The LORD’S Release (Deuteronomy 15:1-2)

2023-03-19

At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release. And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD’S release. (Deuteronomy 15:1-2)

Previously, we looked at the Year of Jubile. Here, we see that every seven years, all debts were forgiven in ancient Israel. This did not apply to foreigners or if there were few poor in the land. Bondservants also could stay with their masters if they wanted to. However, the general principle is that debts were cancelled every seven years.

It did not matter if the seventh year were coming soon; people were to cheerfully lend to those in need. “Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee” (Deuteronomy 15:9).

Forgiveness of debt is a central piece in the Word of God, pointing to Jesus Christ, who cancelled all of our sin debt to God. Debt to God doesn’t just go away. Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, paid our debts to Him by His precious blood. This is the Lord’s ultimate release. Because He forgave us from our sin debts, we also ought to forgive others from their debts to us. “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). It is the same with us as it was with those saints of the Old Testament, yet more frequent. “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21-22). And again, “And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him” (Luke 17:4).