What is the meaning of Leviticus 25:37? You must not lend him Leviticus 25 sits in a section that safeguards a struggling Israelite “brother” (v. 35). The phrase signals that help must flow from relationship, not cold commerce. • Deuteronomy 15:7-8 repeats the charge to open the hand freely. • Luke 6:34-35 echoes it: lending without expecting back shows God’s own generosity. We’re urged not to withhold aid or turn a lifeline into leverage. your silver “Silver” stands for any personal wealth. God’s people are stewards, not owners. • Haggai 2:8 reminds us, “The silver is Mine.” • Proverbs 3:9 calls us to honor God with all our resources. • Acts 4:34-35 records believers liquidating assets so “there was no needy person among them.” Holding wealth loosely makes room for mercy. at interest Interest multiplies a poor person’s burden, so God forbids it in charitable situations. • Exodus 22:25: “You are not to charge him interest.” • Deuteronomy 23:19-20 permits interest in business with outsiders, highlighting that compassion, not profit, governs family ties. • Psalm 15:5 praises the one “who lends his money without interest.” God’s heart is crystal-clear: relief, not revenue. or sell him your food Even essentials like grain were never to become bargaining chips. • Leviticus 19:9-10 leaves gleanings for the poor at no cost. • Isaiah 58:7 urges sharing bread with the hungry. • Matthew 25:35 shows Jesus identifying with those lacking food. Basic sustenance stays outside the marketplace when a brother is in need. for profit Profit itself isn’t condemned; profiteering from hardship is. • Nehemiah 5:11 demands nobles return grain and interest they squeezed from the hungry. • Proverbs 28:8 warns wealth gained by usury ends up in kinder hands. • Amos 2:6-7 and James 5:1-4 denounce those who merchandise the poor. The Lord opposes any gain built on another’s desperation. summary Leviticus 25:37 teaches that when someone among God’s people falls on hard times, financial help must come free of interest and free of profit motives. Money and food are gifts to share, not tools for exploitation. Living out this verse showcases God’s justice and generosity, turning private wealth into public blessing. |
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