The Year of Release

We have been speaking to you about the Sabbatical Year that is described in the Bible. We said to you that the Sabbatical Year was characterized by 3 things: rest, release and renewal. We’ve already spoken to you on the topic of rest. We said to you that we enter into this rest 2 ways: 1) by ceasing from our works and entering into God’s works, 2) by trusting God to bring to pass what is needed.

Matthew 6:33 KJV 1900

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

In 2019 I’m urging us to “enter into rest” by placing a greater priority on God’s works and trusting that He will make up the difference (bring to pass what is needed in your life.)

Now we come to the second characteristic of the Sabbatical Year—RELEASE.

Here the Sabbatical Year is called The Year of Release. The reason it is called the Year of Release is because during the Sabbatical year all creditors were required to release everyone who owed them a debt ().

Matthew 6:33 KJV 1900

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

The reason it is called the Year of Release is because during the Sabbatical all creditors were required to release their neighbor. What’s a creditor?

First, what’s a creditor? A ‘creditor’ is someone who holds a debt. In this case, their ‘neighbor’ is the one who owes them money (i.e. debtor). Moreover, during the Year of Release all creditors were required to release all their debtors. What does this mean to us?

It doesn’t take long to notice that the Year of Release is really an illustration of forgiveness ().

Let’s define a few terms. First, what’s a creditor? A ‘creditor’ is someone who holds a debt. In this case, their ‘neighbor’ is the one who owes them money (i.e. debtor). Moreover, during the Year of Release all creditors were required to release all their debtors. What does this mean to us?

In 2019 I’m urging us to “enter into rest” by placing a greater priority on God’s works and trusting that He will make up the difference (bring to pass what is needed in your life.)

When you lend money to someone you become a creditor and the person who owes you money becomes a debtor. Moreover, releasing men of their ‘debts’ is the basis (the principle behind) forgiveness (). Understand, when we talk about ‘debt’ we are not talking about money as much as we are talking about offenses. When Jesus said forgive us of our ‘debts’ He is not talking about the debt of money. He’s talking about someone who has broken trust, committed treason or sinned against you!

It doesn’t take long to notice that the Year of Release is really an illustration of forgiveness ().

The Sabbatical year is not only about entering into God’s rest, but it’s also about entering into His release. We say that very emphatically. Forgiveness is primarily an act of God. It’s God who releases sinners from judgment and the penalty of their sin. We extend forgiveness to others because we have been recipients of God’s release!

As we examine the details of the Year of Release we shall see the principles of forgiveness in a whole new light.

Now, A ‘creditor’ is someone who holds a debt. When you lend money to someone you become a creditor and the person who owes you money becomes a debtor. Moreover, releasing men of their ‘debts’ is the basis (the principle behind) forgiveness (). Understand, when we talk about ‘debt’ we are not talking about money as much as we are talking about offenses. When Jesus said forgive us of our ‘debts’ He is not talking about the debt of money. He’s talking about someone who has broken trust, committed treason or sinned against you!

When Jesus talks about ‘forgiving debts’ He’s talking about offenses, not money. He’s talking about forgiving those who have sinned against you! If 2019 is going to truly be a ‘sabbatical year,’ then we must make a choice to release (forgive) those things that are owed to us!

Those who obeyed this command were blessed. In fact, God promised that they would became lenders and not borrowers. To be a ‘lender’ means that you must be ready to forgive many debts!

The first thing we see regarding forgiveness is that it involves release or a sending away. We first release our offenders from their offenses (or debts). Next, we release our feelings of resentment (revenge) that we have towards our offenders.

During the Year of Release God not only required His people to forgive their debtors, but He also required them to extend their hand (lend) to the poor. Apparently, the Lord knew that once the people learned God’s expectation concerning ‘release,’ some of them might be tempted not to give to the poor.

We’re also avoiding poor relationships (relationships we’re are not likely to see a return on our investment! And, we’re not just trying to avoid the pain we might experience from these relationships, but subconsciously we may also be trying to avoid the possibility of having to forgive this person of their debts.

As a result, we’re beginning to treat our relationships with the same scrutiny a tightfisted businessman treats new deal. Before a businessman enters into a deal he wants to know the likelihood of getting a return on his investment. If the risk is too high he won’t do it!

Similarly, we often shut people out of our lives (don’t let them get close), especially if we suspect that we won’t get a return on our time and energy. As a result, we shut out people who need our help, and we look for those who we are more likely to get something out of the deal.

Therefore, those who struggle with generosity, also struggle with forgiveness . The two are connected. Selfishness is simply a reaction against forgiveness. If I am giving sparingly to others, then I’m trying to avoid the duty to forgive.

The Year of Release is a lesson in mercy! Mercy is not just about forgiveness (letting people off the hook). Mercy is also about being generous and giving to people who have nothing to give you in return!

Every job, task or relationship that we enter into must have the potential to give us something in return, or we won’t get involved. We don’t typically give our time and resources or energy to people who can’t add (benefit) us in some way.

The Sabbatical year is a lesson in mercy! Moreover, mercy is not just about forgiveness (letting people off the hook). Mercy is also about intentionally giving yourself to people who have nothing to give you in return!

The Sabbatical year was a lesson in mercy! Moreover, mercy is not just about letting somebody off the hook who owes you something. Mercy is also about intentionally giving our time, energy and resources to people who have nothing to give us in return.

Give to people who need you, and not just to people who can help you!

The Bible says, “Let the strong bear the infirmities of the weak,” NOT “Let the strong surround themselves with other strong people.”

I’m not saying give yourself to people who are trying to take advantage of you. I’m saying don’t shut people out just because they have nothing to offer you in return.

When God says, “The poor will never cease out of the land,” He means you’ll never get to a place where you’re not at risk of injury (). Now, that’s exposure! (See also ).

When a person could not pay their debt they were typically ‘sold’ into slavery and forced to provide services (cooking, cleaning, handiwork) as a way of paying off their debts. (Today we call this marriage!)

During the Sabbatical year, every master was required to free their slaves. In other words, they were not to allow their offenders to earn their way back into their good graces, but they were to release them. Furthermore, they were to help them to get back on their feet (, ;).

Many times we want to forgive a person, WHILE withholding from them their right to return to their original status. True forgiveness not only involves release, but it involves restoration (; , , ).

In other words, forgiveness not only involves freeing someone from the need to serve you, but it requires you to serve them (). Forgiveness requires us to give more to men than they give to us ().

In addition, don’t send them away empty! Even after your slaves have stopped working for you and you’ve stopped demanding payment from them, don’t stop giving to them (). In this Sabbatical year, leave more in your relationships than you receive ().

In the Sabbatical Year, God said, “Let the slaves go free. In addition, don’t send them away empty!”

I believe God is saying to us, “In the Sabbatical year, leave more in your relationships than you receive!” Even after you have stopped demanding payment or service from your ‘slaves,’ don’t stop giving to them (Romans 12:

People tend to remain in relationships where there is an atmosphere of true forgiveness, where there is no pressure of performing.

I realize that relationships come with certain expectations. However, I’m talking about requiring people to perform their duties (i.e. treating them like a slave/servant, requiring them to meet the needs of their master).

The way to get people to stay with you is to learn to release them in your relationship. When you release people from giving, that’s when they give. When you release people from HAVING to serve your needs and start serving their needs (with no strings attached), they end up wanting to serve you!

The message of release is really about serving people’s needs, and not simply about letting people off the hook. To complete the process of ‘release’ it’s not enough to simply let people go (release them from what they owe you). You must go on to the next step and give to their needs without receiving anything in return!