Which other scriptures address the themes of extortion and dishonesty found here? Ezekiel’s charge against unjust gain Ezekiel 22:12 sets the tone: “In you they accept bribes to shed blood; you take interest and usury and extort gain from your neighbors; and you have forgotten Me,” declares the Lord GOD. The rest of Scripture consistently echoes this indictment. The law lays the foundation • Exodus 22:25 – “If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you are not to act as a creditor to him; you are not to charge him interest.” • Leviticus 25:36-37 – “Do not take interest or any profit from him... You are not to lend him your silver at interest or sell him your food for profit.” • Deuteronomy 16:19 – “You must not pervert justice or show partiality. You must not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.” Wisdom literature unmasks dishonest gain • Proverbs 11:1 – “Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.” • Proverbs 22:16 – “Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty.” • Proverbs 28:8 – “He who increases his wealth by interest and usury lays it up for one who is kind to the poor.” The prophets echo Ezekiel’s warning • Isaiah 10:1-2 – “Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the needy of justice and rob the poor of My people of their rights.” • Jeremiah 22:13 – “Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness... who makes his neighbor serve him for nothing and does not pay his wages.” • Amos 5:11-12 – “Because you trample on the poor and exact from him a tribute of grain... you oppress the righteous, taking bribes and depriving the poor of justice at the gates.” • Micah 6:10-12 – “Can I excuse wicked scales or bags of deceptive weights? For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, and its residents speak lies.” • Habakkuk 2:9 – “Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, setting his nest on high to escape the hand of disaster!” Jesus confronts extortion and hypocrisy • Matthew 23:14 – “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You defraud widows of their houses and for a show make lengthy prayers.” • Luke 3:13-14 – John the Baptist: “Collect no more than the authorized amount… Do not take money by force or false accusation.” • Luke 19:8 – Zacchaeus: “If I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.” New-covenant instructions to the church • 1 Corinthians 5:11 – “Do not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is… a swindler.” • 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 – “Neither thieves, nor the greedy… nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” • Ephesians 4:28 – “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must labor… so that he may have something to share with the one in need.” • 1 Timothy 6:9-10 – “Those who want to be rich fall into temptation… For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” • Titus 1:7 – An overseer must be “not greedy for money.” • James 5:4 – “The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you.” The sobering outcome and the better way • Psalm 15:5 – “He who does not lend his money at interest or take a bribe against the innocent… will never be shaken.” • Acts 20:35 – “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” From the Law through the Prophets, Wisdom writings, Gospels, and Epistles, the Lord consistently exposes extortion and dishonesty, calls for repentance, and points us toward generous, righteous living that honors Him. |
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