For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.
Thus far:
- We have analyzed the first seven commandments.
- The 6th - 9th commandments correspond to the teaching of most religions and cultures. Commandments 1-5 and 10 are peculiar to Judaism.
- Today we tackle the 8th.
Text
- The 8th commandment
- Exodus 20:15: You shall not steal.
Comments
- Code of Hammurabi (Babylonian)
- The majority of crimes pertained to property.
- Draconian penalties.
- This code merely mirrored the unjust structures of the society in which is was produced. It was not divine in origin.
- In the Bible, theft requires restitution. The thief must make it up to his victim financially, whatever it takes (Exodus 22:2).
- About the common misunderstanding of the lex talionis ("eye for eye"): the Torah dictated that the punishment must be appropriate to the crime (not out of proportion to it).
- And yet even then the Jews preferred to settle things in court.
- Note: the Jews did not execute for property crimes. The penalty for all crimes (except first degree murder) was commutable to monetary settlement.
- In the Bible, there is no double-standard.
- Everyone from commoner to king were under the same holy standard.
- The king is not a god, nor does he reign with immunity or impunity.
Application
- Some listeners have been involved in actual stealing -- shoplifting, intellectual piracy, burglary, corporate espionage, etc. Repent!
- If I am tasked with a financial responsibility, am I conducting myself 100% aboveboard? Judas helped himself to the moneybag (John 12:6). Has lack of integrity taken hold in my life?
- Other ways we may violate the 8th commandment:
- Long lunch break?
- Routinely late to work?
- Calling in "sick" when I'm not that sick?
- Underpaying certain employees? supporting a prejudicial system?
- Accepting bribes? conniving at an unethical system?
- False advertising?
- Stealing credit?
- Theft in all its forms is forbidden for Christ-followers (Ephesians 4:28).
- We are to be not takers, but givers (Acts 20:35).
