What does the Bible say about loaning money?
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The Bible teaches that lending should be governed by love, generosity, justice, and trust in God rather than by exploitation or greed. Exodus 22:25 and Deuteronomy 23:19-20 forbid profiting through interest from a needy fellow Israelite, while Proverbs 22:7 soberly warns that debt can place borrowers under another's power. Jesus calls His disciples to give and lend freely, not merely when repayment is likely, in Luke 6:34-35 and Matthew 5:42. Yet Scripture also commends honest repayment, as Psalms 37:21 shows. Believers should use their resources to relieve need, remembering that generosity to the poor is lending to the Lord, Proverbs 19:17, and that love refuses to close its heart to a brother in need, 1 John 3:17.
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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Exodus 22:25
"If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be to him as a creditor; neither shall you charge him interest.
- Luke 6:34-35
[34] If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back as much. [35] But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.
- Romans 13:8
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
- Deuteronomy 23:19-20
[19] You shall not lend on interest to your brother; interest of money, interest of food, interest of anything that is lent on interest: [20] to a foreigner you may lend on interest; but to your brother you shall not lend on interest, that Yahweh your God may bless you in all that you put your hand to, in the land where you go in to possess it.
- Proverbs 19:17
He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; He will reward him.
- Proverbs 22:7
The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
- Psalms 37:21
The wicked borrow, and don't pay back, But the righteous give generously.
- 1 John 3:17
But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does the love of God remain in him?
- Matthew 5:42
Give to him who asks you, and don't turn away him who desires to borrow from you.
- Deuteronomy 23:19
You shall not lend on interest to your brother; interest of money, interest of food, interest of anything that is lent on interest:
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