Deuteronomy 22:1 - Meaning and Application

The kindness God commanded toward an enemy (Exodus 23:4) is here required even more toward a neighbor, even if that neighbor was not an Israelite. The law agrees with basic fairness. It teaches that we should treat others as we would want them to treat us.

First, lost livestock had to be returned, either to the owner or to the place where it had wandered from, in Deuteronomy 22:1-2. This was an act of pity for the animal, which was exposed and at risk while wandering. It was also kindness and respect toward the owner, and even justice, because it followed the rule of doing to others what we want done to us. Religion should make us good neighbors, ready to do every helpful act we can for everyone.

In doing this, they were not to mind the trouble. If they knew who owned the animal, they had to take it back themselves. They could not simply send word for the owner to come and get it, because harm might come to the animal before the owner arrived. They were also not to mind the cost. If they did not know the owner, they had to keep the animal and feed it until the owner was found.

If such care had to be shown to a neighbor’s ox or donkey that had gone astray, how much more should we care about a person who has wandered from God and from duty. We should do our best to turn that person back (James 5:19), and to restore him gently, watching ourselves carefully too (Galatians 6:1).

Second, lost property had to be returned to its owner, in Deuteronomy 22:3. The Jews say that whoever found lost goods was to give public notice of them three or four times, as was done in their time and as is still done in ours. If the owner could not be found, some said the finder might use the goods for himself. But some learned writers say he would do well to give the value of the goods to the poor.

Third, cattle in distress had to be helped, in Deuteronomy 22:4. This was required out of compassion for the animal, because a merciful man cares about the life of a beast, even though it is not his own. It was also required out of love and friendship toward our neighbor, since we do not know how soon we may need his help in return. One member of the body may say to another, “I do not need you right now,” but it cannot say, “I will never need you.”