John Calvin Commentary Deuteronomy 15:3

"Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it: but whatsoever of thine is with thy brother thy hand shall release." — Deuteronomy 15:3 (ASV)

Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it. An exception follows, that it was lawful to sue foreigners and to compel them to pay. This was for a very good reason, because it was by no means just that despisers of the Law should enjoy the Sabbatical benefit, especially when God had conferred the privilege on His elect people alone.

What follows in the next verse, Unless because there shall be no beggar, interpreters twist into various senses.

Some translate it, "Nevertheless (veruntamen), let there be no beggar among thee"; as if it were a prohibition that they should not allow their poor brethren to be overwhelmed with poverty without assisting them. Lest they should object that if they were so liberal in giving they would soon exhaust themselves, God anticipates them and commands them to rely on His blessing.

Others, however, understand it as a promise and connect it in this way: That there shall be no beggar among them, if only they keep the Law, since then God would bless them. Nor would this meaning be very unsuitable.

What they mean who expound it, Insomuch that there should be no beggar with thee, I do not know.

Let my readers, however, consider whether ¹⁴⁶אפס כי, ephes ci, is not better rendered unless because, (nisi quod:). Then this clause would be read parenthetically, as if it were said: Whenever there are any poor among your brethren, an opportunity of doing them good is presented to you.

Therefore, the poverty of your brethren must be relieved by you, so that God may bless you.

But, so that the sentence may be clearer, I take the two words אפס כי, ephes ci, exclusively, as if it were, On no account let there be a beggar. Or, however it may be, do not allow it to be your fault that there should be any beggar among you.

For He would put an end to all vain excuses and, as necessity arose, would have them disposed to give assistance, lest the poor should sink under the pressure of want and distress. He does not, therefore, mean generally all poor persons, but only those in extreme indigence, such as the Prophet Amos complains are “sold for a pair of shoes.” (Amos 2:6).

In order, then, that they may more cheerfully assist them in their distresses, He promises that His blessing will produce greater abundance.

And hence Paul seems to have derived his exhortation to the Corinthians:

He which soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully. God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower, shall both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness, that, being enriched in every thing, you may abound unto all bountifulness. (2 Corinthians 9:6–11)

In short, God would have them without anxiety, since He will abundantly recompense them with His blessing, if they have diminished their own stores by liberality to the poor.

¹⁴⁶ S. . M., ., However. . A. . V., ., Save when; or, in its margin, ; or, in its margin, To the end that. . S..M. refers to Jewish expositors as saying, “The meaning is, Thou shalt not fear that this law may do you an injury; for, if you be such zealous observers of my precepts, I will so bless you, and make all things needful for you to increase, that there shall be no poor man amongst you, to whom you need give what is lent. And if there be any person needing your assistance, and ye, for my sake, forgive his debt, as I have commanded, the man who doth thus shall not lose what was owed him, but shall receive from me a more abundant blessing.” The learned reader may find this expression further discussed in Noldii Concord. partic. Art., 509 of Annot and Vindic. — . refers to Jewish expositors as saying, “The meaning is, Thou shalt not fear that this law may do you an injury; for, if you be such zealous observers of my precepts, I will so bless you, and make all things needful for you to increase, that there shall be no poor man amongst you, to whom you need give what is lent. And if there be any person needing your assistance, and ye, for my sake, forgive his debt, as I have commanded, the man who doth thus shall not lose what was owed him, but shall receive from me a more abundant blessing.” The learned reader may find this expression further discussed in Noldii Concord. partic. Art., 509 of Annot and Vindic. — W..