In biblical times, the concept of lending and borrowing was a significant aspect of economic and social life. The role of a lender, as depicted in the Scriptures, is intertwined with themes of justice, mercy, and stewardship. The Bible provides guidance on how lending should be conducted, emphasizing ethical behavior and compassion.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, lending is often discussed in the context of the Mosaic Law. The Israelites were instructed to lend to their fellow countrymen without charging interest, especially to the poor. This is articulated in Exodus 22:25 : "If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not be like a moneylender to him; you must not charge him interest." This command underscores the importance of compassion and support within the community.

Deuteronomy 15:7-8 further emphasizes generosity: "If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother. Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him whatever he needs." Here, lending is portrayed as an act of kindness and a means to alleviate poverty.

New Testament Teachings

In the New Testament, Jesus expands on the principles of lending in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5:42 , He instructs, "Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." This teaching encourages believers to be generous and willing to help others, reflecting God's love and grace.

The parable of the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18:23-35 highlights the importance of mercy in financial dealings. The servant, who was forgiven a great debt, failed to show the same mercy to a fellow servant. This parable illustrates the expectation that those who have received mercy should also extend it to others, including in matters of lending.

Principles of Lending

The biblical principles surrounding lending emphasize fairness, mercy, and the avoidance of exploitation. Proverbs 22:7 states, "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender." This proverb serves as a cautionary note about the power dynamics inherent in lending and borrowing, urging lenders to act justly and borrowers to be prudent.

The Bible also warns against the love of money and the dangers of greed, which can corrupt the practice of lending. In 1 Timothy 6:10 , Paul writes, "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows." This admonition serves as a reminder to maintain a godly perspective on wealth and lending.

Conclusion

The role of a lender in the Bible is framed within a broader ethical and spiritual context. Lending is not merely a financial transaction but an opportunity to practice justice, mercy, and stewardship. The biblical teachings on lending encourage believers to reflect God's character in their financial dealings, promoting a community where generosity and compassion prevail.(n.) One who lends.1157. danistes -- a moneylender
... a moneylender. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: danistes Phonetic
Spelling: (dan-ice-tace') Short Definition: a lender, creditor Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1157.htm - 6k3867b. lavah -- to borrow
... root Definition to borrow NASB Word Usage borrow (1), borrowed (1), borrower becomes
the lender's (1), borrows (1), lend (4), lender like the borrower (1 ...
/hebrew/3867b.htm - 5k

3867. lavah -- to join, be joined
... lavah. 3867a . to join, be joined. Transliteration: lavah Phonetic Spelling:
(law-vaw') Short Definition: with. abide with, borrower, cleave, join self, lender ...
/hebrew/3867.htm - 5k

Whether it is Lawful to Ask for any Other Kind of Consideration ...
... Objection 5: Further, the lender, by transferring his ownership of a sum of money
removes the money further from himself than he who entrusts it to a merchant ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful to 16.htm

Explanation of "Corban. "
... debt to men but to God and to piety towards God, was shut up, as it were, even though
unwilling, to payment of the debt, no longer to the money-lender, but now ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/9 explanation of corban.htm

Book I.
... Since, too, the lender of money can be made a fool of, but the Author of
nature, the Lender of all that we need, cannot be cheated. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/book i.htm

Whether a Man is Bound to Restore Whatever Profits He Has Made Out ...
... according to law (ibid., ad 3). Wherefore if such like things be extorted by means
of usury, for instance money, wheat, wine and so forth, the lender is not ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether a man is bound 5.htm

On the Fast of the Tenth Month, vi.
... hampered with difficulties, and by treacherous assistance entangle them in debts
which they can never pay, but to be His creditor and His money-lender, who says ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/sermon xvii on the fast.htm

Prologue. Who is a Faithful and Wise Servant? his Reward is ...
... Ye are the usury of the money-lender,"the usury on speech, not on money; ye are
the return given to the husbandman; ye are the gold, the silver, the precious ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/prologue who is a faithful.htm

Jesus' Feet Anointed in the House of a Pharisee.
... Jesus "Teacher," little thinking how fully Jesus was about to vindicate the justice
of the title, thus given him in compliment.] 41 A certain lender had two ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xlvi jesus feet anointed in.htm

Whether the Judicial Precepts were Suitably Framed as to the ...
... For it was probable that those who could conveniently pay their debts, would do
so before the seventh year, and would not defraud the lender without cause. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the judicial precepts were 3.htm

Exegetic.
... The lender goes off secured by bills and bonds. ... Even if he sleeps, he sees the
lender in his slumbers"a bad dream"standing by his pillow. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/basil/basil letters and select works/ii exegetic.htm

Forgiveness of the Repentant Woman.
... And he saith, "Teacher, say on.". "A certain lender had two debtors: the
one owed five hundred shillings, and the other fifty. When ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/forgiveness of the repentant woman.htm

Lender (4 Occurrences)
... (n.) One who lends. Multi-Version Concordance Lender (4 Occurrences). Luke 7:41
"A certain lender had two debtors. ... The borrower is servant to the lender. ...
/l/lender.htm - 7k

Lender's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Lender's (1 Occurrence). Proverbs 22:7 The rich ruleth
over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. (See NAS). ...
/l/lender's.htm - 6k

Money-lender (1 Occurrence)
Money-lender. Moneylender, Money-lender. Money-lenders .
Multi-Version Concordance Money-lender (1 Occurrence). Luke ...
/m/money-lender.htm - 6k

Creditor (8 Occurrences)
... 24:2 the King James Version; (b) malweh, participle of lawah, Isaiah 24:2 the Revised
Version (British and American), the King James Version "lender"; (c) ba ...
/c/creditor.htm - 11k

Moneylender (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Moneylender (2 Occurrences). Luke 7:41 "A certain lender
had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ...
/m/moneylender.htm - 6k

Borrower (3 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Proverbs 22:7 The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant
to the lender. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/b/borrower.htm - 7k

Borrowing (1 Occurrence)
... run a business. They were really a form of charity, and were made by the
lender only to meet the pressure of poverty. To the borrower ...
/b/borrowing.htm - 52k

Lend (21 Occurrences)

/l/lend.htm - 18k

Usurer (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) One who lends money and takes interest
for it; a money lender. 2. (n.) One who lends money at ...
/u/usurer.htm - 7k

What does the Bible say about lending money? | GotQuestions.org

Is it right for a church to go into debt? | GotQuestions.org

What is usury in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Lender: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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