Yes—Les Feldick teaches that a person can bail someone out only if he has the funds, is the next of kin, and is willing.
Using the Old Testament example of a mortgaged piece of land, Les shows that a rescuer could not simply be a well-meaning stranger. He had to have the financial ability to pay off the debt, be the next of kin, and freely choose to help. Even a wealthy relative could refuse if he did not want to assist.
Leviticus 25:25 — This is the Old Testament law behind the next-of-kin redemption Les refers to when he explains the three prerequisites.
Ruth 4:6 — This verse shows that a qualified kinsman could decline to redeem, underscoring the requirement of willingness.
Under the law of Israel, when a poor man had to sell his property, the right of redemption belonged to his nearest relative. Leviticus 25:25 states: "If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold." This established a family-based redemption process rather than an open invitation to any buyer. Ruth 4:6 further shows that the kinsman could choose not to redeem: "And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it." So even when the right belonged to the next of kin, willingness—or refusal—was still part of the picture.
Les applies the Old Testament practice of mortgaging land to the question of bailing someone out. He explains that in ancient Israel a man in debt could approach a next of kin—not a stranger—and ask for help with a mortgage that was about to be foreclosed (Clips 1 and 3). The rescuer had to meet three requirements: (1) have the funds, (2) be the next of kin, and (3) be willing. Les emphasizes that even a wealthy next of kin was not obligated to help. If the uncle did not like the nephew, he could refuse. But if he had the money, was the next of kin, and wanted to help, he could pay off the mortgage and keep the inheritance in the family (Clips 1 and 2). Les also connects this to the scroll in Revelation 5, calling it a mortgage document that no one in all creation was worthy to open—until the qualified Redeemer appeared (Clips 0 and 2).
Les points out that a stranger could not redeem mortgaged property in Israel. The person who paid off the debt had to be a close relative—a next of kin. This kept the land within the family and was part of God's design for preserving inheritances in Israel. The whole idea was that families would keep what belonged to them.
Les pictures the scroll in Revelation 5 as a mortgage. In ancient Israel, public details of a mortgage were written on the outside of the scroll, while private details were written on the inside. Les explains that no man in heaven, on earth, or under the earth was worthy to open the scroll, which is why John wept. The only One who could open it had to satisfy the same picture of ability, relationship, and willingness on a far greater scale.
Les defines redemption in mortgage language: when a property is mortgaged, the lender has control over it. But the owner can get the lender out of the picture by buying the mortgage back—paying it off. That is redemption. In the Old Testament picture, this redemption could be performed by the next of kin who had the money and the willingness.
The Scroll as a Mortgage
Les explains that the scroll in Revelation 5 is a mortgage document—public details outside, private details inside—which sets up why the qualifications for its opener are so important.
Three Prerequisites for a Financial Bailout
Les lays out the exact requirements for bailing someone out: the helper must have the funds, be the next of kin, and be willing. He notes that a rich uncle can refuse if he does not want to help.
Next of Kin and Willingness
Les shows that the next of kin needed both the wherewithal and the willingness; if those conditions were met, he could pay off the mortgage and keep the inheritance in the family.
Three Requirements in Ruth and Boaz
Les explains that Israelites could mortgage property, and when they could not pay, they could go to a next of kin who had the funds and the willingness—giving the three requirements.
Dead to the Law, Married to Christ — What Romans 7 Really Means
The only way you can stop the bank from foreclosing on a mortgage is you die, and then they can't do anything. And I gave the example a week or two ago in our program. If the court has a man in there for murder, and they're just about ready to wind up the case, he's as guilty as he can be, the jury has already made up their mind, but before they are sent out and come to their verdict, he dies a na…
What Does the Bible Really Say About Obeying Government?
He let the business almost deteriorate down to nothing, and he was telling me about it one night after class, and I said, And he said, I'm a Christian, and I can't take the man to court. I said, is he a fellow believer? Is he in the same church body that you are? He said, Oh no, he's not even a Christian. I said, then for goodness sakes, get after him. I said, that's your prerogative.
Redemption Defined
Les defines redemption in a mortgage context: paying off the mortgage and settling with the lender so the property is freed.
God’s Promise to Abraham: Understanding Genesis 12 & 15
But to him that does not work, but—what's the next word again? Believeth. See that? But believeth on him who justifies what kind of people. Oh, that shocks people. I can always think years back of one man in particular who had just literally hit the skids and he had gotten down to the bottom where he was, as he termed it himself, ungodly.
Leviticus 25:25: If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold.
This verse is the Old Testament foundation for the next-of-kin redemption that Les describes when teaching on financial bailouts.
Ruth 4:6: And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.
This verse shows that even a qualified kinsman could decline to redeem, illustrating the willingness requirement.
According to Les Feldick, the rescuer must have the funds to pay the debt, be the next of kin, and be willing to help. All three conditions must be met.
No. Les teaches that a stranger could not step in and redeem property in ancient Israel. The person providing the payment had to be a close relative—the next of kin.
Yes. Les says nobody has to do anything if they do not want to. Even a rich uncle who is the next of kin can say no if he does not like the person in debt.
Les defines redemption as paying the mortgage back and getting the lender out of the picture. When the debt is paid, the property is freed from the bank's control.
Watch the Teaching: The Scroll in God's Hand That No One Could Open — Revelation 5