Live with a mindful heart toward others in every transaction, understanding that God values restoration, fairness, and community.
When the LORD declares, “Corresponding to the number of years after the jubilee, you shall buy from your friend; he is to sell to you according to the number of years of crops” (v.15), He lays out a principle of fair and proportional economic exchange. The Jubilee, originating in the biblical calendar every fiftieth year (Leviticus 25:10), was meant to reset land ownership and relieve debts, ensuring that no Israelite would be permanently confined to poverty or dispossession. By tying property transactions to the number of years after the jubilee, God emphasized that buyers and sellers alike should consider how many harvests remained before the land would revert to its original owner, preventing exploitation and promoting justice. This fair dealing reflected the LORD’s compassion and underscored the temporary stewardship of earthly property.
Moses, who likely lived around 1526-1406 BC, was the mediator through whom God delivered these instructions. According to biblical tradition, Moses received them while Israel was gathered at Mount Sinai, shortly after the Exodus from Egypt. Though Israel was eventually destined for the promised land of Canaan, the law here specifically focuses on righteous behavior whenever a person would buy or sell property among fellow believers. The concept is that possessions should never be used to oppress a fellow Israelite, but rather handled in a way that fosters mutual wellbeing and honors God’s sovereignty over the land. This demonstrates the LORD’s desire that every economic act reflect His justice and mercy.
In the broader biblical narrative, this theme of release and restoration foreshadows the ultimate rest offered through Jesus in the New Testament (see Luke 4:18-19), where spiritual debts are forgiven. The fairness commanded in Leviticus 25:15 anticipates Jesus’ teaching to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39) and reveals the heart of God for equitable dealings. By treating each other with respect and fairness in trade, the Israelites perpetuated a social structure that did not trap the vulnerable. Instead, it gave everyone an opportunity to start anew once the cycle of Jubilee arrived.
This verse reminds us that believers today should likewise practice generosity and fairness, recognizing that all material things ultimately belong to God and are under His authority.
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Leviticus 25:15 meaning
When the LORD declares, “Corresponding to the number of years after the jubilee, you shall buy from your friend; he is to sell to you according to the number of years of crops” (v.15), He lays out a principle of fair and proportional economic exchange. The Jubilee, originating in the biblical calendar every fiftieth year (Leviticus 25:10), was meant to reset land ownership and relieve debts, ensuring that no Israelite would be permanently confined to poverty or dispossession. By tying property transactions to the number of years after the jubilee, God emphasized that buyers and sellers alike should consider how many harvests remained before the land would revert to its original owner, preventing exploitation and promoting justice. This fair dealing reflected the LORD’s compassion and underscored the temporary stewardship of earthly property.
Moses, who likely lived around 1526-1406 BC, was the mediator through whom God delivered these instructions. According to biblical tradition, Moses received them while Israel was gathered at Mount Sinai, shortly after the Exodus from Egypt. Though Israel was eventually destined for the promised land of Canaan, the law here specifically focuses on righteous behavior whenever a person would buy or sell property among fellow believers. The concept is that possessions should never be used to oppress a fellow Israelite, but rather handled in a way that fosters mutual wellbeing and honors God’s sovereignty over the land. This demonstrates the LORD’s desire that every economic act reflect His justice and mercy.
In the broader biblical narrative, this theme of release and restoration foreshadows the ultimate rest offered through Jesus in the New Testament (see Luke 4:18-19), where spiritual debts are forgiven. The fairness commanded in Leviticus 25:15 anticipates Jesus’ teaching to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39) and reveals the heart of God for equitable dealings. By treating each other with respect and fairness in trade, the Israelites perpetuated a social structure that did not trap the vulnerable. Instead, it gave everyone an opportunity to start anew once the cycle of Jubilee arrived.
This verse reminds us that believers today should likewise practice generosity and fairness, recognizing that all material things ultimately belong to God and are under His authority.