Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
Deuteronomy
Book: Deuteronomy
Chapter: 15
Overview:
The
Year of release.
(1-11) Concerning the release of
servants.
(12-18) Respecting the firstlings of
Cattle.
(19-23)
1-11 This
Year of release typified the
Grace of the
Gospel, in
which is proclaimed the acceptable
Year of the
Lord; and
By
which we obtain the release of our debts, that is, the
Pardon of
our sins. The
Law is spiritual, and lays restraints upon the
thoughts of the
Heart. We mistake, if we think thoughts are free
from
God's knowledge and check. That is a wicked
Heart indeed,
which raises evil thoughts from the good
Law of
God, as theirs
did, who, because
God had obliged them to the
Charity of
forgiving, denied the
Charity of giving. Those who would keep
from the act of
Sin, must keep out of their minds the very
thought of
Sin. It is a dreadful thing to have the cry of the
Poor justly against us. Grudge not a kindness to thy
Brother;
distrust not the
Providence of
God. What thou doest, do freely,
for
God loves a cheerful giver, 2Co 9:7.
12-18 Here the
Law concerning
Hebrew servants is repeated.
There is an addition, requiring the masters to
Put some small
stock into their servants' hands to set up with for themselves,
when sent out of their servitude, wherein they had received
No
Wages. We may expect family blessings, the springs of family
prosperity, when we make
Conscience of our duty to our family
relations. We are to remember that we are debtors to Divine
Justice, and have nothing to pay with. That we are slaves,
Poor,
and perishing. But the
Lord Jesus Christ,
By becoming
Poor, and
By shedding his
Blood, has made a full and free provision for
the payment of our debts, the
Ransom of our souls, and the
supply of all our wants. When the
Gospel is clearly preached,
the acceptable
Year of the
Lord is proclaimed; the
Year of
release of our debts, of the deliverance of our souls, and of
obtaining
Rest in him. And as
Faith in
Christ and
Love to him
prevail, they will triumph over the selfishness of the
Heart,
and over the unkindness of the world, doing away the excuses
that rise from unbelief, distrust, and
Covetousness.
19-23 Here is a direction what to do with the firstlings. We
are not now limited as the Israelites were; we make
No
difference between a first
Calf, or
Lamb, and the
Rest. Let us
then look to the
Gospel meaning of this
Law, devoting ourselves
and the first of our time and strength to
God; and using all our
comforts and enjoyments to his praise, and under the direction
of his
Law, as we have them all
By his
Gift.