Give to every man that asketh of thee;— As the words ask not again, are used by the LXX to express a claim of interest due upon money and goods, some interpreters have chosen to render the words lend to every man that asketh of thee; and from him that receiveth thy goods, exact not interest. But the word απαιτειν cannot well signify the exaction of interest, because the word αιρειν, to which it relates, never signifies to borrow. But whatever sense we put on our Lord's precept, it must be understood with the limitations which common sense directs us to make; namely, that we give and lend freely to all who ask, or permit them to retain what they have unjustly taken; provided only that it be a thing which we can really spare, and the persons who ask or take such things be in real necessity; which without doubt was the meaning of the Mosaical precepts alluded to by our Lord in this part of his sermon.

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