Deuteronomy 15 explained. What does Deuteronomy 15 teach about debt, slavery, and God’s care for the poor? In Episode 191 we unpack the year-of-release (the sabbatical cancellation of debts), the instruction to free Hebrew servants after six years, and the radical call to open-handed generosity that marks covenant life.

Delivered as Moses speaks to Israel from the Plains of Moab, this chapter links economic mercy to covenant faithfulness. Key points covered:

• The sabbatical year: periodic debt release to protect vulnerable households and prevent permanent poverty.

• Release of Hebrew servants after six years and fair, generous treatment of those who leave.

• The command not to harden your heart toward a needy neighbor and the repeated reminder: “you were a slave in Egypt.”

• The promise that God will bless obedience so there will be no poor among you, and the pastoral tension between ideal and reality.

• Practical pastoral and teaching applications: debt relief as a gospel practice, church care for the needy, habits of sacrificial giving, and how Sabbath rhythms shape economic justice.

Includes clear, verse-by-verse explanation, sermon-ready takeaways, short discussion questions for small groups, and cross-references for further study.