Deuteronomy 15:10
You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse doesn't just tell us to give, but also emphasizes the attitude of our heart when we give. It warns against letting our hearts become "grudging" or "evil" at the prospect of giving, revealing that God sees our inner disposition as equally important as the outward act of generosity.
This verse is part of a larger section detailing the Sabbatical year, a year of release for debts and a time to care for the poor. God instructs the Israelites to generously lend to those in need, emphasizing that their giving should come from a willing heart, not out of obligation or reluctance. The promise of blessing follows this command, directly linking cheerful generosity to future prosperity in all their endeavors.
The text talks about giving freely, but what does that really mean? It's more than just handing over cash.
The Heart of Generosity
Deuteronomy 15:10 isn't just about the act of giving; it's about the attitude behind it. The command is clear: "You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him." This isn't about a reluctant handout born out of obligation. It's about a willing, even joyful, participation in blessing others.
Moving Past Grudging
Think about it: what does it mean for your heart not to be grudging? It means you're not tallying up the cost, not resentful of the loss, and not simply complying out of fear. Instead, your giving flows from a place of generosity that reflects God's own abundant nature. This principle echoes Jesus' teaching in the New Testament: God loves a cheerful giver.
The verse promises blessing for giving. But what kind of blessing, and why?
The Divine Exchange
The promise in Deuteronomy 15:10 is profound: "because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake." This isn't a transactional 'you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours' deal with God. Instead, it reveals a fundamental principle of the covenant relationship.
God's Covenantal Blessing
When God established Israel, He laid out principles for their life in the land. Generosity, especially towards the vulnerable, was not an optional extra but a core aspect of their obedience and a pathway to experiencing God's sustained blessing. This blessing isn't just material wealth; it's about God's favor and empowerment in every endeavor. By freely giving, Israel demonstrated their trust in God's provision and faithfulness to uphold His covenant. Their obedience in this area was directly linked to their prosperity and stability in the land He had given them.
This New Testament passage echoes the principle of generous giving, stating 'Give, and it will be given to you.' It reinforces the idea that God blesses those who are open-handed with others.
2 Corinthians 9:7Paul directly quotes the sentiment of Deuteronomy, stating, 'Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not with reluctance or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.' This highlights the importance of the heart's attitude in giving.
Proverbs 11:24-25This proverb speaks to the blessings that flow from generosity: 'One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds more than is due, and comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.' This mirrors the promise of blessing in Deuteronomy.
Matthew 6:3-4Jesus teaches about giving to the needy in secret, ensuring the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. This connects to the 'heart' aspect of Deuteronomy, emphasizing a pure motive behind acts of charity, free from pride or grudging.
calvinDeuteronomy 15:1-11: "At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release."
And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbor shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbor, or of his brother; because it is called the Lord's release.
Haec autem est ratio remissionis, ut remittat omnis qui mutuum dederit manu sua, id quod mutuum dederit amico suo: non reposcet ab amico suo, aut a fratre suo, quia proclamata est remissio Jehovae.
3.…
ellicottDeuteronomy 15:10: "Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto."
(10) Thou shalt surely give. —“Even a hundred times.” Him.—“Between thee and him alone.” (Comp. “Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth” in Matthew 6:3). I have thought it worth while to borrow the comments of Rashi on these verses (Deuteronomy 1…
The verse doesn't just tell us to give, but also emphasizes the attitude of our heart when we give. It warns against letting our hearts become "grudging" or "evil" at the prospect of giving, revealing that God sees our inner disposition as equally important as the outward act of generosity.
This verse is part of a larger section detailing the Sabbatical year, a year of release for debts and a time to care for the poor. God instructs the Israelites to generously lend to those in need, emphasizing that their giving should come from a willing heart, not out of obligation or reluctance. The promise of blessing follows this command, directly linking cheerful generosity to future prosperity in all their endeavors.
This verse is part of a larger section detailing the Sabbatical year, a year of release for debts and a time to care for the poor. God instructs the Israelites to generously lend to those in need, emphasizing that their giving should come from a willing heart, not out of obligation or reluctance. The promise of blessing follows this command, directly linking cheerful generosity to future prosperity in all their endeavors.
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"You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake." — The verse doesn't just tell us to give, but also emphasizes the attitude of our heart when we give. It warns against letting our hearts become "grudging" or "evil" at the prospect of giving, reve…
