Ver. 11. For the poor shall never cease out of the land— i.e. There shall be always some indigent persons among you who shall stand in need of your charitable relief. The Jerusalem Targum understands this, as if there should have been no poor among them, had they been obedient to God's precepts. Though God, by his providence, could easily supply the necessities of all, he nevertheless permits the perpetual continuance of the poor; and that for divers reasons worthy of his wisdom: among others, to put to proof the humanity and compassion of the rich. So our Saviour says, ye have the poor with you always; and whensoever ye will, ye may do them good. Mark 14:7. See Grotius's Commentary on Matthew 26:11. Houbigant, in defence of his interpretation, observes, that these words are by no means contradictory to those in the 4th verse: for it is not there said, that there should be no poor in Israel; but it is commanded, that brother should not reduce brother to poverty.
REFLECTIONS.—We have here, 1. An order for the release of insolvent debtors on the sabbatical year. Note; (1.) The Gospel preaches to us poor debtors this acceptable year of the Lord, even the free pardon of all our sins through the blood of Jesus. (2.) God teaches us not to be severe exactors upon our brethren, but to forgive them as we hope to be forgiven. (3.) They who can take God's security for payment of what, for his sake, they remit to the indigent, will find him a responsible bondsman. 2. He cautions them against making this a plea for uncharitableness; that the year of release approached, and they should be in danger of losing what they lent: such a wicked thought God rebukes, enjoining them to open both their heart and hand to their brother's necessities, and according to their ability to lend, hoping for nothing again; and this not grudgingly, or of necessity, but with cheerfulness, assured that God will not suffer them to be losers by their kindness; and lest, if they refused, the cry of the needy should come up against them, and their sin be had in remembrance before God. Note; (1.) God knows and remarks every evil thought of our hearts, and therefore we should watch against and suppress the first risings of them within us. (2.) It is a dreadful thing to have the cry of the poor against us; for God hears, and will avenge them speedily. (3.) It is not so much the gift, as the temper of the giver, that God regards. (4.) The best and most useful charity, probably, is, to assist the industrious poor with a small loan, by the help of which they may be put in a way of comfortably providing for themselves and families. (5.) Though we lose what we thus lend, we shall find ourselves gainers at last.