Does God Require Interest?
The parable of the talents (Matthew 25) and pounds (Luke 19) show the Lord telling the wicked servant, who did nothing with what was given to him, “Thou oughtest therefore [at least] to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury” Matthew 25:27, and “Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?” Luke 19:23. Modern translations render “usury” as “interest.” Does this mean that God requires interest? In the spiritual sense, yes indeed! The “talents,” spiritual gifts given to us from God, are not given for nothing. He expects a return on His investment. God has chosen us and ordained us that we should go and bring forth fruit that remains and lasts, John 15:16. Mortgage Usury Produces Bondage Peloubets Bible Dictionary, article “Usury” states that the “practice of mortgaging land, sometimes at exorbitant interest grew up among the Jews during the [Babylonian] ca
