Exodus 22 - Is Usury Lawful?

No! It is not. So says Scripture. Once again we have an instance of a God-given Law being conveniently ignored. Throughout much of history usury has existed and even flourished, but nothing compares to the excessiveness of usury in our own day. Usury has become (especially in America) not just tolerable, but downright celebrated! We've somehow gotten to a point where usurers, or people able to profit from lending, are seen as savvy and industrious citizens. They are champions of the business world. They write books and talk on TV shows. Yet, they are blatantly violating God's Law, and no one seems to care. Exodus 22:25 says, "If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor, that dwelleth with thee, thou shalt not be hard upon them as an extortioner, nor oppress them with usuries." And to paraphrase that famous Roman Cato: "What is usury but to kill a man." It's an unnatural thing. Usury is an abuse that perverts civil law the same way murder does natural law. It is clearly condemned by God, and Jesus Christ reiterates and reaffirms this most basic principle when He says, "Do good, and lend, hoping for nothing thereby: and your reward shall be great" (Luke 6:35). In other words, "Lend, hoping to gain nothing by it." Instead of trying to flimsily justify our modern practice of lending with (exorbitant) interest, why don't we live by Jesus's simple words? It comes down to avarice, pride, and materialism. These are sins that afflicted mankind then and even more so now. Lending money has become such an unfeeling business that there is no charity involved in the exchange whatsoever. A person or a company does not lend to someone in need because it is the charitable thing to do; they lend to increase their own profits, and thus they deny themselves the great reward that Christ promises.

And to all those who criticize the Mercy of God, Exodus 22 provides some great verses on His kindness and empathy. I've always heard that the Old Testament depicts a vengeful God who deals harshly with His people (and in some instances this is true), but I've come across several verses so far that display God's Mercy, the same Mercy that will eventually become Incarnate in the Person of Jesus Christ. For instance, God says:

"You shall not hurt a widow or an orphan.
If you hurt them, they will cry out to me, and I will hear their cry:
And my rage shall be enkindled, and I will strike you with the sword, and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless." (Exodus 22:22-24)

Obviously in this passage we also see an example of God's Justice in dealing with those who harm the less fortunate, but the very fact that God reserves a place in His Law for the protection of those less fortunate indicates a merciful God. And it is stated further:

"If thou take of thy neighbor a garment in pledge, thou shalt give it him again before sun-set.
For that same is the only thing, wherewith he is covered, the clothing of his body, neither hath he any other to sleep in: if he cry to me, I will hear him, because I am compassionate." (Exodus 22:26-27)

"Because I am compassionate"! God Himself tells us of His Mercy. Need we second-guess Him?