MORE ON THE LAW - MONEY/DEBT

Deuteronomy 15:1-2,10

“At the end of every seventh year you must cancel the debts of everyone who owes you money.

This is how it must be done. Everyone must cancel the loans they have made to their fellow Israelites. They must not demand payment from their neighbors or relatives, for the Lord’s time of release has arrived.

Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.

After the instructions on tithes and how it should be done, more instructions on giving was enacted.

Many still have this strong issue with matters concerning tithe and how it is not a new testament practice. As expected, the topic always brings about some ruptures. The question remains, what of the other instructions, even the one Christ called weightier, that He said is more important?

Matthew 23:23

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

What we must understand is that these are instructions specifically given to the people of Israel under the law that came through Moses. To understand how they apply to the believer, we must see the interpretation that Jesus gave to them. No wonder Christ said:

Matthew 5:17-20

“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.

I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.

So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

“But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

You cannot talk of the law in bits you must take it as a whole. Christ came to reveal the purpose of the law and let us understand it, that is why we do not use the righteousness of the Pharisees or the teachers of the religious laws, for Christ said we cannot enter the kingdom of God with it, but we use a higher righteousness which is in Christ Jesus and it never contradicts the law but fulfils it. Selah

1 Corinthians 1:29-31

As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.

Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”

1Corinthians 1:30 

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Christ has become our righteousness. Glory to God.

You cannot talk of the law and do it your way, you should do it the way God asks it to be done. Just as Christ told the religious teachers, we cannot talk about tithe and neglect the weightier matters, Christ says it is a woe!

So what are the weightier matters?

Jesus said they are:

Justice, mercy, and faith

That is part of what the reading of today tells us. Releasing your brethren from any debt they owe you at the 7th year. Letting the slave go free. Ensuring that none of the brethren are poor.

Do we preach these things, why are they neglected and we preach the part that doesn't really apply to us?

I always say that most who shout about the law have no clue what the law entails, no clue. For even those who had a clue of it (custodians of the law) were faulted on it.

Read through chapter 15 of the book of Deuteronomy and ask yourself if you have heard it ministered by any of those who teach the law. Why is these mercy and love teaching neglected and the focus remains on just one part. 

Listen,

James 2:10

For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.

We cannot pick what law we want to obey and ignore others, if you want to be under the law you must obey all the laws!

Romans 6:14

Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

Understand that Christ came to save us so that we will not be under the bondage of the law, that is being slave to sin but under grace empowered to live above sin.

As simple as this is, some will not get it because of the indoctrination of fear. For it is more difficult to change a false doctrine than to minister to a new convert. However the truth must prevail.

For you are not truly free unless you know the truth!

So what is the summary of all the laws and the prophets?

Matthew 7:12

“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.

Matthew 22:37-40

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’

This is the first and greatest commandment.

A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Love is the basis of the law and the prophets and as we see from today's reading the whole of the instructions is all about the love of God and which is also manifested in the love for our brethren and for all people.

This same thing is what John also teaches us by the revelation of the Spirit:

1 John 3:11,16-18

This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.

If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?

Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

(Read the whole chapter)

The message from the beginning even of creation has always been - LOVE!

The message of Christ was love for:

1 John 4:8

But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Love is the message, so we have the 7th year of redemption:

Deuteronomy 15:1-2,12

“At the end of every seventh year you must cancel the debts of everyone who owes you money.

This is how it must be done. Everyone must cancel the loans they have made to their fellow Israelites. They must not demand payment from their neighbors or relatives, for the Lord’s time of release has arrived.

“If a fellow Hebrew sells himself or herself to be your servant and serves you for six years, in the seventh year you must set that servant free.

May we understand the meaning of the law fulfilled and the bondage of the law.

May we receive grace to know about what Christ expects from His church. May we know that love is the message of God and ofcourse the message of Christ.

May we walk in liberty, not in fear but in love, power and a sound mind. Doing everything that pleases the father and not any man or sect.

Deuteronomy 15:7-8,10-11

“But if there are any poor Israelites in your towns when you arrive in the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tightfisted toward them.

Instead, be generous and lend them whatever they need.

Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.

There will always be some in the land who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need.

Mark 14:7

You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me.

Does this encourage anyone to be lazy, No, laziness is abhorred in the kingdom. However that does not mean that people will not pass through difficult times, or face challenging situations, we must be of help to them!

O may we receive understanding, O may we have that direct relationship with the Heavenly Father that is what Christ paid the price for. May we please Him in all things.

May we walk in full obedience of God pleasing Him in all we do.

Remember we are His and so also is all He has blessed us with.

Glory to Your name Dear Father.

PRAYER

Glorious Father help me to live in the righteousness that You have established in Christ Jesus, may I talk, live and give in full obedience of Your word. I will not walk in fear but in Your power, love and a sound mind, pleasing You in all things. Glory to Your name Lord forevermore. 

He calls us blessed.

Love

@the watcher.