USURY

Israel in its infancy was a nation of peasant farmers--a close-knit group hated by the hostile nations around them. Ezekiel reminds them of their humble beginnings in the 16th chapter. God wanted them to look out for one another, be kind and respectful to their brethren, especially to those in need. He gave them laws that would protect the truly poor from servitude and slavery to a more fortunate neighbor.

Usury, in these times, meant the charging of any interest at all, not just the excessive 50% or so that was common among their heathen people around them. The business of subsistence farming did not include any more than the basic bartering or selling of one’s produce and buying of those few things one could not produce himself. The borrowing of money would only be considered when life or livelihood depended on it. God, in Exodus 22:25-27 forbade the charging of any interest to a poor brother of the faith who would struggle to pay back the principle and the added burden of interest would be ruinous. Also, the lender was not to take for pledge (collateral) any necessity of life. If he took his neighbor’s garment to pledge, he was to return it to him before sundown so that he could be warm at night. The widow’s raiment was not to be taken (Deut. 24:17), nor the millers stone (Deut. 24:6). To take and not return collateral before it was needed would be considered robbery on the part of the lender. Leviticus 25:35-38 restates this law but adds that the poor are to be taken in by his neighbor when necessary and profit was not to be made from selling him food.

These laws are clearly for the protection of the poor and were not intended to make honest business dealing a sin. Jesus, in Luke 19:23 criticizes a fellow Jew for not prudently investing His money and earning interest while He was away.

Deuteronomy 23:19-20 prohibits lending with interest to the brother but, by omission, allows such lending to the non-Jew.

Since the charging of interest to the poor would only cause more hardship that may lead to indebtedness that could not be paid back, it was forbidden. The lending of money to foreign merchants was simply a matter of business and there were no restrictions.

Those who violated these laws did not have their neighbor’s best interest at heart and would be dealt with harshly by God. If he Hath oppressed the poor and needy ... hath not restored the pledge ... Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? He shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him. Ezekiel 18:12-13 (KJV)

--Joe Bluemel