Interest or Profit נֶ֣שֶׁךְ וְתַרְבִּ֔ית

We are in chapter twenty-five of Leviticus with our word for today which is a phrase used for the first time in the Bible in our chapter. נֶ֣שֶׁךְ וְתַרְבִּ֔ית interest or profit, interest and profit. It is used 3 times in the Old Testament. We find our phrase used in a list of behaviors that identify someone who is living a life according to God’s will and direction. Ezekiel 18:15-17 he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor's wife, does not oppress anyone, exacts no pledge, commits no robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment, withholds his hand from iniquity, takes נֶ֤שֶׁךְ וְתַרְבִּית֙ no interest or profit, obeys my rules, and walks in my statutes; he shall not die for his father's iniquity; he shall surely live. Then later in the book of Ezekiel we find our phrase used again. But this time it is part of a list identifying people who have forgotten the YHWH God. Ezekiel 22:11-12 One commits abomination with his neighbor's wife; another lewdly defiles his daughter-in-law; another in you violates his sister, his father's daughter. In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take נֶ֧שֶׁךְ וְתַרְבִּ֣ית interest and profit and make gain of your neighbors by extortion; but me you have forgotten, declares the Lord God. Our phrase is also used in the context of the year of Jubilee. Leviticus 25:35-38 If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you. Take no נֶ֣שֶׁךְ וְתַרְבִּ֔ית interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you. You shall not lend him your money at בְּנֶ֑שֶׁךְ וּבְמַרְבִּ֖ית [this phrase has both of the same root words as our phrase just in different forms] interest, nor give him your food for profit. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God.A bankrupt brother in debt could expect his “brother” Israelites to assist him with an interest-free loan; for the Israelites were to treat one another compassionately, like members of the same family. Since any debt incurred would be remitted during the Year of Jubilee, assisting others was truly an act of faith. However, the Lord had been so good to Israel in redeeming the nation from Egypt, allowing them to spoil the Egyptians and giving Israel the land of Canaan, that no Israelite should want to exploit his fellow Israelite. Jesus said to these words when he sent out the twelve. Matthew 10:8 Freely you have received, freely give. The early church was quick to pick up this principle and put it into practice in helping widows and other needy believers. I’ll close with these great passages. Acts 2:44–47; 4:34–37. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved … There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.