Leviticus 25:8
And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years. And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years.
The count is seven sabbaths of years, seven times seven years, and the space of the seven sabbaths of years is forty and nine years, leading to the fiftieth-year jubilee, the great year of release when the land rests. The instruction was given by direct communication from heaven, with the Lord over the whole earth. Every seventh year is a yearly sabbath for the land, when agricultural work and cultivation of the soil are not permitted and the land lies uncultivated in its spontaneous growth. That rest invigorates the worn-out productive soil.
The spontaneous growth is for the benefit of the poor with free access for all, including strangers and livestock, flocks and herds. Under special divine supervision and special interposition under God's supervision the sixth year yields enough provision for three years as a constant lesson of His ownership and care. The cycle teaches that God is the householder and owner of the land and the people are His tenants, that the land is the Lord's, that He makes it productive by His blessing upon obedient people, and that He cares for the poor and has made provision for them.
The verse belongs to the laws concerning distribution of property whose principles teach liberality and overcome stinginess. If observed, those principles would prevent oppression of the poor and the resulting hatred between rich and poor, hinder the amassing of great wealth, and help prevent the ignorance and degradation caused by ill-paid servitude. These requirements are specifications of practical missionary duty of one to another and the principles of Christianity and the gospel of the Old Testament, binding in the present age of light. They require obedient liberality toward brethren working in hard fields instead of selfishly closing the heart and refusing and saying No.
The verse does not mean that it is now sin to labor or that people are now in the jubilee and must stop work while the poor are supported without labor. Teaching that labor must cease and property must be sold and given away on that ground is error that confuses and distracts. It deceives some, cannot prosper, and will be brought down while truth triumphs in the end.