What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 24:15? You are to pay his wages each day The command is straightforward: employers must settle what is owed without delay. • The directive treats labor as worthy of immediate reward, echoing Leviticus 19:13, “You must not withhold until morning the wages due a hired hand”. • Jesus assumes the same principle in His parable: “Call the workers and pay them their wages” (Matthew 20:8). • Paul reinforces it: “The worker is worthy of his wages” (1 Timothy 5:18). God establishes a pattern of fairness that honors both the dignity of the worker and His own justice. before sunset Timeliness matters. To delay payment even a few hours violates trust. • Proverbs 3:27-28 reminds, “Do not withhold good from the one to whom it is due… Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Come back tomorrow and I will give it to you’ when you already have it”. • The daily rhythm of Israel’s life—ending accounts by sundown—prevented hardships from compounding overnight. • Prompt action also mirrors the broader biblical call to settle issues quickly (Ephesians 4:26 for anger; the principle easily applies to wages). because he is poor and depends on them The verse ties prompt payment to compassion. • Deuteronomy 15:11 urges an “open hand” toward the poor; withholding their pay effectively seizes the little they have. • Proverbs 14:31: “He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker”. • 1 John 3:17 challenges believers to meet tangible needs; paying timely wages is one clear way. Otherwise he may cry out to the LORD against you God listens to the powerless. • Exodus 22:22-23 warns that if widows or orphans are afflicted “and they cry out to Me, I will surely hear”. The same principle governs hired laborers. • James 5:4 applies it to New Testament believers: “The wages you failed to pay… are crying out against you, and the cries… have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty”. • Psalm 34:17 assures that “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears”; God becomes the worker’s advocate in court. and you will be guilty of sin Failure to pay is not a minor oversight—it is sin. • Malachi 3:5 lists unjust employers among those God Himself will judge. • Jeremiah 22:13 pronounces woe on the one “who makes his neighbor serve without pay”. • Colossians 4:1 urges masters to provide “what is right and fair,” reminding that everyone has a Master in heaven. Divine accountability underscores that social ethics flow from God’s own character. summary Deuteronomy 24:15 demands prompt, daily payment of wages, driven by compassion for the poor and reverence for God’s justice. The Lord hears the cries of mistreated workers and holds employers morally responsible. Honoring this command not only meets human need but also aligns our actions with God’s righteous character and protects us from guilt. |
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