and said to them, “We, as far as we are able, have bought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us!” They were silent and could not find a word to say.
“If a stranger or sojourner with you becomes rich, and your brother beside him becomes poor and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner with you or to a member of the stranger's clan, then after he is sold he may be redeemed. One of his brothers may redeem him, or his uncle or his cousin may redeem him, or a close relative from his clan may redeem him. Or if he grows rich he may redeem himself.
For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.
For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.
Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.
“They are dismayed; they answer no more; they have not a word to say.
the voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
“If a man is found stealing one of his brothers of the people of Israel, and if he treats him as a slave or sells him, then that thief shall die. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.
“Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.