Deuteronomy 15 (NIV)
The Year for Canceling Debts
1 At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. 2 This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel the loan he has made to his fellow Israelite. He shall not require payment from his fellow Israelite or brother, because the LORD's time for canceling debts has been proclaimed. 3 You may require payment from a foreigner, but you must cancel any debt your brother owes you. 4 However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, 5 if only you fully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today. 6 For the LORD your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you.7 If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. 8 Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. 9 Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: "The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near," so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. 10 Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.
Here's the question, WHO are "Your Brothers"? Who are the poor and needy if they are in your land? Is there a difference between a neighbor and a brother. When Jesus admonishes that we are to do unto the least of these MY BROTHERS who is he talking about?
I'm not certain we really understand this. Worse, I wonder if we haven't perverted the purposes of the storehouse by using Brother dedicated money for wrong purposes.
Think about it....I am.
1 comment:
I realize that most people, Christians, use "brothers" in Mat. 25, (..."the least of these, my brothers"), in the sense of your fellow human being. But I contend that Jesus was talking about the 'brother in the faith", just as the term is undertood in matt. 18:15-17, and the way it is understood in many other texts, as in 1 John 3:13-15,and James 2:15. The Greek word is "adelphos". which can mean a blood brother, half-brother, cousin... but in the spiritual sense, one who is a fellow Christian. There are other passages about doing good for humans... "let us do good to ALL men, but ESPECIALLY TO THOSE OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH" ! Our first calling to aid people is to first aid those who are fellow believers, ..".inasmuch as you to it to the least of these MY BROTHERS, you do it to ME".. An unbeliever is not a brother in Christ, but if he is truly in need I will "do good " to that person, and then "enlighten" him about christ, the reason I do good, even as Jesus said, "let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven:"...An unbeliever is going to give glory to Me... so I have to enlighten him as to WHY I am doing good, lest he go on in his false doctrine that one's OWn good works get you through the door to heaven!.. that one needs to know the Gospel of grace through faith in Christ. . . . anyway, that's the way I think the bible teaches me about helping the poor, and the' brother'...etc........ from .Harold
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