College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Deuteronomy 15:7-11
(3) THE POOR (Deuteronomy 15:7-11)
7 If there be with thee a poor man, one of thy brethren, within any of thy gates in thy land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor shut thy hand from thy poor brother. 8 but thou shalt surely open thy hand unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need in that which he wanteth. 9 Beware that there be not a base thought in thy heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou give him nought; and he cry unto Jehovah against thee, and it be sin unto thee. 10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thy heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him; because that for this thing Jehovah thy God will bless thee in all thy work, and in all that thou puttest thy hand unto. 11 For the poor will never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt surely open thy hand unto thy brother, to thy needy, and to thy poor, in thy land.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 15:7-11
268.
How can we reconcile the thought of Deuteronomy 15:4 with that of Deuteronomy 15:7? Cf. Deuteronomy 15:11.
269.
Are we not to inquire as to the worthiness of the poor brother? Suppose he can not pay back the debt?
270.
With what attitude should we give to the poor? Why is the attitude so important?
AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 15:7-11
7 If there is among you a poor man, one of your kinsmen in any of the towns of your land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not harden your [mind and] heart, or close your hand to your poor brother;
8 But you shall open your hand wide to him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, which he lacks.
9 Beware lest there be a base thought in your [mind and] heart, and you say, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and your eye be evil against your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the Lord against you, and it be sin in you.
10 You shall give to him freely without begrudging it; because for this the Lord will bless you in all your work and in all you undertake.
11 For the poor will never cease out of the land; therefore I command you, You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor in your land.
COMMENT 15:7-11
These verses (in spite of the comments above) cannot help but cause us to favor the interpretation of Deuteronomy 15:1-3 as indicating a total relinquishing of all debts at the end of the seventh yearat least such debts as contracted by a poor man, especially if the year of release was only a year or two off. But it appears these verses were designed to guard against just such a base thought (Deuteronomy 15:9). A magnanimous spirit and feelings of compassion, mercy, and generosity would take precedence over selfish or personal motives.
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due,
When it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
Say not unto thy neighbor
Go, and come again, And tomorrow I will give;
When thou hast it by thee.
See also Proverbs 11:24-26.
FOR THIS THING JEHOVAH THY GOD WILL BLESS THEE (Deuteronomy 15:10)God loves a cheerful giver, and will invariably grant blessings to him. The liberal soul shall be made fat, and the man that waters shall be watered himself. See Luke 6:38, Acts 20:35.
THE POOR WILL NEVER CEASE OUT OF THE LAND (Deuteronomy 15:11)A principle Jesus cited (Mark 14:7, Matthew 26:11, John 12:8) as shown that he must be honored, worshipped, and glorified while time allows, for the poor are ever-present. Jesus did not teach that the poor were to be neglected. See Matthew 19:21; Matthew 25:31-46. But he would not have us sidetracked from his worship for humanitarian reasons. Christ will not take second placeeven to the poor!