At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release of debts. And this is the regulation for the release of debts: every creditor is to forgive what he has loaned to his neighbor; he shall not require it of his neighbor and his brother, because the Lord’s release has been proclaimed. From a foreigner you may require it, but your hand shall forgive whatever of yours is with your brother. (vv. 1-3)

And all the officials and all the people obeyed who had entered into the covenant that each person was to set his male servant free and each his female servant, so that no one would keep them in bondage any longer; they obeyed, and set them free. But afterward they turned around and took back the male servants and the female servants whom they had set free, and brought them into subjection as male servants and as female servants. (Jeremiah 23:10-11)

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors (Matthew 6:12)

This chapter is about the Sabbatic year. At the end of every seven years, all the Israelites were required to release what they had loaned to their neighbors. People often interpret the law literally. Most people do not understand that the essence of the law is love. The law is about what Christ has done. Christ is the Lord of the Sabbath. But most of the Israelites, especially the teachers of the law, did not understand what it meant when Christ taught them.

Without understanding the purpose and the meaning of the law, there is no keeping of the law as we see in Jeremiah 23. Everyone without the Holy Spirit cares only about the earthly life. They go after wealth and prosperity. People envy Job because of his wealth and their beautiful children. Christians think that they will get more wealth if they endure their suffering and be obedient to church authorities.

In my opinion, true Christians go through much suffering in the world and stay in a humble position. God knows what wealth can do to a person. In Job’s case, Job believed he deserved and earned the earthly blessings because of his obedience. I am not saying that he should have disobeyed God. What I am saying is that it is wrong to believe that one’s obedience can bring God’s blessings.

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, since otherwise grace is no longer grace. What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened (Romans 11:6-7)

It is very absurd to say that the Apostle Paul preached salvation by works of the law. But theologians and ministers preach that Christ had to keep the law perfectly to gain righteousness. And they insist that Paul believed it.

Christ came to the earth to free His people from the bondage of sin and death. He did it by dying on the cross. Through this one act of righteousness that came out of God’s love, the law became perfected. We no longer obey the law as the written code that brings death. We now obey God through faith. Those who are truly reborn do not follow false doctrines.

For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (Romans 10:4)