Deuteronomy 24:14-15

(12) PAYING THE POOR HIRED SERVANT (Deuteronomy 24:14-15)

14 Thou shalt not oppress a hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy sojourners that are in thy land within thy gates: 15 in his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto Jehovah, and it be sin unto thee.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 24:14, 15

421.

If Jehovah loved all His children with an equal love, why are some poor and others rich?

422.

What is suggested in the word oppress as here used?

423.

Nothing is said of the pay scale, Why not? Are all servants to be paid every day? Discuss.

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 24:14, 15

14 You shall not oppress or extort from a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is of your brethren, or of your strangers and sojourners who are in your land inside your towns.
15 You shall give him his hire on the day he earns it, before the sun goes down; for he is poor, and sets his heart upon it; lest he cry against you to the Lord, and it be sin to you.

COMMENT 24:14, 15

See also Leviticus 19:13. As in the previous case the pledged garment was to be returned on the same day before the sun set, so here he was to be paid the same day and for the same reasonhe needed it! And when a man is truly down and out he naturally setteth his heart upon it.

In James 5:1-6 the wicked and oppressive rich are described as holding back the needed wages of the poor. Their wages were kept back by fraud and therefore crieth out against the hoarding masters. Jesus taught the laborer is worthy of his hire, Luke 10:7. See also Matthew 10:10, 1 Timothy 5:18.

The righteous taketh knowledge of the cause of the poor (Proverbs 29:7 a).