Exodus 22:25 - Meaning and Application

Here is a law against unfair gain in lending. They must not charge interest on money lent to a brother in need (Exodus 22:25), as in the case described in Nehemiah 5:5, Nehemiah 5:7. The law also helped protect family property through the year of jubilee, so people who were not mainly involved in trade would normally borrow only out of need. For that reason, lending among their own people was generally to be free of interest, though they were allowed to lend to a foreigner, while still not oppressing him.

In its strict sense, this law belonged to the Jewish nation. But its fairness still applies to us. We should show mercy to those we might profit from, and be willing to share losses as well as gains with those we lend to, if God’s providence goes against them. On that same principle, it seems as lawful to receive interest on money another person uses in trade, while they work with it and take the risk, as it is to receive rent for land another person works and risks in farming.

They were also not to take a poor person’s bedclothes as a pledge. If they did take them, they had to return them by bedtime (Exodus 22:26, Exodus 22:27). Those who sleep warmly and comfortably should remember the hard, cold places where many poor people lie. We should not make their burden worse or add pain to those already suffering.

There is also a law against showing contempt for those in authority (Exodus 22:28). “Do not revile the gods” means the judges and magistrates who carried out these laws. They had to do their duty, no matter who suffered because of it. Magistrates should not fear people’s insults, but they should not be reviled for punishing evil. To speak against them in that way is really to speak against God, and such people will have a serious account to give.

Those who despise authority and speak evil of dignities are marked by Scripture for judgment (Jude 1:8). Princes and magistrates are like fathers to us, and the fifth commandment calls us to honor them, not insult them. Paul applied this law to himself and said he should not speak evil of the ruler of his people, even though that ruler was at the time his unjust persecutor (Acts 23:5). See also Ecclesiastes 10:20.

There is also a law about giving the firstfruits to God, as had already been commanded before in chapter 13, and here it is repeated (Exodus 22:29, Exodus 22:30). “The firstborn of your sons you shall give to me,” and we have even more reason to give ourselves and all we have to God, who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all. They were not to delay bringing the first ripe fruit of their crops. If we delay duty, we may end up leaving it undone. If we keep putting off the first chance, hoping for a better one, Satan may cheat us out of all our time.

Young people especially should not delay giving God the first part of their time and strength. Delays can turn into refusals, because sin tricks the heart, and the “more convenient time” they promise themselves may never come. Still, the law also says the firstborn of their cattle were not to be given to God until they were more than seven days old, because before that they were not yet fit for use. The lesson is clear: God is first and best, so he must have the first and best.

Finally, God sets his own people apart from all others: “You shall be holy men to me.” One sign of that honored place was their food. They were not to eat meat torn by wild animals (Exodus 22:31). This was not only because it was unhealthy, but because it was cheap, low, and greedy food, beneath those who were holy to God. They should not eat the leftovers of beasts of prey.

Those who are set apart for God should not be overly fussy about food, but they must be careful to live by God’s rule. They should not eat and drink carelessly, without reverence, but with self-control and in a way that gives glory to God.