42. Give to him that asketh thee--The sense of unreasonable asking
is here implied (compare
Lu 6:30).
and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away--Though the
word signifies classically "to have money lent to one on security," or
"with interest," yet as this was not the original sense of the word, and
as usury was forbidden among the Jews
(Ex 22:25,
&c.), it is doubtless simple borrowing which our Lord here means, as
indeed the whole strain of the exhortation implies. This shows that
such counsels as "Owe no man anything"
(Ro 13:8),
are not to be taken absolutely; else the Scripture commendations of the
righteous for "lending" to his necessitous brother
(Ps 37:36; 112:5;
Lu 6:37)
would have no application.
turn not thou away--a graphic expression of unfeeling refusal to
relieve a brother in extremity.
JFB.
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