Charging interest, also known as usury in biblical terms, is a practice addressed in various passages throughout the Bible. The concept of lending money and charging interest is discussed in both the Old and New Testaments, with specific guidelines and moral implications for the people of God.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the Israelites were given specific instructions regarding the lending of money and the charging of interest. The Law of Moses provided clear guidelines to ensure fairness and compassion within the community. In Exodus 22:25 , it is written: "If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you are not to act as a creditor to him; you are not to charge him interest." This commandment highlights the importance of mercy and support for the poor, emphasizing that financial transactions should not exploit those in need.

Leviticus 25:35-37 further elaborates on this principle: "If your brother becomes impoverished and cannot support himself among you, help him as you would a foreigner or stranger, so that he can continue to live among you. Do not take any interest or profit from him, but fear your God, so that your brother can continue to live among you. You must not lend him your money at interest or sell him your food at a profit." This passage underscores the call to treat fellow Israelites with kindness and to avoid profiting from their misfortune.

Deuteronomy 23:19-20 provides additional instructions: "Do not charge your brother interest on money, food, or any other type of loan. You may charge a foreigner interest, but you must not charge your brother interest, so that the LORD your God may bless you in everything to which you put your hand in the land you are entering to possess." Here, the distinction is made between fellow Israelites and foreigners, allowing for interest to be charged to the latter but not to one's own people.

New Testament Perspective

The New Testament does not provide explicit laws regarding the charging of interest, but it does emphasize principles of love, generosity, and the proper use of wealth. Jesus' teachings often focus on the spirit of the law rather than the letter, encouraging believers to act with compassion and selflessness.

In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), Jesus speaks of a master who entrusts his servants with money. The master commends the servants who wisely invest and increase what they were given, while the servant who hides his talent is rebuked. Although this parable is not directly about charging interest, it illustrates the importance of stewardship and the responsible use of resources.

Luke 6:34-35 offers guidance on lending: "And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked." This passage encourages believers to lend without expecting repayment, reflecting God's grace and kindness.

Historical and Cultural Considerations

In ancient Israel, the prohibition against charging interest was rooted in the covenantal relationship between God and His people. The Israelites were called to be a distinct community, reflecting God's justice and mercy. Charging interest to fellow Israelites was seen as contrary to the communal and familial bonds that were to characterize God's people.

In the broader ancient Near Eastern context, charging interest was a common practice, often leading to exploitation and oppression of the poor. The biblical injunctions against usury served to protect the vulnerable and promote social equity.

Theological Implications

The biblical teachings on charging interest reflect broader theological themes of justice, mercy, and community. They call believers to prioritize relationships over profit and to act in ways that honor God and support the well-being of others. The principles found in Scripture challenge Christians to consider how they handle financial matters and to ensure that their practices align with God's character and commands.Romans 13:8
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loves another has fulfilled the law.
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Luke 6:34-35
And if you lend to them of whom you hope to receive, what thank have you? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
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Ezekiel 22:12
In you have they taken gifts to shed blood; you have taken usury and increase, and you have greedily gained of your neighbors by extortion, and have forgotten me, said the Lord GOD.
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Matthew 25:27
You ought therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received my own with usury.
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John 3:1-36
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
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Felix Before Paul
... this one Jew whom his countrymen, with suspicious loyalty, were charging with sedition ...
of him, and partly because he had some kind of languid interest, as most ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/felix before paul.htm

St. James ii. 10
... The meaning of my charging a Man who sins in one Instance, with being ... engageth, or
permits him to transgress one Law, when Inclination or Interest, Pleasure or ...
/.../sermon vi st james ii.htm

The Unjust Steward
... and has been common enough since; suppose that he had been charging them more than ...
because he had been converted in time, and seen his true interest; and for ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xlii the unjust steward.htm

Submit Yourselves Therefore to God. James 4:7.
... public good admits of mercy, it may show mercy in such a way as will best subserve
the general interest. ... It is a slander upon God, and charging God with perjury ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/submit yourselves therefore to god.htm

Limiting God
... You know a certain man in whose welfare you take an extraordinary interest. ... While
thus charging the people of God with sin, I have been solemnly condemning ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/limiting god.htm

The Breach with Gregory of Nazianzus.
... have complained of the country as deficient in beauty and interest, even though ... he
repelled the accusations of his mind against himself by charging Basil with ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/vii the breach with gregory of.htm

Epistle xxxiv. To Venantius, Ex-Monk, Patrician of Syracuse .
... monastic habit for the safety of his soul and no less urgently charging him to ...
friendship and affection to one who had thus sinned, and the interest he could ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle xxxiv to venantius ex-monk.htm

The Life of Robert Ker of Kersland, Esq.
... first public appearance that we find he made for the cause, and interest of religion ...
and so went straight behind the bed and brought him out, charging him to ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of robert ker.htm

Elucidations.
... the study of the ante-Nicene Fathers with a fresh interest, and throws back ... Clement
is far from charging Basilides, personally, with an immoral life, or from ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/clement/the stromata or miscellanies/elucidations 2.htm

Epistle xviii. To Certain Bishops of Sicily.
... For you will be seeing to your own interest both in the future and the present ... The
abuse complained of seems to have been that of charging priests of parishes ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle xviii to certain bishops.htm

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