Deuteronomy 14

Deuteronomy 14:1-29

Deuteronomy 12:1-32; Deuteronomy 13:1-18; Deuteronomy 14:1-29; Deuteronomy 15:1-23; Deuteronomy 16:1-22; Deuteronomy 17:1-20; Deuteronomy 18:1-22; Deuteronomy 19:1-21; Deuteronomy 20:1-20; Deuteronomy 21:1-23; Deuteronomy 22:1-30; Deuteronomy 23:1-25; Deuteronomy 24:1-22; Deuteronomy 25:1-19; Deuteronomy 26:1-19; Deuteronomy 27:1-26; Deuteronomy 28:1-682. The Exposition of Special Laws (Deuteronomy 12-28; cf. Deuteronomy 1:5; Deuteronomy 4:1; Deuteronomy 5:1) This exposition sets forth the nature of the obedience required and the consequent punishment devolving upon disobedience. We have here not a mere promulgation of laws, but a promulgation always with a hortatory purpose, and with explanations which are an aid to obedience to these laws. It concerns itself with duties which God commanded and therefore are right, and which are right because commanded by God.

Deuteronomy 14:22-29

Deuteronomy 14:22-29; Deuteronomy 15:1-23; Deuteronomy 16:1-17 The Religious Uses of Money (Deuteronomy 14:22-29; Deuteronomy 15:1-23; Deuteronomy 16:1-17) Fourth. The religious uses of money (Deuteronomy 14:22-29; Deuteronomy 15:1-23; Deuteronomy 16:1-17; cf. Deuteronomy 24:12-15). A striking argument against covetousness is set forth in Deuteronomy 15:1-6. There must be no oppression of the debtor on the part of the creditor. Release from a debt in this connection does not mean that the debt is removed, for that would lead to abuse, but that the creditor is not to press his collection during this specific time (seventh or seventieth year), because during that time the ground had to lie fallow, and yielded no income.

Herein lies the reason for the instructions given with regard to the “ stranger” from whom debt could be collected, instructions which seem hard to those who do not understand the setting of this passage. We must remember that the stranger did not have to let his ground lie fallow and thus be deprived of its income. Further, even the Jew himself might borrow of a fellow Jew the year before jubilee year purposely calculating that such a debt could not be collected during the next year, and thus the law of God be brought into ill-repute. The creditor, also, if he were covetous, could abuse this commandment by saying to himself, “ If I cannot make any money myself this jubilee year, then I can collect it from others.” Our Lord’ s teaching against covetousness is very instructive and is set forth, in one instance at least, in the parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:16-21). Our Savior shows that covetousness indicates a wrong view of life (Luke 12:15); that it is perilous (Luke 12:20); and that it is foolish in its nature (Luke 12:20-21). Kindness to the poor is a virtue very emphatically insisted on by God from His people (Deuteronomy 15:7-11). It is interesting to study this passage with light from the New Testament shining on it: “ Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’ s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him” (1 John 3:16-19). “ Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Ephesians 4:28). Deuteronomy 15:1-23 has three important things to say about our relation to the poor: First, the poor have a claim on the forbearance of the rich (Deuteronomy 15:1-5); second, the poor have a claim on the assistance of the rich (Deuteronomy 15:7-12); third, that helping those in need tends to our own enrichment (Deuteronomy 15:4-7; Deuteronomy 15:10). The sacredness of time and the necessity of devoting certain seasons of the year to the service of God are dealt with in Deuteronomy 16:1-17. This also has been discussed in Leviticus (pages 221-225).