15 Don't return a runaway slave to his master; he's come to you for refuge. 16 Let him live wherever he wishes within the protective gates of your city. Don't take advantage of him. 17 No daughter of Israel is to become a sacred prostitute; and no son of Israel is to become a sacred prostitute. 18 And don't bring the fee of a sacred whore or the earnings of a priest-pimp to the house of God, your God, to pay for any vow - they are both an abomination to God, your God. 19 Don't charge interest to your kinsmen on any loan: not for money or food or clothing or anything else that could earn interest 20 You may charge foreigners interest, but you may not charge your brothers interest; that way God, your God, will bless all the work that you take up and the land that you are entering to possess. 21 When you make a vow to God, your God, don't put off keeping it; God, your God, expects you to keep it and if you don't you're guilty 22 But if you don't make a vow in the first place, there's no sin. 23 If you say you're going to do something, do it. Keep the vow you willingly vowed to God, your God. You promised it, so do it. 24 When you enter your neighbor's vineyard, you may eat all the grapes you want until you're full, but you may not put any in your bucket or bag. 25 And when you walk through the ripe grain of your neighbor, you may pick the heads of grain, but you may not swing your sickle there.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 23:15-25
Commentary on Deuteronomy 23:15-25
(Read Deuteronomy 23:15-25)
It is honourable to shelter and protect the weak, provided they are not wicked. Proselytes and converts to the truth, should be treated with particular tenderness, that they may have no temptation to return to the world. We cannot honour God with our substance, unless it be honestly and honourably come by. It must not only be considered what we give, but how we got it. Where the borrower gets, or hopes to get, it is just that the lender should share the gain; but to him that borrows for necessary food, pity must be showed. That which is gone out of thy lips, as a solemn and deliberate vow, must not be recalled, but thou shalt keep and perform it punctually and fully. They were allowed to pluck and eat of the corn or grapes that grew by the road side; only they must not carry any away. This law intimated what great plenty of corn and wine they should have in Canaan. It provided for the support of poor travellers, and teaches us to be kind to such, teaches us to be ready to distribute, and not to think every thing lost that is given away. Yet it forbids us to abuse the kindness of friends, or to take advantage of what is allowed. Faithfulness to their engagements should mark the people of God; and they should never encroach upon others.