We have to be clean and holy.

We cannot bring sin on the land which the LORD our God is giving us as an inheritance, so we need to obey these laws and be clean, holy and pure before the Lord.

V4c and you shall not bring sin on the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.

V5 mentions that a man shall be free at home one year, and bring happiness to his wife whom he has taken. This is interesting because it shows that a man should prioritise his wife and her happiness, even if he has business to go about.

Be generous and kind to others, just as God has been generous and kind to us.

The verses mention how we should not mistreat our brethren (V7), how we should carefully observe and do according to what we have been taught (V8), and how we should be merciful and gracious to those around us.

14 “You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether one of your brethren or one of the aliens who is in your land within your gates. 15 Each day you shall give him his wages, and not let the sun go down on it, for he is poor and has set his heart on it; lest he cry out against you to the Lord, and it be sin to you.

We must not oppress others, and we should pay who we have hired.

19 “When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. 20 When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. 21 When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it afterward; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.

V19-21 shows that we should be gracious and merciful to leave something good for those around us, even though they will still have to work a little for it – “you shall not go back and get it, you shall not go over the boughs again, you shall not glean it afterward”. It seems that the sheaf, boughs and grapes are left there for those who need it to take it, instead of spoonfeeding them. While we are kind and generous to others, we need to discern and allow them to also take a step for themselves so that we can truly help them, and so that they learn to rely on God and not on humans for their daily providence.

Pass it on.

22 And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this thing.

Let us remember that we were once slaves to sin but now God has redeemed us to be slaves of righteousness. We must pass these good things to others, by not only preaching to others, but by also showing them the love of Christ through our actions.

Colossians 4:1-6

1 Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the [a]mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

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