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Deuteronomy 15 · Grade 5

Grace Received, Grace Given

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Read and Think

Deuteronomy 15 establishes the seventh year as a year of release. Debts among Israelites were canceled. God promised that there would be no poor among them if they obeyed, for He would richly bless the land. The law aimed to keep poverty from becoming permanent.

Moses anticipates a selfish calculation: the seventh year is near, so lending now means losing the loan. God calls this a base thought in the heart and warns that the poor man may cry to Yahweh against you. Instead, Israel must surely open the hand and lend sufficient for his need, giving without a grieving heart. Verse 11 is realistic and moral at once: the poor will never cease out of the land, therefore open your hand.

The law of release for Hebrew servants limited service to six years and required generous gifts on release, from flock, threshing floor, and wine press. The motive was redemption: remember that you were a slave in Egypt and Yahweh redeemed you. Jesus quoted verse 11 (Mark 14:7), and Paul taught that God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Show What You Know

  1. What did the law of release aim to do?

  2. What selfish calculation does Moses warn against?

  3. How is verse 11 both realistic and moral?

  4. What was the motive for releasing servants generously?

  5. What did Paul say about giving?

Crossword

53214

Across

  1. The ____ will never cease.
  2. Every seven years there is a ____.

Down

  1. ____ your hand wide.
  2. Let him go ____.
  3. ____ him enough for his need.

Think About It

  1. What keeps people from giving freely, and how does God's grace answer that?

  2. What would an open hand look like for you this week?

Memory Verse

“For the poor will never cease out of the land. Therefore I command you to surely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor, in your land.”

Deuteronomy 15:11 (WEB)

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Prayer

Dear God, thank You for giving to me. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • Why does God warn against a hard heart toward the poor?
  • How can you give generously this month?
  • What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.