Leviticus 25:15: God's fair business laws?
What principles from Leviticus 25:15 reflect God's justice and fairness in business?

Leviticus 25:15 in Focus

“You are to buy from your neighbor based on the number of years since the Jubilee; he is to sell to you based on the number of years of the harvests.”


Economic Justice Rooted in Jubilee

• The verse sits within the Jubilee laws (Leviticus 25:8-17), which reset land, release debts, and free servants every 50th year.

• By tying price to the number of remaining harvests, the Lord prevents either party from profiting unfairly as the Jubilee approaches.

• Justice is thus woven into economic cycles, reflecting God’s heart for equity and mercy (Isaiah 61:8).


Transparent Pricing Based on Real Value

• Price equals projected productivity—nothing hidden, no inflated speculation.

• “Honest scales and balances belong to the LORD” (Proverbs 16:11).

• This guards integrity: buyer knows exactly what he pays for, seller knows exactly what he receives.


Respect for Time and Productivity

• Land was valued by its fruitfulness (“harvests”), not by abstract market hype.

• Teaches modern business to price goods/services according to measurable benefit, not hype or manipulative scarcity.

• Echoes Jesus’ parable of talents—profit tied to genuine stewardship (Matthew 25:14-30).


Guarding Against Exploitation

Leviticus 25:14 explicitly forbids taking advantage; verse 15 shows how.

• Proportionate pricing shields poorer families from gouging as Jubilee nears and prevents wealthy buyers from seizing bargains unfairly.

Amos 8:4-6 condemns merchants who “cheat with dishonest scales”; Jubilee law provides the antidote.


Ownership Under God

• “The land must not be sold permanently, because it is Mine” (Leviticus 25:23).

• Every transaction is stewardship, reminding businesspeople that ultimate ownership rests with the Creator (Psalm 24:1).

• Stewardship mindset curbs greed and fosters generosity, as modeled in Acts 4:32-35.


Consistency With Wider Biblical Ethics

• Equal weights (Deuteronomy 25:13-15).

• Oppressing the poor condemned (Proverbs 22:22-23).

• Wages to be paid promptly (Leviticus 19:13; James 5:4).

• Collectively, these passages call for honest, compassionate commerce.


Modern-Day Applications

• Price products and services transparently; disclose true costs and limitations.

• Adjust fees in light of longevity, warranties, or subscription periods—mirroring “number of harvests.”

• Avoid leveraging insider knowledge or timing to exploit weaker parties.

• Remember stewardship: reinvest profits in ways that honor God and bless communities.

• Build business policies that plan cyclical rest, debt relief, and employee sabbaticals, reflecting the Jubilee rhythm.

These principles from Leviticus 25:15 present a timeless model of God-centered fairness—anchoring commerce in honesty, proportional value, and compassionate stewardship.

How does Leviticus 25:15 guide fair transactions in today's economic practices?
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