Jewish and Gentile Slaves
25: 39-46
Jewish and Gentile Slaves DIG: Why do you think God distinguishes among Jews and Gentiles with regard to slavery? If God opposes slavery for Israelites, and if He had just delivered them from slavery in Egypt, then why do you think He allows them to be slaves for 50 years?
REFLECT: Are you serving two masters today? How can you get rid of one? How do Gentiles share in the blessings of the B’rit Chadashah? What is your standing before YHVH based on? In what sense are all believers Messiah’s slaves? In what sense is Yeshua your Lord?
All believers are one in Messiah.
Jewish slaves (25:39-43): Should a person that you lent money become further impoverished and unable to repay the money, it was within your rights in the ancient economy to have them work off the debt. However, if the person was a fellow Jew, several restrictions applied. In addition to the mitzvot of the Hebrew slave (see the commentary on Exodus, to see link click Dz – If You Buy a Hebrew Servant), we learn here not to give a Hebrew servant degrading tasks like a Gentile heathen slave. If a member of your people has become poor among you and sells himself to you, do not make him do the work of a slave. Rather, you are to treat him like an employee or a tenant; he will work for you until the Year of Yovel (see En – The Freedom of the Year of Jubilee). A Hebrew slave needed to be treated like a hired laborer, not a slave. His owner was not to oppress a Hebrew servant with harsh labor or to perform services below his dignity. His maximum term of labor was seven years (see El – The Sabbath Year) or the Jubilee, whichever came first. Then he will leave you, he and his children with him, and return to his own family and regain possession of his ancestral land. For they are My slaves, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt; therefore, they are not to be sold as slaves. Do not treat him harshly, but fear your God.
Gentile slaves (44-46): By contrast a pagan slave bought from the surrounding Gentile nations was kept for life and made a permanent part of the household. Concerning the men and women you may have as slaves: you are to buy men- and women-slaves from the nations surrounding you. You may also buy the children of foreigners living with you and members of their families born in your land; you may own these. You may also bequeath them to your children to own; from these groups you may take your slaves forever. After all, they had become part of one’s household. They had been circumcised and brought into the covenant. They were like adopted children. They were not to be treated merely as merchandise. But as far as your brothers the people of Isra’el are concerned, you are not to treat each other harshly. Surprisingly, the Gentile foreigner in Isra’el also fell into this category. He was not released in the Sabbath Year or set free at the Jubilee. He could become a permanent slave and member of the household. The reason the Jews were accorded special protections from slavery is stated explicitly at the end of the chapter: For to Me the people of Isra’el are slaves; they are My slaves whom I brought out of the land of Egypt; I am ADONAI (25:55).
Those of us who are Gentile believers should not allow ourselves to feel disenchanted with the inequality between the native-born Jew and foreign-born Gentile in this regard. After all, aren’t we grafted into the olive tree (see the commentary on Romans Cz – The Illustration of Isra’el’s Future)? Isn’t it our privilege to be slaves to the Kosher King? Is it not that being a bond-slave allows us to share in the blessings of the Covenant (see the commentary on Jeremiah Eo – The Days are Coming, declares the LORD, When I Will Make a New Covenant with the People of Isra’el)?
One might argue that there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor freeman, neither male nor female; for you are all one in Messiah Yeshua (Galatians 3:28). Yet these distinctions do exist. Paul certainly does not mean that Gentiles are also Jews and Jews are Gentiles. Or that men are women and women are men. Rather, he means our standing in Messiah is not contingent upon the status of being a Jew or a Gentile, slave or free, male or female. In Messiah we are all one. In the practical aspects of life, however, we occupy different positions. Paul accepts the institution of slavery in the Roman world matter-of-factly and urges believing slaves to submit to their masters as a testimony of their servitude to Messiah.
Slaves obey your human masters in everything, not serving only when they are watching you, to win their favor, but single-heartedly, fearing the Lord. Whatever work you do, put yourself into it, as those who are serving not merely other people, but the Lord. Remember that as your reward, you will receive the inheritance from the Lord. You are slaving for the Lord, for the Messiah (Colossians 3:22-24). And all who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor . . . (First Timothy 6:1).
Yet Paul also encouraged slaves to win their freedom as they were able to do so. We are to be Messiah’s slaves, not the slaves of another man. Yeshua Himself said: No one can serve two masters (Mt 6:24). Thus, a believing slave is to try to achieve freedom. What’s more, one who is free is forbidden to allow himself to become a slave. Were you a slave when you were called? Well, don’t let it bother you; although if you can gain your freedom, take advantage of the opportunity. For a person who was a slave when he was called is the Lord’s freedman; likewise, someone who was a free man when he was called is a slave of the Messiah. You were bought at a price, so do not become slaves of other human beings (First Cor 7:21-23). In keeping with Torah’s principles of fairness and kindness towards slaves, Paul exhorts believing slave owners to grant your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven (Colossians 4:1).518
Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You for You are the best Master that ever could be! It is so awesome that You adopt those who love you (Ephesians 1:5) making You their Heavenly Father! Praise You for being so patient and loving, kind and gracious, wise and omniscient, and yet so gentle when Your I need help. You have so many great and wonderful qualities!
Praise and worship to You for You are absolutely holy! Seraphim were standing above Him. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. One called out to another, and said: Holy, holy, holy, is ADONAI-Tzva’ot! The whole earth is full of His glory (Isaiah 6:2-3). Your love and wisdom enable You to even know the future (Daniel 2 and 7, Revelation 19-21). This ability works together with Your holiness so that when you tell me to do something, whatever You say, I know it is the absolute wisest thing to do!
What a comfort it is that You are always with me. I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5c). What a joy for me to rest my problems in Your loving hands, seeking You to guide me and the entire situation to Your glory. Nothing is hidden from You (Luke 12:2) and someday You will reward me, I have trusted in You and served You with a loving heart (First Corinthians 3). All praise, all worship and all honor go to You my wonderful Master, King of kings, Loving Savior and Fantastic Father! In the Name of the One at Your right hand. Amen
Leave A Comment