Deuteronomy 23:15-25
15 “You shall not give back to his master the slave who has escaped from his master to you. 16 He may dwell with you in your midst, in the place which he chooses within one of your gates, where it seems best to him; you shall not oppress him.
17 “There shall be no ritual harlot of the daughters of Israel, or a perverted one of the sons of Israel. 18 You shall not bring the wages of a harlot or the price of a dog to the house of the LORD your God for any vowed offering, for both of these are an abomination to the LORD your God.
19 “You shall not charge interest to your brother—interest on money or food or anything that is lent out at interest. 20 To a foreigner you may charge interest, but to your brother you shall not charge interest, that the LORD your God may bless you in all to which you set your hand in the land which you are entering to possess.
21 “When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the LORD your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you. 22 But if you abstain from vowing, it shall not be sin to you. 23 That which has gone from your lips you shall keep and perform, for you voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God what you have promised with your mouth.
24 “When you come into your neighbor's vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes at your pleasure, but you shall not put any in your container. 25 When you come into your neighbor's standing grain, you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not use a sickle on your neighbor's standing grain.
15 “You shall not give back to his master the slave who has escaped from his master to you. 16 He may dwell with you in your midst, in the place which he chooses within one of your gates, where it seems best to him; you shall not oppress him.
17 “There shall be no ritual harlot of the daughters of Israel, or a perverted one of the sons of Israel. 18 You shall not bring the wages of a harlot or the price of a dog to the house of the LORD your God for any vowed offering, for both of these are an abomination to the LORD your God.
19 “You shall not charge interest to your brother—interest on money or food or anything that is lent out at interest. 20 To a foreigner you may charge interest, but to your brother you shall not charge interest, that the LORD your God may bless you in all to which you set your hand in the land which you are entering to possess.
21 “When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the LORD your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you. 22 But if you abstain from vowing, it shall not be sin to you. 23 That which has gone from your lips you shall keep and perform, for you voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God what you have promised with your mouth.
24 “When you come into your neighbor's vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes at your pleasure, but you shall not put any in your container. 25 When you come into your neighbor's standing grain, you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not use a sickle on your neighbor's standing grain.
More laws covering situations in life requiring God’s judgement and direction end this chapter. First we see how escaped slaves are to be protected and not returned to their masters, which seems contrary to the runaway slave Onesimus of Philemon many years later (Philemon 1:10-15) whom Paul sent back. However, that account also shows a slave who served the gospel and Paul and was returned as a brother in Christ instead of property alone. This passage in Deuteronomy then decries the sin fo female and male prostitution and goes on to forbid ill gotten gain from regular non-temple prostitution to be given to God for His work. We see that what we offer to Him must be honest and holy in its source to be honoring to the Lord. This would certainly cover criminal as well as immoral gain. Speaking of gain, the people of God were only to charge interest to those not His, the outsiders, not their brothers. Do we seek to gain financially from fellow believers at every opportunity, or do we instead seek to give freely and meet needs (Matthew 10:8, Acts 20:35, Isaiah 58:7)? God has given us an eternal kingdom without charge, so how can we profit from the gospel let alone our daily bread? As to making binding promises to the Lord, the guidance given here in principle is to either follow through by keeping it, or first counting the cost before swearing to it. Rash prayers and commitments in troubled times can quickly lead to accountability and consequence. It is better in many cases to be silent with our lips and eager in our hearts committed to following by faith and obedience. Finally, this passage addresses gleaning a bite to eat from someone’s farm instead of stealing by gathering more than is needed for a moment’s hunger. Do we take more than is necessary in our times of need from others, or only what is offered or allowed? Let us therefore do all things decently and in order with love and consideration for God and man, keeping the two greatest commandments. These are laws inscribed in our hearts by the Spirit of God for holiness to the Lord and consideration for others.
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