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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 15:1-11

Here is, I. A law for the relief of poor debtors, such (we may suppose) as were insolvent. Every seventh year was a year of release, in which the ground rested from being tilled and servants were discharged from their services; and, among other acts of grace, this was one, that those who had borrowed money, and had not been able to pay it before, should this year be released from it; and though, if they were able, they were afterwards bound in conscience to repay it, yet thenceforth the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 15:10

Thou shall surely give him ,.... Or lend to him; though lending in such a case and circumstances, that person being extremely poor, and the year of release at hand, is the same as giving. Jarchi remarks that money must be given him, even a hundred times if he asks it; but the limitation is to what he wants, and what is sufficient for his present wants, Deuteronomy 15:8 . and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him ; grieved at parting with his money he has little or... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 15:1-11

A bulwark against cupidity. Material prosperity was the only form of blessing that had attractive charm for the Hebrews. Neither mind nor conscience was yet sufficiently developed to value higher good. God had to raise them by slow and successive steps. Material prosperity had its dangerous side. It might foster pride, self-sufficiency, a sense of overweening superiority, and might lead to tyrannous treatment of others. Or, used in devout recognition of God, it might give scope for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 15:1-12

The Lord's release. The sabbatic year was in many respects a year of mercy to the poor. The beautiful name given to it here—"the Lord's release"—suggests gospel ideas. It finds its higher counterpart in that "acceptable year of the Lord" ( Luke 4:19 ), which is the true "Lord's release." Christ came "to preach the gospel to the poor," and "to preach deliverance to the captives " ( Luke 4:18 ). This "accepted time" is the period of God's forbearance with our sins ( 2 Corinthians 5:19... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 15:7-11

The reference to the release leads to a prescription regarding readiness to lend to the poor. They were not to harden their hearts against their poorer brethren, nor were they, in the prospect of the year of release, to refuse to lend them what was necessary for their uses, but, on the contrary, were to open their heart and their hand to them according to their need, lest the poor should appeal against them to God, and sin should lie upon them. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 15:7-11

The duty of kindness to the poor. There seems to be at first sight a discrepancy between the phrase in Deuteronomy 15:4 and that in Deuteronomy 15:11 . The former is, "Save when there shall be no poor among you;" the latter, "The poor shall never cease out of the land." The first phrase is, however, a reason assigned for the injunction which had been given: it is equivalent to, "Simply, that there be no poor among you," i . e . this or that was an appointment in Israel, in order... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 15:7-11

Open-handedness. Having inculcated the forgiveness of a brother's debts during the sabbatic year, Moses now proceeds to speak of the open-handedness which should precede that year. It might be made a pretext for refusing a poor brother a helping hand that the year was almost on when the debt would be cancelled legally; but to make this a pretext for niggardliness would only betray wickedness of heart. The most beautiful consideration is thus inculcated for the poor; and as "the poor shall... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 15:10

Shall not be grieved ; literally, shall not become evil , i . e . shall not entertain a grudge. They were to give, not grudgingly or of necessity, merely through dread of God's displeasure, but cheerfully and spontaneously (of. 2 Corinthians 9:7 ). For this God would bless them in all their works, so that they should not only be no losers, but should be gainers, by their generosity. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 15:1-11

The year of release is no doubt identical with the sabbatical year of the earlier legislation (Exodus 23:10 ff, and Leviticus 25:2 ff), the command of the older legislation being here amplified. The release was probably for the year, not total and final, and had reference only to loans lent because of poverty (compare Deuteronomy 15:4, Deuteronomy 15:7). Yet even so the law was found to be too stringent for the avarice of the people, because it was one of those which the rabbis “made of none... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Deuteronomy 15:9-10

Deuteronomy 15:9-10. Beware Suppress the first risings of such uncharitableness. And thine eye be evil Envious, unmerciful, unkind, as this phrase means, Proverbs 23:6; that is, thou grudge to relieve him. The opposite to this is a bountiful eye, Proverbs 22:9. And it be sin unto thee Charged upon thee as a sin. Thy heart shall not be grieved That is, thou shalt give, not only with an open hand, but with a willing and cheerful mind, without which thy very charity is uncharitable, and... read more

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