The Kingdom Movement

A Literary & Pastoral Study Guide to the Gospel of Matthew

The Inspiration of Matthew,

by Caravaggio

On the King's Errand

Devotional Reflections on Matthew's Gospel

Heart Transformation for Love, Part Seven – Charge No Interest:  Mt.5:42

^5:42 Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

         ‘We'll pay you back with interest,’ she said.  My friend and her family had just borrowed a decent amount of money from me and my family.  They weren’t sure exactly when they’d be able to pay it back.

         ‘Thanks, but no,’ I replied.  ‘God forbids us from charging interest, especially to one another.’  She seemed surprised.  That told me how unfaithful Christians have been.  Not to blame my friend in particular.  But it shouldn’t be a surprise to hear that God forbids His people from charging interest, especially to each other.

In the Torah, God told Israel to not charge interest on loaned money, especially to the poor, but apparently with anyone else in God’s covenant family:

‘If you lend money to My people, to the poor among you, you are not to act as a creditor to him; you shall not charge him interest.’  (Ex.22:25)

‘Now in case a countryman of yours becomes poor and his means with regard to you falter, then you are to sustain him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you.  Do not take usurious interest from him, but revere your God, that your countryman may live with you.  You shall not give him your silver at interest, nor your food for gain.’  (Lev.25:35 – 37) 

‘You shall not charge interest to your countrymen: interest on money, food, or anything that may be loaned at interest.’  (Dt.23:19) 

King David praised the Law and viewed lending without interest as a cornerstone of godly character that made a person able to stand in God’s presence:

‘O LORD, who may abide in Your tent?
   Who may dwell on Your holy hill?
He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness,
   And speaks truth in his heart…
He does not put out his money at interest,
   Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
   He who does these things will never be shaken.’ (Ps.15:1 – 2, 5)

One of the most neglected Proverbs condemns interest rate lending as being against the Law:

‘He who keeps the Law is a discerning son,

But he who is a companion of gluttonous men humiliates his father.

He who increases his wealth by interest and usury

Gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor.

He who turns away his ear from listening to the Law,

Even his prayer is an abomination.’  (Pr.28:7 – 9)

In Proverbs, God will deal with a person who dabbles with interest and usury in such a way that all wealth will be stripped from him and be given to someone who is gracious to the poor.  The money will not even be given to the poor directly, but to a faithful person who will bring praise to God’s name by his or her compassion.  After all, why should I profit from someone else’s misfortune? 

If we read Leviticus 25 and Deuteronomy 15 and 24, we see God instituting laws in Israel that freed people from their financial debt obligations every seven years, or on a fixed fifty year schedule called the ‘Jubilee Year.’  Debt, incidentally, was the leading cause of why people fell into slavery in the Ancient Near East.  God also required that the Israelites return land to their ancestral boundaries in the Jubilee, thus preventing families from passing on advantage or disadvantage across generations.  Also, God told His people to freely and generously help the poor (Dt.15:7) and respect their dignity (Dt.24:10 – 22), which would have helped them again not fall into debt and debt-slavery.  Given that the practice of usury favors the wealthy, as they are the ones with such capital to loan out, it is not surprising that God forbade usury among the Israelites. 

         Do you know anyone that you can personally help get out of interest-accumulating debt?