from where? It is written here "[He who pursues charity will find] honor," and it is written, "The wise shall inherit honor" (Proverbs 3:35).