In the year of this jubile ye shall return every man unto his possession.
In the fiftieth year, the year of jubilee, every person was to return to his possession, with each landed inheritance and landed property restored to its original owner. The return teaches that the land belongs to the Lord, with God as Householder and owner and the people as His tenants. It belongs to the practical instruction in Leviticus and Deuteronomy about missionary work and duties to one another, presenting the gospel of the Old Testament.
Its return secured each family's inheritance and guarded against extremes of wealth and poverty. Apart from the jubilee return, an owner could also redeem landed property beforehand. It teaches liberality rather than stinginess and shows the Lord's care for the poor by making special provision for them. Obedience to it brings God's blessing to make the land productive.
It rebukes selfish hearts that shut the door to fellow workers and brethren laboring in hard fields and calls for living out in practical life the obedience once required of the Hebrews. As God's law for the distribution of property, its principle carried out in the world today would change the condition of the people. It would prevent the evils that in all ages have come from oppression of the poor by the rich and hatred of the rich by the poor, and while hindering the amassing of great wealth it would prevent the ignorance and degradation of tens of thousands whose ill-paid servitude builds up colossal fortunes. It would bring a peaceful solution to problems that now threaten to fill the world with anarchy and bloodshed.
Its restoration and release of the enslaved mark the deliverance of God's people at Christ's return, when the jubilee begins as the land rests. Then the faithful slave casts off his chains in final triumph while his wicked master is left confused.
In the fiftieth year, the year of jubilee, every person was to return to his possession, with each landed inheritance and landed property restored to its original owner. The return teaches that the land belongs to the Lord, with God as Householder and owner and the people as His tenants. It belongs to the practical instruction in Leviticus and Deuteronomy about missionary work and duties to one another, presenting the gospel of the Old Testament.
Its return secured each family's inheritance and guarded against extremes of wealth and poverty. Apart from the jubilee return, an owner could also redeem landed property beforehand. It teaches liberality rather than stinginess and shows the Lord's care for the poor by making special provision for them. Obedience to it brings God's blessing to make the land productive.
It rebukes selfish hearts that shut the door to fellow workers and brethren laboring in hard fields and calls for living out in practical life the obedience once required of the Hebrews. As God's law for the distribution of property, its principle carried out in the world today would change the condition of the people. It would prevent the evils that in all ages have come from oppression of the poor by the rich and hatred of the rich by the poor, and while hindering the amassing of great wealth it would prevent the ignorance and degradation of tens of thousands whose ill-paid servitude builds up colossal fortunes. It would bring a peaceful solution to problems that now threaten to fill the world with anarchy and bloodshed.
Its restoration and release of the enslaved mark the deliverance of God's people at Christ's return, when the jubilee begins as the land rests. Then the faithful slave casts off his chains in final triumph while his wicked master is left confused.