Deuteronomy 15:7-11

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 15:7

If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren ,.... As there would be, according to the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem, if they did not keep the commandments of the law, and continue therein: within any of thy gates, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee ; a native of the land was to be preferred to a foreigner, and a brother, whether in relation or religion, to a proselyte of the gate; and the poor of a city to which a man belonged, to the poor of another city, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 15:8

But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him ,.... And give him bountifully and liberally; in order to which the heart must be first opened, the affections moved, and a willing mind disposed to give generously: and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need in that which he wanteth : enough to answer his present exigencies, but not to cause him to abound, or to supply him with things needless and superfluous. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 15:9

Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart ,.... "Or, thy heart of Belial" F6 לבבך בליעל "corde tuo Belial", Montanus. ; thy worthless heart, and which is without a yoke not subjected to the law of God, as every carnal heart is; and in which Belial, Satan, the prince of this world, works effectually, and inclines to evil thoughts, afflictions, and desires, which are to be guarded against: saying, the seventh year, the year of release, is at hand : perhaps next year,... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 15:11

For the poor shall never cease out of the land ,.... There would be always such objects to exercise their charity and beneficence towards, John 12:8 , which is no contradiction to Deuteronomy 15:4 for had they been obedient to the laws of God, they would have been so blessed that there would have been none; so the Targums; but he foresaw that they would not keep his commands, and so this would be the case, and which he foretells that they might expect it, and do their duty to them, as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 15:8

Thou shalt open thine hand wide - Thy benevolence shall be in proportion to his distress and poverty, and thy ability. Thou shalt have no other rule to regulate thy charity by. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 15:9

Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart - בליעל לבבך lebabecha beliyaal , thy belial heart, that is, thy good-for-nothing or unprofitable heart; See on Deuteronomy 13:13 ; (note). And thine eye be evil - An evil eye signifies a covetous disposition. See the same form of expression used by our Lord in the same sense, Matthew 6:23 . If thine eye be evil - If thou be a covetous person. Evil eye is by our Lord opposed to single eye, i. e., a person of a liberal,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 15:11

For the poor shall never cease out of the land - To this passage our Lord appears to allude Mark 14:7 ; : For ye have the poor with you always. God leaves these in mercy among men to exercise the feelings of compassion, tenderness, mercy, etc. And without occasions afforded to exercise these, man would soon become a Stoic or a brute. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 15:7

Verse 7 7.If there be among you a poor man The same word אביון, ebyon, is used, which we have seen just above, verse 4; nor is there any contradiction when He commands them to relieve beggars, whom He had before forbidden to exist among His people; for the object of the prohibition was, that if any were reduced to beggary, they should not be cast out and forsaken. Now, however, He explains the mode of preventing this, viz., that the hands of the rich should be open to assist them. In order to... read more

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