What is the meaning of Leviticus 25:36? Do not take any interest or profit from him Leviticus 25:36 opens with a clear financial boundary: “Do not take any interest or profit from him”. • The command targets situations where an Israelite brother has fallen into poverty (v. 35). God forbids turning that vulnerability into personal gain. • This reflects a broader principle already voiced in Exodus 22:25 and echoed in Deuteronomy 23:19 and Psalm 15:5—loans among covenant family must be compassionate, not exploitative. • In practice, it protected family landholdings (vv. 25–28) and prevented generational debt. • Jesus renews the spirit of this command in Luke 6:34–35, urging His followers to lend “expecting nothing in return.” The verse therefore calls believers to treat needy brothers and sisters as family, not customers. but fear your God The motive clause shifts the focus from money to worship: “but fear your God.” • Every social ethic in Scripture is anchored in reverence for the LORD (Proverbs 1:7; Leviticus 19:14, 32). • “Fear” here is not terror but a wholehearted acknowledgment of God’s authority that governs daily choices (Deuteronomy 6:13). • Refusing interest may seem economically foolish, yet honoring God takes priority over maximizing profit (Colossians 3:23–24 supports this heart posture in the workplace). When God’s people live by holy awe rather than market logic, their relationships become testimonies to His character. that your countryman may live among you The outcome is communal flourishing: “that your countryman may live among you.” • The goal is not merely survival but full participation in Israel’s life—free from crushing debt or servitude (compare Deuteronomy 15:7–11 and Isaiah 58:6–7). • A society shaped by mercy keeps the vulnerable within the circle of fellowship instead of pushing them to the margins (Acts 4:34–35; James 2:15–16; 1 John 3:17). • By helping a brother “live,” the lender mirrors the LORD, who brought Israel out of Egypt so they could live in the promised land (Leviticus 25:55). The verse thus ties economic righteousness to the health of the whole covenant community. summary Leviticus 25:36 stitches together three inseparable threads: (1) refuse to profit from a brother’s hardship, (2) act out of holy reverence for God, and (3) aim for your neighbor’s thriving within the family of faith. Taken literally and lived out practically, the command turns finance into fellowship and converts fear of God into tangible love for people. |
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