Matthew 25...

Matthew 25:27 'Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.' The same story is repeated in Luke 19:23. Jesus makes no comment here on usury as such. The text does reveal that Jesus' hearers were familiar with the practice and that at least some, those having capital, approved of it. The context might well be lending to unbelievers. In sum, usury is prohibited in the Torah when between believers.

The prophets suggest usury to be one of the factors resulting in the Babylonian captivity. Ezekiel uses very strong language against usury, equating it with bribery and extortion. The Psalms seem to apply the prohibition not merely within the context of believers but in general. Although it appears that the Torah at least might permit usury in some contexts, the sum of Biblical teaching comes down firmly against it.

The Islamic form of banking finds support not only in the Qur'an but in the Bible as well. Previous…