In the Bible, “usurers” refers to those who lend money at excessive or unjust interest rates, often exploiting the poor and vulnerable. Usury is condemned in several biblical passages, such as Exodus 22:25 and Ezekiel 18:8, emphasizing ethical lending practices and compassion towards those in need.
Scripture
25 “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him.
26 If you ever take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down,
27 for that is his only covering, it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
Biblical Definition of Usurers
The biblical concept of usury transcends mere financial transactions; it serves as a profound commentary on social justice and moral responsibility within the community. In Exodus 22:25, the instruction not to charge interest on loans to fellow Israelites underscores the importance of solidarity among members of the community, emphasizing that lending should be an act of assistance rather than a means of exploitation. This principle aligns with Deuteronomy 23:19-20, where the people are reminded that while they may lend to foreigners with interest, their kin should be treated with empathy. The emphasis on ethical lending practices reveals a broader understanding of economic relationships as fundamentally moral, where the welfare of others is prioritized over profit.
Moreover, the prophetic literature, such as Ezekiel 18:8, boldly condemns usury as a characteristic of the wicked. This condemnation serves as an indictment against the systemic injustices that perpetuate socio-economic disparities, aligning the act of usury with broader themes of righteousness and community flourishing. The scriptures challenge the faithful to uphold justice and to consider the implications of their financial dealings. The emphasis on compassion, mercy, and social responsibility in relation to lending reflects a divine mandate that seeks to protect the vulnerable and ensure equity, ultimately calling upon believers to engage in a transformative practice of generosity that honors God’s desire for a just society.
In the wisdom literature, usury is also addressed as a violation of ethical principles that govern interpersonal relationships. Proverbs presents a stark warning against predatory lending practices, where charging exorbitant interest is associated with deceit and greed. Such admonitions not only highlight the moral implications of financial exploitation but also encourage an attitude of generosity and benevolence. The wise individual is portrayed as one who upholds the command to lend freely, viewing financial assistance as an expression of love and neighborly duty rather than a transactional obligation. This reflects a deep-seated belief in the interconnectedness of the community’s well-being and the spiritual health of its members.
The Psalms further illuminate this theme by extolling the virtues of those who practice righteousness, particularly in their dealings with the poor and marginalized. A righteous person is depicted as one who neither takes advantage of the vulnerable through loans with high interest nor turns away from those in need. Such character traits not only fulfill the expectations outlined in the Law of Moses but also resonate with a broader spiritual principle that intertwines economic fairness with covenant faithfulness. By linking ethical lending practices with divine favor, the biblical narrative advocates for financial integrity that contributes to a just and harmonious society, fostering an environment where compassion and mutual support are foundational pillars.
Exploitation and Injustice
In the biblical context, usurers are often associated with the exploitation of the vulnerable, particularly the poor and marginalized. The practice of charging excessive interest on loans is seen as a form of injustice that undermines community solidarity and trust. This exploitation reflects a broader moral failing, where the usurer prioritizes personal gain over the well-being of others, leading to social and economic disparities.
Ethical Stewardship and Responsibility
The concept of usury in the Bible also highlights the importance of ethical stewardship and financial responsibility. It emphasizes the moral obligation to assist those in need without taking advantage of their circumstances. This perspective encourages a sense of communal responsibility, where lending practices should be rooted in compassion and support rather than profit-seeking motives.
Divine Justice and Accountability
Biblical teachings on usury underscore the theme of divine justice and accountability. The scriptures convey that those who engage in usurious practices will ultimately face consequences for their actions. This serves as a reminder that financial dealings are not merely transactional but are also subject to divine scrutiny, reinforcing the idea that ethical behavior in all aspects of life is essential for maintaining a just society.
How to Uphold Integrity in Financial Dealings as a Christian
Upholding integrity in financial dealings as a Christian is not just about following rules; it’s about embodying the values of honesty and stewardship that our faith teaches us. When you approach financial matters, whether in business or personal transactions, remember that every decision reflects your commitment to Christ. Start by being transparent in your dealings—this means not only being truthful about your own financial situation but also ensuring that you treat others fairly and with respect. Consider the biblical principle found in Proverbs 11:1, which states that “the Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.” This reminds us that integrity is not just a personal virtue but a divine expectation. Pray for wisdom and discernment in your financial choices, and seek to serve others rather than just yourself. By doing so, you not only honor God but also build trust and respect in your community, demonstrating that your faith is alive and active in every aspect of your life.
Bible References to Usurers in Scripture:
Leviticus 25:35-37: 35 “If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you.
36 Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you.
37 You shall not give him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit.
Deuteronomy 23:19-20: 19 “You shall not charge interest on loans to your brother, interest on money, interest on food, interest on anything that is lent for interest.
20 You may charge a foreigner interest, but you may not charge your brother interest, that the Lord your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.
Nehemiah 5:1-13: 1 Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers.
2 For there were those who said, “With our sons and our daughters, we are many. So let us get grain, that we may eat and keep alive.”
3 There were also those who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine.”
4 And there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards.
5 Now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.
6 I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words.
7 I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, “You are exacting interest, each from his brother.” And I held a great assembly against them.
8 and said to them, “We, as far as we are able, have bought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us!” They were silent and could not find a word to say.
9 So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?
10 I also said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?
11 Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the percentage of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them.”
12 Then they said, “We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say.” And I called the priests and made them swear to do as they had promised.
13 I also shook out the fold of my garment and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said “Amen” and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.
Psalm 15:1-5: 1 O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart;
3 He does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
4 who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 Who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.
Proverbs 28:8: 8 Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.
Isaiah 24:1-3: 1 Behold, the Lord will empty the earth and make it desolate,
and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants.
2 And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the slave, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the creditor, so with the debtor.
3 The earth shall be utterly empty and utterly plundered; for the Lord has spoken this word.
Jeremiah 15:10: 10 Woe is me, my mother, that you bore me, a man of strife and contention to the whole land! I have not lent, nor have I borrowed, yet all of them curse me.
Ezekiel 18:5-9: 5 “If a man is righteous and does what is just and right—
6 if he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman in her time of menstrual impurity,
7 does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment,
8 does not lend at interest or take any profit, withholds his hand from injustice, executes true justice between man and man,
9 “if he walks in my statutes and keeps my rules by acting faithfully—he is righteous; he shall surely live, declares the Lord God.”
Ezekiel 18:10-13: 10 “If he fathers a son who is violent, a shedder of blood, who does any of these things”
11 “Though he says, ‘The Lord lives,’ yet they swear falsely.”
12 oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination,
13 lends at interest, and takes profit; shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon himself.
Ezekiel 18:14-18: 14 “Now suppose this man fathers a son who sees all the sins that his father has done; he sees, and does not do likewise:”
15 “He does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor’s wife,”
16 does not oppress anyone, exacts no pledge, commits no robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment,
17 withholds his hand from iniquity, takes no interest or profit, obeys my rules, and walks in my statutes; he shall not die for his father’s iniquity; he shall surely live.
18 As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what was not good among his people, behold, he shall die for his iniquity.
Ezekiel 22:12-14: 12 In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take interest and profit and make gain of your neighbors by extortion; but me you have forgotten, declares the Lord God.
13 Behold, I strike my hand at the dishonest gain that you have made, and at the blood that has been in your midst.
14 Can your courage endure, or can your hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with you? I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.
Matthew 25:14-30: 14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.
15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.
17 So also he who had received the two talents made two talents more.
18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’
21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
22 And he also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,
23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,
25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’
26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?
27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.
29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Luke 6:34-35: 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.
35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
Reverend Ogunlade is a seasoned Church Minister with over three decades of experience in guiding and nurturing congregations. With profound wisdom and a serene approach, Reverend Ogunlade has carried out various pastoral duties, including delivering uplifting sermons, conducting religious ceremonies, and offering sage counsel to individuals seeking spiritual guidance. Their commitment to fostering harmony and righteousness within their community is exemplified through their compassionate nature, making them a beloved and trusted figure among the congregation.