What New Testament teachings align with the stewardship theme in Leviticus 25:23? Leviticus 25:23 in Focus “The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is Mine, and you are foreigners and sojourners with Me.” Key Ideas Drawn from the Verse • God retains ultimate ownership. • His people live as temporary tenants. • Stewardship, not possession, guides how we treat creation and resources. New Testament Echoes of These Principles God’s Undisputed Ownership • 1 Corinthians 10:26 — “for, ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and its fullness.’” • Colossians 1:16 — “All things were created through Him and for Him.” We Are Sojourners and Pilgrims • Hebrews 11:13 — Believers “admitted that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.” • 1 Peter 2:11 — “Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh…” Faithful Management of What Belongs to God • Luke 16:10 — “Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much.” • 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 — “It is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” • Matthew 25:14-30 (Parable of the Talents) — Rewards are tied to diligent stewardship of another’s property. Using Resources for God’s Purposes, Not Self-Indulgence • Acts 4:32-35 — Early believers saw possessions as God’s, distributing to anyone in need. • 1 Peter 4:10 — “Each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another as faithful stewards of God’s grace.” Even Our Bodies Are His • 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 — “You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” • Romans 12:1 — Present your bodies as living sacrifices. Rest and Jubilee Fulfilled in Christ • Matthew 11:28 — “Come to Me, all you who are weary… and I will give you rest.” • Hebrews 4:9-10 — “There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God.” Putting It All Together • Leviticus 25:23 roots stewardship in God’s absolute ownership; the New Testament consistently affirms the same foundation. • Believers remain “foreigners and sojourners,” keeping an eternal perspective on temporal resources. • The call is to manage every gift—land, money, skills, bodies, and time—for the Master’s glory, anticipating His final audit and reward. |
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