Matthew Henry Commentary Nehemiah 5:6-13

"And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I held a great assembly against them. And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, that were sold unto the nations; and would ye even sell your brethren, and should they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found never a word. Also I said, The thing that ye do is not good: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies? And I likewise, my brethren and my servants, do lend them money and grain. I pray you, let us leave off this usury. Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their fields, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them. Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do, even as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise. Also I shook out my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that performeth not this promise; even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the assembly said, Amen, and praised Jehovah. And the people did according to this promise." — Nehemiah 5:6-13 (ASV)

Nehemiah knew that if he built Jerusalem's walls ever so high, so thick, or so strong, the city could not be safe while there were abuses. The right way to reform people's lives is to convince their consciences.

If you walk in the fear of God, you will not be either covetous of worldly gain or cruel toward your brothers. Nothing exposes religion more to reproach than the worldliness and hard-heartedness of its professors.

Those who rigorously insist upon their right, very ungraciously try to persuade others to give up theirs. In reasoning with selfish people, it is good to contrast their conduct with that of others who are generous; but it is best to point to His example, who though he was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that we, through his poverty, might be rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).

They did as they had promised. Good promises are good things, but good follow-through is better.