This is one of those things that we as Christians don't often think about, but in the Old Testament, the idea of Jubilee was part of the Law.
We first read about the Jubilee in Leviticus 25:8-10. This is what Snyder calls a Sabbath of Sabbaths. Land is to lie fallow, slaves are to be liberated, debts are to be cancelled and all land acquired during the previous forty-nine years is to be returned.
When Jesus announced His ministry in Luke 4 - scholars agree that 'the acceptable year of the Lord' is a proclamation of the Jubilee year. Jesus announced that His coming was to bring the Jubilee. This wasn't just a Jubilee year, but a Jubilee age - "the very kingdom of God" (pg. 70).
Why does this matter in the Kingdom of God? The first thing that we have to believe about all of this is that God as King is owner of everything we see ... all of the land belongs to him, no matter that we have taken ownership and have deeds and abstracts to prove it.
We can not separate the idea of God's Kingdom from caring for the land and caring for the oppressed. We can't live in our perfectly manicured homes with our perfectly manicured lawns and believe that is all there is to bringing God's Kingdom to earth.
When Jesus taught His disciples the Lord's prayer, He told them to pray asking for forgiveness of debts as we have forgiven our debtors. This is Jubilee material!
The Kingdom has come - the Age of Jubilee has been announced. When Jesus spoke those words, He was proclaiming not only for Himself, but for all who would follow - their marching orders.
Preach good news to the poor
Bind up the brokenhearted
Proclaim freedom for the captives
Release the prisoners
Comfort those who mourn
Provide for those who grieve
Bring beauty instead of ashes
Gladness instead of mourning
A garment of praise instead of despair.
Jubilee is upon us ... What is our response?
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