What is the meaning of Leviticus 25:17? Do not take advantage of each other • In the Jubilee context, God says that every land deal or personal loan must be free from exploitation. Leviticus 25:14 echoes, “If you make a sale to your neighbor or buy from him, you must not take advantage of each other.” • The principle extends beyond economics: Exodus 22:25 warns against predatory lending; Proverbs 22:22-23 promises the Lord will “plead the cause” of the poor if they are robbed. • New-Testament writers keep the same standard—1 Thessalonians 4:6 commands that “no one should transgress and wrong his brother,” and James 5:4 condemns unjust wages. • Taken literally, God expects His people in every age to treat one another fairly, guarding against any scheme that places personal gain above a neighbor’s well-being. but fear your God • The antidote to exploitation is a healthy reverence for God. Proverbs 1:7 states, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,” while Deuteronomy 10:12-13 connects fearing God with walking in all His ways. • When we remember that every transaction happens before God’s face, casual shortcuts lose their attraction. Colossians 3:22 commands servants to work “in sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord,” reminding us that true accountability is vertical. • This fear is not terror but awe that produces obedience. Psalm 111:10 calls it “the beginning of wisdom,” shaping daily choices so that love for God safeguards love for neighbor. for I am the LORD your God • God grounds the command in His own unchanging character. Leviticus 19:2 says, “You are to be holy, because I, the LORD your God, am holy.” • By announcing “I am the LORD,” He reminds Israel of the covenant relationship established at Sinai (Exodus 20:2). To defraud a brother is to offend the covenant King. • Malachi 3:6 reinforces this: “I, the LORD, do not change.” Because God’s nature is constant, His moral standards remain fixed. Peter applies the same logic to believers today: “Be holy in all you do” (1 Peter 1:15-16). • Obedience, then, is not mere rule-keeping; it is a response to the Person who redeemed us and claims ultimate authority over our lives and possessions. summary Leviticus 25:17 calls God’s people to tangible, everyday righteousness. We must never exploit another person, whether in business, labor, or personal dealings. The power to resist that temptation comes from a reverent fear of God, who sees every motive and act. Because He is the unchanging LORD, our treatment of others must consistently reflect His holy, covenant-keeping character. |
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