Exodus 22:14,15

If a man borrow.

Borrowing

1. God in His law provideth against hurting our neighbour’s goods by borrowing.

2. Hurt and death may come to things borrowed without the sin of the borrower.

3. In case of the borrower’s faultlessness in hurt, no restitution doth God award.

4. In case of wilful hurt and spoil the borrower by God’s law must make it good.

5. Things wilfully hurt which are borrowed by hire must be satisfied by God’s law.

6. Perishing of such in a lawful use of them, God’s law accounts satisfied by their hire (Exodus 22:14). (G. Hughes, B. D.)

Concerning borrowing

Learn:

1. On the one hand--

(1) To be obliging. If you can do a needy neighbour a good turn by lending advice or material assistance, do so.

(2) Don’t make your needy but obliged neighbour answerable for any accident that may occur through your own misfortune or fault.

2. On the other hand--

(1) Be careful not to abuse that which is in kindness lent you; or--

(2) Forget to return it, and thus render evil for good. Book-borrowers should note this. But--

(3) Rather both in principle (2 Kings 6:5) and in action suffer the loss than inflict it. (J. W. Burn.)