251 The Lord then spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai , saying , 2 "Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'When you come into the land which I shall give you, then the land shall have a sabbath to the Lord . 3 ' Six years you shall sow your field , and six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its crop , 4 but during the seventh year the land shall have a sabbath rest , a sabbath to the Lord ; you shall not sow your field nor prune your vineyard . 5 'Your harvest's aftergrowth you shall not reap , and your grapes of untrimmed vines you shall not gather ; the land shall have a sabbatical year . 6 ' All of you shall have the sabbath products of the land for food ; yourself, and your male and female slaves e , and your hired man and your foreign resident , those who live as aliens with you. 7 'Even your cattle and the animals that are in your land shall have all its crops to eat .
8 'You are also to count off seven sabbaths of years for yourself, seven times seven years , so that you have the time of the seven sabbaths of years , namely, forty-nine e years . 9 'You shall then sound a ram's horn abroad on the tenth day of the seventh month ; on the day of atonement you shall sound a horn all through your land . 10 'You shall thus consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim a release through the land to all its inhabitants . It shall be a jubilee for you, and each of you shall return to his own property , and each of you shall return to his family . 11 'You shall have the fiftieth year as a jubilee ; you shall not sow , nor reap its aftergrowth , nor gather in from its untrimmed vines . 12 'For it is a jubilee ; it shall be holy to you. You shall eat its crops out of the field . 13 ' On this year of jubilee each of you shall return to his own property .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Leviticus 25:1-13
Commentary on Leviticus 25:1-7
(Read Leviticus 25:1-7)
All labour was to cease in the seventh year, as much as daily labour on the seventh day. These statues tell us to beware of covetousness, for a man's life consists not in the abundance of his possessions. We are to exercise willing dependence on God's providence for our support; to consider ourselves the Lord's tenants or stewards, and to use our possessions accordingly. This year of rest typified the spiritual rest which all believers enter into through Christ. Through Him we are eased of the burden of wordly care and labour, both being sanctified and sweetened to us; and we are enabled and encouraged to live by faith.
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.