Jubilee and Care for the Poor
I was struck by a comment made by David W. Baker in his commentary on Leviticus (Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy [Cornerstone Biblical Commentary]), p. 194-195:
… Protection of life and dignity through a shared distribution of wealth was also known and practiced in the early church at Jerusalem (Acts 2:44-45), though not in relation to any actual Year of Jubilee. This might sound radical and unheard of in much of today’s church, but its implementation in Acts seems to have been a catalyst for many becoming members of the church every day. Could there be a causal link between the two, which the church today should take into consideration? The church needs to give greater thought to its economic responsibilities in addition to, and as part of, its theological ones.
Now for those who may think this is from a liberal commentary, it’s not; it’s from a solidly evangelical one. The redistribution to which he refers is the return of land and the freeing of slaves at the Jubilee. Those who have done poorly during the preceding 49 years are suddenly blessed by a substantial redistribution of wealth in the form of land or even of their personal freedom.
There are a number of principles that can be illustrated through Leviticus 25. There is the basic idea of caring for those less fortunate, the particular command against enslaving one’s own people (though the extension to not enslaving anyone had to wait for a later time), and also the idea that such support was not a constant and unconditional thing.
I suspect most of us have observed how people respond differently to certain sermons or passages of scripture. When a pastor preaches on giving, for example, often people in the congregation who are already inclined to give feel the need to push themselves to do more, while others who give less on a regular basis are good at finding the loopholes.
It’s difficult sometimes to find just how a scripture applies to me and not to all the other people I’d like it to apply for. That underlines the importance of prayerful study of scripture. Prayerful study does not merely involved praying before you study. It is also the prayerful attitude, i.e. the attitude of listening to and depending on God throughout.
Now look at how the early church implemented very similar principles, but in a much different way. In their smaller community, which was not the equivalent of the nation, unlike that envisioned in Leviticus 25, they managed to keep everyone properly cared for by holding all things in common. Latter, as discussed in 2 Corinthians 9 & 10 Paul implemented similar principles through taking a special collection.
Our tendency is to read a passage like the description of the Jubilee, and if we’re inclined to support (or at least talk about supporting) the poor, we’ll emphasize that aspect. One of my college professors constantly talked about the Jubilee in direct opposition to public welfare, even though wealthy Israelites would have been forced to give up wealth to others in a massive redistribution, because he noted that in the ordinary course of affairs people were expected to work. That was his inclination, and that was what he heard in the text.
Another professor whose inclination was toward communism found his warrant in Acts 2:44-45, and never seemed to notice that the early church was not a government, but rather a voluntary association, and indeed an association to which one really had to want to belong, nor did he notice the short duration of this particular practice. Yet another person could hardly bring himself to fully describe the situation of Acts 2:44-45, because he was so anxious to point out how limited the circumstances were and how short the time!
I think this passage should give pause for both Christian capitalists and Christian socialists. I am fairly strongly inclined to the capitalist myself, but as a Christian I believe I should be deeply concerned about and positively active concerning those who are left out. At the same time, I do have biblical warrant for good and careful stewardship. Jubilee does not mean that I have to give without consideration or that redistribution is always a great idea. It also does not give comfort to those who say “Never!”
The particular way in which I implement God’s commands is left up to me and to the community of which I am a part, with the aid of examples of how God had these principles implemented over time.
One further thought occurred to me here. Frequently we read statements about caring for the orphan and the widow that are found frequently in the prophets and we use these in support of whatever program is on the front burner today. Perhaps we should look a bit at the foundation document here in Leviticus to discover just what caring for the poor might have meant to those prophets. I don’t mean that there cannot be tension between prophetic and priestly statements, but at the same time, my view of the world is doubtless more unlike that of Hosea or Jeremiah than either of their views was from their priestly contemporaries.
Henry, what a great post and while I cannot over my thoughts just yet, I find that your move to include both sides of this issue as admirable.
Good post. made me think. thanks.
“talked about the Jubilee in direct opposition to public welfare, even though wealthy Israelites would have been forced to give up wealth to others in a massive redistribution”
Since the price for selling (really, leasing) land and buying a slave was based on the amount of time until the Jubilee, this isn’t the “massive redistribution of wealth” some have made it out to be.
But that doesn’t change our obligation to our neighbors and the poor among us as you point out.
Actually I think the redistribution occurred, it simply went over time as the value of the land decreased.
Let’s suppose that a person acquires land due to debt default at the beginning of the period in question. That land has high value if sold immediately, but its value diminishes. Eventually, it returns to the original owner, again at high value.
So I think the redistribution is substantial, even if it doesn’t all occur at once.
This is great subject and worthy of intense study, which someday I may have time to fully investigate. But it would seem to me that this was absolutely the practicing of the year of the Jubilee. Why wouldn’t it. Jesus came to fulfill the law in every way. “Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” Remember Peter stood up boldly and was declaring Gods biblical Prophecy’s one after another on the day of Pentecost, This scripture would obviously lap right in with the year of Jubilee. Lev 25:13 “In the year of this jubile ye shall return every man unto his possession. 25:14 And if thou sell ought unto thy neighbour, or buyest [ought] of thy neighbour’s hand, ye shall not oppress one another: I don’t think it wasn’t a legalistic thing; it came from the Holy Ghost inside of them, because this was Gods way from the beginning. It was Jesus teaching how to live to the fullest by giving and caring.(reaping and sowing) I think we fail so miserably in our congregations in this area of Gods Ways, But again hopefully we can get back there as a church and “turn this World around” again with real Revival. But if any of you are not born again like Peter said to do. (Acts 2:38) I suggest you do this first, and then contend for this subject in your faith. Where are our leaders who hold Gods Money and why aren’t they saying or doing something about this subject? God Bless.
This is an edited version the previous posting.
This is a great subject and worthy of intense study, which someday I may have time to fully investigate. But it would seem to me that this was absolutely the practicing of the year of the Jubilee. Why wouldn’t it. Jesus came to fulfill the law in every way. “Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” Remember Peter stood up boldly and was declaring Gods biblical Prophecy’s one after another on the day of Pentecost, This scripture would obviously lap right in with the year of Jubilee. Lev 25:13 “In the year of this jubile ye shall return every man unto his possession. 25:14 And if thou sell ought unto thy neighbour, or buyest [ought] of thy neighbour’s hand, ye shall not oppress one another:” I’m sure Peter would have had to have mention this Jubilee scripture in his address to the Jews present on that Pentecost day. Perhaps because all of them were Jews, they already were anticipating the year of jubilee as an opportunity to worship God in their Pentecost Feast Memorial Day anyway, they were there because they loved God and had come from all parts of the land. I don’t think it was a legalistic action of giving necessarily, but in faith, because after receiving the Holy Ghost; it came as revelation from the Holy Ghost being preached to them inside of them and, and I think Peter just took the occasion to incorporate that which was holy and took that which was from Gods Old testament and dropped it right into a perfect Prophetic fulfillment of the last day, new testament church. Because this was Gods way from the beginning, it was Jesus teaching us how to live to the fullest by giving and caring. (Reaping and sowing). I think we may fail so miserably in our congregations in this area of Gods ways, But not really by our own fault, but rather because it is not understood or preached. But again hopefully we can get back there as a church and “turn this world around again with real Revival. But if any of you are not born again like Peter said to do. (Acts 2:38) I suggest you do this first, and then contend for this subject in your faith. Where are our leaders who hold Gods Money and why aren’t they saying or doing something about this subject? Peter held the key and he had the guts to step out and make a difference . And so do they who hold the authority to act on Gods’ Word in our church’s, who also have power over our money (which changes to Gods as is given or supplied by us, which by turn, technically came from God who provides all things. ) So what do we do to Change it? I really don’t know, I know this though, it has to come from Anointed men God who hold the Keys to do so.
God Bless.