How does Leviticus 27:23 connect to New Testament teachings on stewardship? The text at hand “Then the priest will calculate the value for him until the Year of Jubilee, and the man shall pay the assessed value on that day as a holy offering to the LORD.” (Leviticus 27:23) What jumps out of the verse • The field did not belong to the man forever; the Jubilee would return it to the original family line. • Its value was precisely “calculated” by God-appointed priests—no guesswork. • Payment was rendered “on that day” as a “holy offering to the LORD,” underscoring God’s ownership and the giver’s accountability. Divine ownership undergirds stewardship • Leviticus 27:23 assumes that land—and by extension everything—belongs to the LORD (cf. Psalm 24:1; 1 Corinthians 10:26). • In the New Testament, Jesus echoes the same truth when He says, “From Him to whom much has been entrusted, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48). • Because all resources are God’s, believers are stewards, not proprietors (1 Corinthians 4:1-2). Calculated value mirrors New-Testament accountability • The priest “calculate[d] the value.” Likewise, the Master in Jesus’ parable “settled accounts” with each servant (Matthew 25:19). • Both passages teach that God has a definite, knowable standard by which He measures our management of His assets (Romans 14:12). Payment on the spot parallels faithful, prompt giving • The Israelite paid “on that day,” not later. • Paul encourages timely generosity: “On the first day of every week, each of you is to set aside a portion…” (1 Corinthians 16:2). • Delaying what belongs to God was never an option, Old or New Covenant (Acts 5:1-4). Jubilee points to life’s temporary leases • At Jubilee the land reverted; earthly tenure was temporary. • Paul reminds believers, “For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of it” (1 Timothy 6:7). • Awareness of temporary possession fuels eternal-minded stewardship (1 Timothy 6:17-19). Voluntary consecration and cheerful giving • The man “consecrated” a field he had purchased. It was a free-will act. • New-Testament giving follows the same heartbeat: “Each one should give as he decides in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion” (2 Corinthians 9:7). • Both Testaments tie voluntary dedication to joy and blessing (2 Corinthians 9:8). Practical stewardship takeaways • Remember whose property you manage—God’s. • Know you will give an exact account of each resource. • Give promptly and deliberately, not sporadically. • Hold possessions loosely; Jubilee-style turnover is still God’s pattern. • Make generosity a joyful, voluntary expression of trust in the Lord who owns it all. |
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