Credit (3)

Credit in Israel: charitable, not commercial

Deuteronomy 23:19–20 KJV 1900

19 Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury: 20 Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

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The pledge (security): laws protecting the borrower

Deuteronomy 24:10–13 KJV 1900

10 When thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge. 11 Thou shalt stand abroad, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring out the pledge abroad unto thee. 12 And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge: 13 In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee: and it shall be righteousness unto thee before the Lord thy God.

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Under Mosaic law creditors to cancel debts eventually

Deuteronomy 15:1–3 KJV 1900

1 At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release. 2 And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the Lord’s release. 3 Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again: but that which is thine with thy brother thine hand shall release;

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Spiritual aspects of credit

Faith credited as righteousness

Romans 4:1–11 KJV 1900

1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. 9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

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Jesus Christ’s righteousness credited to believers

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV 1900

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

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Moral aspects of credit

Philippians 4:17 KJV 1900

17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

See also ; ; ; ; Good deeds will be remembered and rewarded in heaven.

Standing security for another may be hazardous

Proverbs 22:26–27 KJV 1900

26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, Or of them that are sureties for debts. 27 If thou hast nothing to pay, Why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

See also ; ; The binding nature of the commitment cautions against a hasty and unwise engagement.

Violations of Israel’s “credit controls” roundly condemned

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The credit system not condemned by Jesus Christ

Matthew 25:27 KJV 1900

27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

Christians to view this subject in the light of God’s grace

Luke 6:34–35 KJV 1900

34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

See also God is a model creditor.

Creditors demanding a pledge to assure repayment

A personal effect

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Mortgage of property

Nehemiah 5:3 KJV 1900

3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.

The surety of a guarantor

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Creditors exacting repayments cruelly

2 Kings 4:1 KJV 1900

1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.

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Creditors to be considerate in their demands

Deuteronomy 24:6 KJV 1900

6 No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge: for he taketh a man’s life to pledge.

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Creditors perhaps remitting the debt entirely

Matthew 18:27 KJV 1900

27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

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