If we thus serve God, and do good with what we have, it is promised that the Lord our God will
bless us in all the works of our land. The blessing of God is all to our outward prosperity; and
without that blessing, the work of our hands will bring nothing to pass. The blessing descends upon
the working hand. Expect not that God should bless thee in thy idleness and love of ease. And it
descends upon the giving hand. He who thus scatters, certainly increases; and to be free and generous
in the support of religion, and any good work, is the surest and safest way of thriving.
Chapter 15
Chapter Outline
The year of release. (1–11)
Concerning the release of servants. (12–18)
Respecting the firstlings of cattle. (19–23)Verses 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.
Verses 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.