He shall be treated like a man hired from year to year, but a foreign owner must not rule over him harshly in your sight. Sermons I. GOD'S SERVANTS ARE SO BY VIRTUE OF WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR THEM. "They are my servants which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt." Redemption from the iron furnace of affliction was the ground on which Jehovah continually claimed the Israelites as his own peculiar property. "I have broken the bonds of your yoke." So God gave his Son as the price of man's ransom from sin, and Christ is said to have purchased the Church of God with his own blood. Paul delighted to call himself a "bondservant" of Christ in the superscription of his Epistles. To the goodness of God the Israelites owed their preservation and their installation in a goodly land. Gratitude constrains to faithful service. We have but to review the past to notice numberless golden bands that attach us to the Redeemer. The matchless character of our God furnishes sufficient reason for executing his commands, but this character is best evidenced by a survey of the deeds of sovereign love that have made us what we are and placed us where we are. II. GOD'S SERVICE PRECLUDES OUR BEING IN BONDAGE. We cannot serve two masters, and if we belong to God, others cannot claim absolute lordship over us. "They shall not be sold as bondmen," for this would signify that God's ownership is disputed. Only the foreigner can be treated as a slave without insulting Jehovah. Slavery is thus really condemned, though permitted with restrictions. The Law must not be too far in advance of the morality of those who are to keep it, lest it overshoot the mark and prove powerless to guide and instruct. What was granted in earliest ages may be altogether unpardonable in days of modern illumination and progress. We shall be judged according to the light we have to direct our steps. The truth shines dearly forth that to serve God is truest freedom. It accords with the noblest dictates of our nature; reason and conscience glorify such obedience. Like the railway train, we fulfill our highest functions, not by deserting but by running upon the lines laid down for our advance. See the warnings addressed to Christians by Jesus Christ (Matthew 8:34), Paul (Romans 6:16), and Peter (2 Peter 2:19). When we are actuated by the suggestions of the tempter, we rebel against God's authority and proclaim ourselves unworthy servants. And to seek to ensnare others or to induce them to act contrary to Divine instructions, is even worse than to have been brought into bondage ourselves. God will not brook these infractions of his majesty. III. THE SERVANTS OF GOD ARE BOUND TO AVOID ALL HARSH TREATMENT OF ONE ANOTHER. Unjust dealing is reprobated. Bad in any case, it is peculiarly offensive here. The people of God are not to forget that they are brethren in the employment of the one master. "If that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming, and shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him," is the New Testament version of the command, "Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; but shalt fear thy God" (verse 43). Christian brotherhood is not intended to upset the constitution of a society in a fruitless endeavour after social equalization. Distinction of rank and class is recognized by the Apostle Paul, and proper regard must be paid to those in authority. The servant is not to despise his master because the latter is a brother in Christ; on the other hand, the masters are to forbear threatening, "knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven" (Ephesians 6:9). It cannot be pleasing to Christ to see an unfair advantage taken of a brother Christian's hour of weakness. Such conduct virtually dishonours the Master whom we profess to serve, it offends "one of these little ones." And further, fellow-servants should relieve each other's wants (see verse 35, and margin, "strengthen"). There is a "bond" of union between them, and love and regard for the Master must lead them to see that in giving to the poor they are lending unto the Lord. "One is your Master" (Instructor), "and all ye are brethren." To collect for the Church poor at the observance of the Lord's Supper is a happy recognition of this truth. Many are the vicissitudes of life that befall the most honest and industrious. Changes of fortune merit our sympathy, and the cloud is beautified with rainbow hues when the sun of brotherly love shines athwart its darkness. Another's fate may at any time become our own. How it will mitigate our grief to know that in our season of elevation and prosperity we were not unmindful of the woes of others! "Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble." "As we have opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." - S.R.A.
If thy brother... be sold unto thee. — I. TEXTS RELATING TO SLAVES. 1. Called bondmen (Genesis 43:18; Genesis 44:9). 2. By birth (Genesis 14:14; Psalm 116:16; Jeremiah 2:14). 3. By purchase (Genesis 17:27; Genesis 37:36). 4. Sometimes captives taken in war (Deuteronomy 20:14; 2 Kings 5:2). 5. Strangers, under certain restrictions (ver. 45). 6. Foreigners, might be purchased (ver. 44). 7. Debtors, liable to be sold (2 Kings 4:1; Nehemiah 5:4, 5; Matthew 18:25). 8. Thieves were sold (Exodus 22:3). 9. Israelites to be kindly treated (vers. 39, 40, 46), and to be liberated after six years (Exodus 21:2; Deuteronomy 15:12); or if they refused to be free, then (Exodus 21:5, 6; Deuteronomy 15:16, 17), when sold to foreigners might be redeemed (vers. 47-55), or be free at the jubilee (vers. 10, 40, 41, 54), but could not demand wife and child procured during bondage (Exodus 21:3, 4); were to be furnished liberally on regaining liberty (Deuteronomy 15:13, 14). 10. Foreign slaves to rest on Sabbath (Exodus 20:10), to share in national rejoicing (Deuteronomy 12:18; Deuteronomy 16:11, 14). 11. If ill-treated by masters, to be set free (Exodus 21:26, 27). 12. Laws respecting killing slaves (Exodus 21:20, 21). 13. If they ran away, not to be delivered up (Deuteronomy 23:15). 14. Sometimes rose to rank (Ecclesiastes 10:7), and might intermarry with master's family (1 Chronicles 2:34, 35). 15. Kidnapping condemned (Exodus 21:16; Deuteronomy 24:7; 1 Timothy 1:10). II. NOTE ON THE ABOVE TEXTS. Consider — 1. The nature of slavery as practised by the heathen world (the treatment of Israelites by Egyptians). 2. The restraint laid upon these Israelites in their conduct to foreign bondsmen. But for these laws how might these people — who had been slaves of foreigners themselves — have treated foreigners when in their turn they became masters? 3. The relation of Israelitish slaves to Israelitish masters, with their privileges (social and religious), and certain freedom. 4. The causes for which alone they might become slaves. 5. Especially consider that while these laws ameliorated the condition Of slavery as it then existed — eliminating the elements of cruelty, &c., leaving, in fact, nothing of bondage but the name — they paved the way, by the training of justice and mercy, for the total extinction of slavery. 6. Christianity in spirit, precept, and practice against slavery.(1) Asserts that there is no bond or free, but that all are one in Christ.(2) Teaches the fraternity of the race. "God hath made of one blood," &c. "All we are brethren."(3) Strikingly illustrates this by the case of a runaway slave — Onesimus — whom Paul sent back to his master, whom in some way he had wronged, not as a slave, but as a brother beloved (Philemon). Learn: 1. No warrant for modern slavery in the Word of God (Isaiah 58:6). 2. Spiritual slavery the worst form (2 Timothy 2:26). 3. This may be the state of men who are politically free (John 8:34; 2 Peter 2:19). 4. Jesus the great Emancipator (John 8:32-36; Romans 6:18-22; Galatians 5:1; 1 Peter 2:16). (J. C. Gray.). People Israelites, Levites, MosesPlaces Canaan, Egypt, Mount SinaiTopics Cruel, Harshness, Hired, Hireling, Master, Owner, Payment, Rigor, Rigour, Rule, Ruthlessly, Servant, Severity, Sight, Working, YearlyOutline 1. the Sabbath of the seventh year8. The jubilee in the fiftieth year 14. Of oppression 18. A blessing of obedience 23. The redemption of land 29. Of houses 35. Compassion to the poor 39. The usage of bondmen 47. The redemption of servants Dictionary of Bible Themes Leviticus 25:53 5337 hiring 5378 law, OT Library Sojourners with God'The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is Mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with Me.' --LEV. xxv. 23. The singular institution of the Jubilee year had more than one purpose. As a social and economical arrangement it tended to prevent the extremes of wealth and poverty. Every fiftieth year the land was to revert to its original owners, the lineal descendants of those who had 'come in with the conqueror,' Joshua. Debts were to be remitted, slaves emancipated, and so the mountains … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture God's Slaves The Kinsman Redeemer Boniface viii Ad 1294-1303. The Kinsman-Redeemer The Day of Atonement Appeal to the Christian Women of the South Sin and Forgiveness Between Brethren. Commerce "And the Redeemer Shall Come unto Zion, and unto them that Turn," The Eighth Commandment Baptism Leviticus Links Leviticus 25:53 NIVLeviticus 25:53 NLT Leviticus 25:53 ESV Leviticus 25:53 NASB Leviticus 25:53 KJV Leviticus 25:53 Bible Apps Leviticus 25:53 Parallel Leviticus 25:53 Biblia Paralela Leviticus 25:53 Chinese Bible Leviticus 25:53 French Bible Leviticus 25:53 German Bible Leviticus 25:53 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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