What does Leviticus 27:13 teach about redeeming dedicated items with an additional fifth? Scriptural snapshot “But if the owner ever decides to redeem it, he must add a fifth to its value.” — Leviticus 27:13 Key principle of redemption • When someone dedicated an unclean animal to the LORD, it became “holy to the LORD” (Leviticus 27:11-12). • If that person later wished to regain the animal, he could—yet only by paying its assessed value plus an additional 20 percent (“a fifth”). • The extra fifth emphasized that anything once given to God is no longer ordinary property; reclaiming it requires a tangible acknowledgment of His supreme ownership. Why add a fifth? 1. Recognition of God’s holiness • The uplifted price visibly showed that God’s portion is more valuable than ours (cf. Malachi 1:8). 2. Deterrent against rash vows • Knowing a buy-back would be costlier discouraged flippant or emotional dedications (Proverbs 20:25; Ecclesiastes 5:4-5). 3. Protection of worship integrity • It prevented people from using vows as interest-free “storage,” pledging items temporarily just to reclaim them later without loss. Broader pattern in Leviticus 27 The same “plus a fifth” rule appears repeatedly: • Houses (v 15) • Fields (v 19) • Tithes of produce (v 31) This uniform standard underlines a universal truth—whatever is devoted to the LORD carries a higher value tag once it bears His name. Practical lessons for believers today • Keep your word. God takes our commitments seriously; so should we (Numbers 30:2; Matthew 5:37). • Give God the best, not the leftovers. Reclaiming what is His should feel costly because it is costly (2 Samuel 24:24). • Count the cost before promising. Careful, prayerful dedication avoids later regret and extra expense (Luke 14:28). • Honor God in finances. The “fifth” principle invites believers to treat resources under God’s lordship with reverence and integrity. Christ, our ultimate Redeemer • Under the Law, the worshiper paid an added fifth to buy back what belonged to God. • In the gospel, Christ pays the full price—far more than a fifth—to redeem people who now belong to Him (1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Peter 1:18-19). • The Levitical surcharge foreshadows the immeasurable worth of the redemption we have in Jesus, compelling grateful obedience and wholehearted devotion. Takeaway Leviticus 27:13 teaches that redeeming a dedicated item costs more than its original value because anything consecrated to the LORD is set apart and precious. The extra fifth both guards the sanctity of vows and points to the costly grace God later provides through Christ’s own redemption of us. |
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