14 " 'If you sell land to any of your own people or buy land from them, do not take advantage of each other.
14 And if thou sell ought unto thy neighbour, or buyest ought of thy neighbour's hand, ye shall not oppress one another:
14 And if you make a sale to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor, you shall not wrong one another.
14 "If you sell or buy property from one of your countrymen, don't cheat him.
14 And if you sell anything to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor's hand, you shall not oppress one another.
14 "When you make an agreement with your neighbor to buy or sell property, you must not take advantage of each other.
32 " 'The Levites always have the right to redeem their houses in the Levitical towns, which they possess.
32 Notwithstanding the cities of the Levites, and the houses of the cities of their possession, may the Levites redeem at any time.
32 As for the cities of the Levites, the Levites may redeem at any time the houses in the cities they possess.
32 "As to the Levitical cities, houses in the cities owned by the Levites are always subject to redemption.
32 Nevertheless the cities of the Levites, and the houses in the cities of their possession, the Levites may redeem at any time.
32 "The Levites always have the right to buy back a house they have sold within the towns allotted to them.
(Read Leviticus 25:23-34)
If the land were not redeemed before the year of jubilee, it then returned to him that sold or mortgaged it. This was a figure of the free grace of God in Christ; by which, and not by any price or merit of our own, we are restored to the favour of God. Houses in walled cities were more the fruits of their own industry than land in the country, which was the direct gift of God's bounty; therefore if a man sold a house in a city, he might redeem it only within a year after the sale. This encouraged strangers and proselytes to come and settle among them.
39 " 'If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to you, do not make them work as slaves.
39 And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel
39 "If your brother becomes poor beside you and sells himself to you, you shall not make him serve as a slave:
39 "If one of your brothers becomes indigent and has to sell himself to you, don't make him work as a slave.
39 'And if one of your brethren who dwells by you becomes poor, and sells himself to you, you shall not compel him to serve as a slave.
39 "If one of your fellow Israelites falls into poverty and is forced to sell himself to you, do not treat him as a slave.
(Read Leviticus 25:39-55)
A native Israelite, if sold for debt, or for a crime, was to serve but six years, and to go out the seventh. If he sold himself, through poverty, both his work and his usage must be such as were fitting for a son of Abraham. Masters are required to give to their servants that which is just and equal, John 8:32. We cannot ransom our fellow-sinners, but we may point out Christ to them; while by his grace our lives may adorn his gospel, express our love, show our gratitude, and glorify his holy name.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Leviticus 25:14
Commentary on Leviticus 25:8-22
(Read Leviticus 25:8-22)
The word "jubilee" signifies a peculiarly animated sound of the silver trumpets. This sound was to be made on the evening of the great day of atonement; for the proclamation of gospel liberty and salvation results from the sacrifice of the Redeemer. It was provided that the lands should not be sold away from their families. They could only be disposed of, as it were, by leases till the year of jubilee, and then returned to the owner or his heir. This tended to preserve their tribes and families distinct, till the coming of the Messiah. The liberty every man was born to, if sold or forfeited, should return at the year of jubilee. This was typical of redemption by Christ from the slavery of sin and Satan, and of being brought again to the liberty of the children of God. All bargains ought to be made by this rule, "Ye shall not oppress one another," not take advantage of one another's ignorance or necessity, "but thou shalt fear thy God." The fear of God reigning in the heart, would restrain from doing wrong to our neighbour in word or deed. Assurance was given that they should be great gainers, by observing these years of rest. If we are careful to do our duty, we may trust God with our comfort. This was a miracle for an encouragement to all neither sowed or reaped. This was a miracle for an encouragement to all God's people, in all ages, to trust him in the way of duty. There is nothing lost by faith and self-denial in obedience. Some asked, What shall we eat the seventh year? Thus many Christians anticipate evils, questioning what they shall do, and fearing to proceed in the way of duty. But we have no right to anticipate evils, so as to distress ourselves about them. To carnal minds we may appear to act absurdly, but the path of duty is ever the path of safety.