The Israelites were commanded by the LORD to live and to celebrate the Year of Jubilee every 50 years (the 49^th year or seven-sets of seven years). It is significant to note that the Jubilee was announced on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 25:10). The LORD’s cancelling of the Israelites debts on the Day of Atonement flowed congruently with the people of Israel in turn cancelling the debts of one another and of foreigners. The Year of Jubilee was a year of rest from agricultural work (to heal the land and its workers)[1] as well as to impart social and economic justice in the lives of the people. In the Torah, Sabbath rest begins with the LORD (Genesis 2:1–3), then moves to people (Exodus 20:11), involves worship (Leviticus 23:3), includes animals and even involves the land. In Luke 4:19, Jesus announces the “Year of the LORD’s Favor.” This statement by Jesus is tied directly to Leviticus 25:10, the Year of Jubilee. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus proclaims that He is the one who has been sent to ultimately usher in the LORD’s Jubilee. How do we, the church of Christ, redeemed by His blood, live-out and practice this Jubilee in our lives? How do we live in social and economic justice with one another and with foreigners? How do we forgive the debts of those indebted to us? Do we actually execute social and economic justice in our communities? Or do we need to further examine what it means to live as the people of God in our time and context? How are we living in ways that bare the good news that Jesus has come to bring freedom to those in bondage; to forgive the debts of all who are indebted?

Are there areas in your life that are actually binding those who are already in bondage and poverty? Examine how you make and spend your money. Examine your community and the world around you. What are ways in which you can bring Christ’s freedom to those who do not know it, in both word and deed?

[1] “In the last half of the chapter (Lev. 25:23–55, Moses institutes the right of redemption for Israel’s land and its tenants. In this way, the chapter develops a rich theology of the land, indicating how Yahweh, Israel, and the land are all interconnected. Yahweh, who delivered His people from slavery in Egypt, continues to do it every fifty years.” Excerpt from: Lessing, R. Reed & Steinmann, Andrew E.; Prepare the Way of the LORD, pg. 108; Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO, 2014