Bible Commentaries

Deuteronomy 15:1 At the end of [every] seven years thou shalt make a release.

Ver. 1. At the end of every.] This Sabbatical year signified the year of grace, the kingdom of Christ, wherein all Israelites indeed are discharged of their debts. [Matthew 6:12] {See Trapp on "Matthew 6:12"}

Deuteronomy 15:2 And this [is] the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth [ought] unto his neighbour shall release [it]; he shall not exact [it] of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD’S release.

Ver. 2. He shall not exact it.] For that seventh year at least, because there was neither sowing nor reaping that year; how then could the poor pay their debts? We must all "put on bowels of mercy, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another," &c. [Colossians 3:12-13]

Deuteronomy 15:3 Of a foreigner thou mayest exact [it again]: but [that] which is thine with thy brother thine hand shall release;

Ver. 3. Of a foreigner.] To show that none that are alienated from the life of God, or a godly life, have remission of sin by Christ: "he sanctifies all whom he justifies." Compare Romans 11:26, Isaiah 59:20.

Deuteronomy 15:4 Save when there shall be no poor among you; for the LORD shall greatly bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee [for] an inheritance to possess it:

Ver. 4. Save when there shall be no poor.] Here, as in sundry other places of the new translation, the margin is better than the text, as giving a good reason of the former law, To the end that there be no poor amongst you, that is, extreme poor by your exactions. Of a cruel creditor it is said, [Psalms 10:9] that "he lieth in wait to catch the poor; he doth catch the poor when he draws him into his net," that is, into bonds, debts, mortgages, as Chrysostom expounds it.

Deuteronomy 15:7 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:

Ver. 7. Thou shalt not harden thy heart.] But "draw out thy soul to the hungry." [Isaiah 58:10] Many have iron bowels and withered hands. See my "Commonplace of Alms."

Deuteronomy 15:8 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, [in that] which he wanteth.

Ver. 8. Thou shalt surely lend him.] {See Trapp on "Matthew 5:42"}

Deuteronomy 15:9 Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee.

Ver. 9. And he cried unto the Lord.] Who is the poor man’s king, as James V of Scotland was termed for his charity.

Deuteronomy 15:10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.

Ver. 10. Thine heart shall not be grieved.] {See Trapp on "2 Corinthians 9:7"}

The Lord thy God shall bless thee.] See Proverbs 19:17; and "Alms," ubi supra.

Deuteronomy 15:11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

Ver. 11. For the poor.] {See Trapp on "Matthew 26:11"} Aged and impotent poor, whose misery moves compassion without an orator; called here our poor, as well as our brethren.

Deuteronomy 15:12 [And] if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.

Ver. 12. In the seventh year,] viz., Since he was sold unto thee.

Deuteronomy 15:16 And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee;

Ver. 16. Then thou shalt take an awl.] Ut si non horreret servitudinem, horreret saltem ignominiam publicam: If we can bear reproach for Christ, it is an argument we mean to stick to him, as this bored servant to his master.