How does Leviticus 25:28 connect to Jesus' teachings on forgiveness and restoration? The Jubilee Foundation “ ‘But if he cannot afford to repay, what he sold will remain in the possession of the buyer until the Year of Jubilee. Then it will be returned in the Jubilee, and he will return to his property.’ ” (Leviticus 25:28) What Leviticus 25:28 Shows Us • God builds mercy into Israel’s economic life; no sale of land is ever truly final. • The Year of Jubilee (every fiftieth year) resets debts, frees slaves, and restores inheritance. • Restoration is not optional or accidental—it is commanded, certain, and rooted in God’s covenant faithfulness. Jesus Announces the Fulfillment of Jubilee • Luke 4:18-19: “He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives … to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” – Jesus reads Isaiah 61, then says, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled” (v. 21). – He claims to be the living, breathing Jubilee. • By declaring forgiveness of sins (Luke 5:20; 7:48) and releasing people from spiritual bondage (Luke 8:35; 13:16), He enacts Leviticus 25:28 on the deepest level. Forgiveness as Debt Release • Matthew 6:12: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” • Matthew 18:27: “The master had compassion … canceled the debt and released him.” • Colossians 2:13-14: God “canceled the record of debt … nailing it to the cross.” – In Christ, sin-debt is wiped clean; believers are restored to their rightful “property”—fellowship with God. Restoration of Inheritance • Ephesians 1:11: “In Him we were also chosen as God’s inheritance.” • 1 Peter 1:3-4: We are born again “into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.” – Like land returning to its original owner, our eternal inheritance is guaranteed in Christ. Practical Graces to Embrace • Live with an open hand—extend the same releasing mercy you have received (Luke 6:37). • See people not by their past debts but by the future God offers them (2 Corinthians 5:17). • Celebrate restoration stories; they preview the final Jubilee when creation itself is set free (Romans 8:21). |
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