ADULT STS LESSON 81

THE YEAR OF JUBILEE

MEMORY VERSE: “And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty
throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you;
and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man
unto his family” (Leviticus 25:10).

TEXT: Leviticus 25:1-55

This passage reveals two of God’s closely related ordinances for the children of Israel – the
sabbatical year and the year of jubilee. These ordinances were God’s means of bringing about
rest for the land as well as release and redemption for the children of Israel. The chapter
begins with this recurrent phrase: “And the LORD spake unto Moses”. This phrase is used
ninety-nine times in the Pentateuch. It reveals God’s authorship and Moses’ faithfulness.
Moses was faithful in declaring God’s counsel as it was received. He did not regard his
convenience, the popular opinion or opposition of the people when delivering the counsel of
God. Even God attested to his faithfulness: “My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful
in all mine house”(Numbers 12:7). Ministers, today, should faithfully proclaim God’s word
without fear or favor. Any attempt to distort, either by adding to, or removing from God’s
commandments, for whatever reason, will amount to unfaithfulness.

1. SOVEREIGN PROCLAMATION OF THE SABBATICAL YEAR

Leviticus 25:1-7,18-22; Genesis 2:2,3; Exodus 23:10,11

The children of Israel were commanded to till the ground for six years and then allow it to lie
fallow on the seventh year. This year was to be a Sabbath of rest for the land. The sabbatical
year was God’s idea, it was amongst other things, God’s way of making the land to rest so as
to regain its nutrients. God’s command was clear: “…thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor
prune thy vineyard… thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine
undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the land” (Leviticus 25:4,5). However, they were
permitted to eat the crops that grew of their own accord during the Sabbath year. Besides,
God promised to bless them in the sixth year so that they will have enough to eat in the
seventh year (sabbatical year), eighth year and up till the new harvest in the ninth year
(Leviticus 25:18-22). Since they were not going to sow in the seventh year, they will not have
any harvest in the eighth year; and what was sown in the eighth year would only be ready
for harvest in the ninth year, hence God’s threefold blessing on the sixth year. This provision
is a spectacular miracle to sustain an uncommon agro practice. From the divine institution
of the sabbatical year, the following lessons can be gleaned: One, God is concerned about
everything He created. He instituted Sabbath for the land to enable it rest and regain its
nutrients. In the same vein, He used the sabbatical year as an avenue to cater for the poor
and for the beasts (Exodus 23:11). This was for the ultimate good of the Israelites because
when the land is allowed to rest, its fertility will be renewed and will yield better thereafter.
Two, God commanded them to work for six years before allowing the land to lie fallow on the
sabbatical year. God does not encourage laziness. Contemporary believers should avoid
laziness in all aspects of their lives. Apostle Paul said, For even when we were with you, this
we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10).
Three, it brings to fore the principle of rest after work. God rested from His work after creation
(Genesis 2:2,3). Believers should also take out time to rest because adequate rest will
enhance both spiritual and physical productivity. Four, there is final, eternal rest for all
saints. It is an blissful rest with God. “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of
God. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest…” (Hebrews 4:9,11). Five, obedience
and blessings. The children of Israel were to till the ground on the sixth year and expect God’s
blessings that will sustain them up to the ninth year. God had earlier made a similar vision
for them when He fed them with manna. They were to gather what they would need for the
sixth and Sabbath day on the sixth day (Exodus 16:22,26). Indeed, God cares for His own
people. God’s plan is that His children should enjoy a present moment-by-moment rest, free
from the worry and anxiety that is so prevalent in the world, before entering the future rest
reserved for the believers. But, in most case, people forfeit the promised rest because of
disobedience to God. For instance, when the Israelites settled in the land of Canaan, they did
not obey God’s directive to allow the land rest every sabbatical year. This disobedience was a
contributory factor to their going into exile for seventy years, so that the land could enjoy its
accumulated sabbaths (2 Chronicles 36:15-21; Leviticus 26:33-35,43).

2. SUCCINCT PURPOSES OF THE YEAR OF JUBILEE

Leviticus 25:8-13,28,40,4 1,54; Romans 8:2; 5:18, 19; Ephesians 3:12,13, 19; Matthew 11:28

The year of jubilee was divinely instituted; it was the year after every seventh sabbatical year.
The sabbatical year was every seventh year and the year after the seventh sabbatical year,
that is, the fiftieth year, was the year of jubilee. “A jubilee shall that fiftieth year be unto
you…” The proclamation of jubilee was heralded by the sounding of the trumpet of jubilee
on the tenth day of the seventh month (Day of Atonement). It is worthy of note that the year
of jubilee actually begins on the first day of the seventh month but the activities of the year
officially begins on the tenth day after atonement had been made. This portrays the truth
that genuine repentance precedes true freedom. God instituted the year of jubilee for the
following reasons: One, release from bondage. In the year of jubilee, all Hebrew servants who
were not earlier redeemed were released and allowed to go free “..and proclaim liberty
throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof… And then shall he depart
from thee, both he and his children with him… then he shall go out in the year of
jubilee, both he, and his children with him” (Leviticus 25:10,41,54). Two, restoration
of inheritance. Those who had sold their properties, largely because of poverty, could now
return to their inheritance freely in the year of jubilee. “..and ye shall return every man
unto his possession… and in the jubilee it shall go out, and he shall return unto his
possession …and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return” (Leviticus
25:10,28,41). Three. Reunion with family. Israelites who had earlier been sold or who sold
themselves to servitude were freed and can then be reunited freely with their families in the
year of jubilee. “..And ye shall return every man unto his family ..and shall return unto
his own family…” (Leviticus 25:10,41). Four, a year of rest for the land. The year of jubilee
was also a Sabbath of rest. “A jubilee shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall not
sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy
vine undressed” (verse 11). The year of jubilee typifies what Christ did for us at Calvary.
The sounding of the trumpet of jubilee that heralded the year of jubilee can be likened to
Christ’s great proclamation on the cross: “It is finished”. Christ’s ultimate sacrifice brought
us release from sin and satanic bondage (John 8:36; Galatians 5:1), restoration from the Fall
(Romans 5:18,19), reunion with God and His family (Ephesians 2:12,13,19) and rest for our
souls (Matthew 11:28). Sinners and backsliders are excluded from these privileges except
they return to God, acknowledge, confess, repent, forsake their sins and believe in Christ as
their Lord and personal Saviour.
3. SUNDRY PRECEPTS CONCERNING THE YEAR OF JUBILEE
Leviticus 25:14-17,23-55; Deuteronomy 25:15: Psalm 24:1: 1 Timothy 6:17-19; Colossians 4:1

The Precepts concerning the year of jubilee can broadly be divided into two: property law and
laws regarding slaves. With regard to the former, the year of jubilee was to be used as a
yardstick in fixing prices for the sale and purchase of possessions. The closer the transaction
was to the year of jubilee, the lesser the price and vice versa (Leviticus 25:14-17). This is
because in the year of jubilee, the land would be returned to its original owner. Therefore,
Firstly, a land purchased close to the year of jubilee would only be used for a short duration
as compared to a land that was purchased long before the year of jubilee. This is the principle
of equity. Believers should emulate the Lord by applying this principle in their business
transactions. Secondly, no land could be permanently sold because God is the owner of all
the land and the children of Israel were to be His tenants (Psalm 24:1). As a matter of fact,
the directive to leave the land fallow in the sabbatical years reminded the Israelites that the
land was not really their own. Believers should realize that whatever they have belongs to
God; they are only stewards. Thirdly, God also instructed them on how to handle the cases
of the poor Israelites who sold their possessions as a result of poverty. The land could be
redeemed by any of their close relatives or they could redeem it themselves if God prospers
them. But if there is none to redeem the land, it will return to them during the year of jubilee.
Fourthly, when a house within a fenced city is sold, the seller could redeem the land within
a year; if not, the land becomes the permanent possession of the buyer. Such houses could
not be redeemed even in the year of jubilee (Leviticus 25:29,30). The only exception to this is
the houses that belonged to the Levites (Leviticus 25:32,33). This teaches us that not
everything that is lost can be regained. Hence, the need to jealously guard our integrity and
spiritual experiences so as not to lose them. Fifthly, the pastures of the cities belonging to
the Levites were not to be sold. It was “their perpetual possession”. Believers should take
heed lest they transact their souls, the truth and their spiritual birthright for pecuniary gains.
God also gave them instructions concerning the impoverished and the slaves. The following
precepts were given to the children of Israel in this regard. One, the indigent Israelites were
to be catered for by those who had the means. They were to allow them stay in their
neighborhood and not take any interest or profit from them. They were cautioned to fear God
and avoid making merchandise of their vulnerable brethren. Believers who are well-off should
learn how to distribute to the necessity of the saints “Charge them that are rich in this
world, that they be not high-minded…That they do good, that they be rich in good
works, ready to distribute, wiling to communicate” (1 Timothy 6:17,18). Two, God gave
precepts to Israelites who had Hebrew servants. They were not to maltreat them; rather, they
were to take them as sojourners and hired servants and not as bond servants. Bond servants
were the perpetual properties of their masters who had despotic powers over them. On the
other hand, hired servants were more like employees, who were meant to receive wages for
their work after a specified duration. Furthermore, the Hebrew servants were to be freed in
the year of jubilee. One of the lessons from this is that believers who have servants should
treat them well, are of the household of faith “Masters, give unto your servants that which
is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven” (Colossians 4:1).
Three, they were also instructed on how to handle heathen slaves. They were to serve as
bondmen and bondmaids and were the perpetual possession of their Hebrew masters. They
were not to be released during the year of jubilee. Four, God also gave precepts concerning
heathens who had Hebrew servants. Such servants could be redeemed by any of their close
relatives or by they themselves. They were to be treated as hired Servants, and if nobody
redeems them, they were to be released in the year of jubilee. A famous Bible commentator
summarizes the year of jubilee as “the 50th year to proclaim liberty to all people, and to
start business all over again as at the beginning. At this time all mortgages were
cancelled, all servants released, and all bondages of men annulled. Debts were forgiven,
and lands reverted to the original owners. The new start in business at the end of
jubilee was based upon another year of release, 50 years in the future”. In Christ, true
jubilee abounds.

Questions For Review:

1. What can Christian leaders learn from the faithfulness of Moses?
2. What can we learn from the divine institution of the sabbatical year?
3. What are the reasons God instituted the year of jubilee and what does it typify?
4. How can sinners and backsliders enjoy the privileges of Christ’s death and resurrection?
5. Explain the precepts concerning the year of jubilee how believers can learn from it.
6. What is the significance of the laws God gave to the Israelites regarding the redemption of
properties?
7. Enumerate the lessons from God’s precepts concerning the poor Israelites and the slaves.