Positive Commandment 197 (Digest)
Lending Money
"If you lend money to My people, the poor among you"—Exodus 22:24.
We are commanded to lend money to the impoverished, in order to help relieve them and ease their burden. This mitzvah is even greater than that of giving charity; for one who has already reached the point where he has to openly ask people for money is less bothered and pained by [having to ask for assistance] than one who has not yet reached this level. He therefore needs assistance to keep his situation from being known and reaching such a level.
The 197th mitzvah is that we are commanded to lend money to a poor person, in order to help him and to ease his burden. This mitzvah is even greater and of more magnitude than that of giving charity; for one who has already reached the point where he has to openly ask people for money is less bothered and pained by this [having to ask for assistance] than one who has not yet reached this level. He therefore needs assistance to keep his situation from being known and reaching such a level.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "When you lend money to My people, to the poor man among you..."
In the words of the Mechilta: "Every time the Torah uses the word im ['if' or 'when'], it indicates an optional mitzvah [i.e., 'if'] except for three" — one of the three being this verse, "When you lend money to My people, to the poor man among you...."
Our Sages also said, "The verse 'When you lend money' constitutes an obligatory commandment. [The question is asked:] You said it's obligatory, but perhaps it is only optional? The Torah therefore said, 'Extend to him any credit he needs.' This indicates that it is an obligation, not just an option."
The details of this mitzvah are explained in many passages in tractate Kesuvos and in Bava Basra.
Negative Commandment 234 (Digest)
Demanding Payment of a Loan from a Destitute Borrower
"You shall not be to him as a creditor"—Exodus 22:24.
It is forbidden to demand payment of a debt from a borrower if the lender is aware that the borrower has not the means to repay. It is even forbidden for the lender to pass before the borrower [lest his presence, and therefore the acute awareness that he owes him money, shame him].
Demanding repayment of a debt that includes interest is also included in this prohibition.
The 234th prohibition is that we are forbidden from demanding repayment of a loan when we know that the borrower is unable to pay.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "["When you lend money to My people, to the poor man among you,] do not behave like a creditor toward him."
Our Sages said in tractate Bava Metzia: "What is the source for the law that when someone owes you a maneh and you know that he does not have the money to repay you, that you are not even allowed to walk in front of him? It is the verse, 'do not behave like a creditor toward him.' " The Mechilta says: "The verse, 'do not behave like a creditor toward him' teaches that you should not constantly be visible to him."
You should be aware that this prohibition includes asking for repayment of an interest-bearing loan. Our Sages therefore said, "One who lends money with interest also transgresses G‑d's statement (exalted be He), 'do not behave like a creditor toward him,' as explained below.
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