Deuteronomy 15:3

3 You can require someone from another nation to pay you back. But you must forgive your own people what they owe you.

Deuteronomy 15:3 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 15:3

Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again
Either on the seventh year, or after it:

but that which is thine with thy brother, thine hand shall release;
a debt that lies between them, where the one is the creditor, and the other debtor, the creditor shall freely and fully forgive the debtor. So those only are released or forgiven by the Lord who are his own, whom he has reserved for himself, or chosen to everlasting life; who are interested in the covenant of his grace, one article in which is the forgiveness of sins; and who are redeemed by the blood of Christ, a branch of which redemption is remission of sin; and who are called by grace, and believe in Christ, to whom pardon of sins is promised; but those who are foreigners and strangers, and are not the Lord's chosen, redeemed, and called people, have no share in this blessing of grace; nor such who are rich in their own esteem, and need nothing; but those who are poor and unable to pay their debts, and are sensible of their spiritual poverty, and apply to the Lord for the forgiveness of their sins.

Deuteronomy 15:3 In-Context

1 At the end of every seven years you must forgive people what they owe you.
2 Have you made a loan to one of your own people? Then forgive what is owed to you. You can't require that person to pay you back. The LORD's time to forgive what is owed has been announced.
3 You can require someone from another nation to pay you back. But you must forgive your own people what they owe you.
4 There shouldn't be any poor people among you. The LORD will greatly bless you in the land he is giving you. You will take it over as your own.
5 The LORD your God will bless you if you obey him completely. Be careful to follow all of the commands I'm giving you today.
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