Freely giving the temporary use of property or possessions at no personal advantage. Scripture lays down conditions for lending and emphasises the responsibilities that it brings.
The motivation for lending
Generosity
Psalm 37:25–26 See also Deuteronomy 15:11; Proverbs 3:27–28; Matthew 5:42
I once was young and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread. They are ever generous and quick to lend, and their children are a blessing.
Pity
Deuteronomy 15:7–8 See also Leviticus 25:35–36; Mark 14:7
If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, then you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother. Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him whatever he needs.
Not necessarily expecting repayment
The dangers of lending
Domination
Proverbs 22:7 See also Deuteronomy 15:6, Deuteronomy 28:12–13, Deuteronomy 28:43–44; Nehemiah 5:4–5
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
Loss
Exodus 22:14; 2 Kings 6:5; Isaiah 24:1–2
Exploitation
Do not take any interest or profit from him, but fear your God, that your countryman may live among you. You must not lend him your silver at interest or sell him your food for profit.
Usury
Exodus 22:25 See also Deuteronomy 23:19; Psalm 15:5; Ezekiel 18:8, Ezekiel 18:12–13
If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not act as a creditor to him; you are not to charge him interest.
Safeguards for the lender
Under the old covenant
Exodus 22:14 This specific case probably represents a general principle of restitution governing all kinds of lending.
If a man borrows an animal from his neighbor and it is injured or dies while its owner is not present, he must make full restitution.
Under the new covenant
Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what is yours, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Generosity may be risky but brings its reward
Proverbs 19:17 See also Psalm 112:5; Matthew 5:7
Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.
Jesus Christ was lent a donkey
Matthew 21:3 parallels Mark 11:3, Luke 19:31; Luke 19:34
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.