What Is the Year of Jubilee in Scripture?
The Year of Jubilee (sometimes called Jubilee Year, Jubilee, or Yubilei) was a special, God-ordained year in the Jewish calendar that came every 50th year.
God commanded the Israelites to count seven cycles of seven years (7 x 7 = 49), and the year following—the 50th—was to be set apart as the Jubilee.
A Year of Rest, Release, and Restoration
During the Jubilee year, the people were commanded not to sow or reap. This meant they had to rest for two consecutive years:
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The 49th year, which was a Sabbath year (every seventh year was a sabbatical year),
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And the 50th year, which was the Year of Jubilee.
So how would they survive for two years without farming?
God promised to bless them abundantly in the 48th year, providing enough food to sustain them throughout both years of rest:
Leviticus 25:8–13 (NIV)
“Count off seven Sabbath years—seven times seven years—so that the seven Sabbath years amount to a period of forty-nine years. Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere… Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you; each of you is to return to your family property and to your own clan.”
Key Features of the Jubilee Year
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Rest from Labor
No sowing, no harvesting, no pruning. The land itself was to rest—symbolizing trust in God’s provision. -
Cancellation of Debts
Debts were forgiven, and no one was to exploit another based on the remaining years until the next Jubilee. -
Freedom for Slaves
All Hebrew slaves were to be released and allowed to return to their families. -
Restoration of Property
Any land that had been sold due to poverty or hardship was to be returned to its original family owner.
Jubilee as a Picture of Christ
The Jubilee was a prophetic foreshadowing of the work of Christ on the cross. Jesus came to fulfill the spiritual meaning of Jubilee:
Luke 4:18–19
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Jesus is our eternal Jubilee. Through Him:
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We are freed from slavery to sin
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Our spiritual debts are forgiven
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We are restored into fellowship with God, our rightful inheritance
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We are released from bondage to sickness, demons, and fear
Practical Lessons for Believers Today
Even though we may not celebrate the Jubilee in a literal, agricultural sense today, it still holds spiritual and practical lessons for every believer.
1. The Importance of Rest
We live in a busy, demanding world. Yet God values intentional rest—not just for the body, but for the soul.
Set aside extended periods of time, not just weekly Sabbaths, but longer seasons dedicated to seeking God. If you’re employed or self-employed, plan for spiritual retreats or breaks where you can be refreshed in God’s presence.
2. The Power of Forgiveness
Jubilee teaches us to release others from their debts—not just financial, but emotional and relational ones.
Jesus said, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37)
You never know when you might need the same grace extended to you.
3. Be a Generous and Just Employer
If you’re an employer, consider your workers’ well-being. Give them time off when needed—not as punishment or deduction, but as an act of grace. God notices how you treat others, and honoring rest and release in the lives of others is part of living the Jubilee principle.
What Jubilee Is Not
The term “Jubilee” has sometimes been misused today to refer to wedding anniversaries or birthday celebrations. While those may be joyful occasions, they are not the biblical Jubilee. The true meaning of Jubilee is rooted in God’s redemptive plan—a time of rest, restoration, and release for His people.
Have you entered your spiritual Jubilee in Christ?
Jesus is the only one who can give true freedom, cancel the debt of sin, and restore what was lost.
Today can be the day you receive your spiritual freedom, your new beginning.
2 Corinthians 6:2
“Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”
Is the Holy Trinity Biblical?
In Christian tradition, one of the most debated theological concepts is the nature of “God’s Divinity” or the “Doctrine of the Trinity.” Many divisions between Christian denominations today stem from differing interpretations of God’s nature.
Some Christians believe that God is one in essence but exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is known as the doctrine of the Trinity. Others believe that God is a singular entity, rejecting the idea of three persons, with some even denying the divinity of Jesus or the personhood of the Holy Spirit. For example, there are groups like Oneness Pentecostals who reject the traditional Trinity and see God as a single entity manifesting in different forms (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Meanwhile, some people do not recognize the Holy Spirit as a distinct person but rather as God’s power or influence. So, what is the truth? And where should we stand?
The Core Issue: Understanding God
The first step in understanding this debate is to look at the nature of God. If we misunderstand God’s essence, we create confusion and division. The core question is: How many gods are there? Interestingly, despite all the different views, everyone agrees that “God is one,” just as Scripture states.
Mark 12:29 (NIV):
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.'”
This foundational truth is central to all Christians, and it echoes the ancient Jewish belief in the oneness of God, known as the Shema, which has been a core part of Jewish faith for thousands of years. Jesus, affirming this, pointed to the unity of God as the key to understanding all other theological questions.
Furthermore, despite the disagreements over the specific nature of God’s being, all these groups affirm the importance of Christ’s redemptive work and the presence of the Holy Spirit in believers’ lives.
For example, if one person calls sugarcane a “leaf” while another calls it a “fruit,” it doesn’t change the fact that it is still the same plant. The terminology may differ, but the nature remains unchanged. Likewise, while different terms or roles may be used to describe the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, they all share the same divine essence. God is one, and His nature doesn’t change, no matter how He reveals Himself to us or we perceive him.
God Is One: A Mystery of Three Persons
Ultimately, the truth is that God is one, but He has chosen to reveal Himself in three distinct persons to fulfill His work in our lives. It’s not that God is divided or that there are three separate gods; rather, He exists in three persons for our benefit.
The analogy of water is often used to illustrate this mystery: Water exists in three forms—liquid, steam, and ice—but it is all still water. In the same way, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct, yet they are all the same God, working together in perfect unity.
If humanity had not fallen into sin, there would have been no need for God to reveal Himself in these three roles. He would have remained as He was—one God, the Father. But because of sin, God became incarnate in Jesus Christ to redeem us, and then, through the Holy Spirit, He dwells within us, restoring the relationship we lost with Him in Eden.
Therefore, God is not divided. He is one, and there is no place in Scripture that supports the idea of three separate gods. However, the division on this issue should not lead to unnecessary conflict. For those who believe in the Trinity, as long as they are worshiping the one true God, there is no need to divide over doctrinal differences. The important thing is to worship God in spirit and truth, and to recognize the work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in our lives.
Conclusion: Unity in Christ
If you are a Christian, and you have accepted Christ as your Savior, and your fellow believer also accepts Christ but doesn’t hold the same views on the Trinity, it’s okay. It’s not a matter of salvation as long as they worship the one true God, even if they may not fully understand the mystery of the Trinity. Just pray for them and trust that God will reveal the truth in His time.
Let’s focus on growing in love and understanding, avoiding unnecessary divisions that distract from the true message of Christ. As Paul reminds us, “Love builds up” (1 Corinthians 8:1b). Let’s seek to build each other up, not divide over things that are ultimately secondary in light of our shared faith in Christ.
