GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT
THOU SHALT NOT
STEAL
By Jim Murriner
Of all of the commandments most Christians would say, "I have not violated the commandment to steal".
And yet when we look carefully at this commandment we realize that all of us have and do violate the command not to steal.
This is even more reason that we must depend upon the righteousness of Jesus Christ to get us to heaven and not on our own good works.
EPH.4:28 tells us that we are to obey this command.
"Let him that stole steal no more: but
rather let him labor, working with his
hands the thing which is good, that he
might have to give to him that needeth."
This verse is telling us, "Don't steal, but rather or in contrast to stealing, labor (work hard) at something which is good. Don't work at something which is questionable, but work at something which is good.
Notice the reason for working. The bible does not teach that we should work to be rich, in fact the bible warns against such efforts.
PROV. 28:22 gives us this warning.
"He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil
eye, and considereth not that poverty
shall come upon him."
PROV. 23:4 cautions us against seeking to be rich.
"Labour not to be rich: cease form thine
own wisdom."
The bible gives us a reason for working, it is found in the last part of EPH.4:28 "..that he might have to give to him that needeth " . In other words , that you might earn extra and give to him that cannot earn.
ITHESS 4: 9-12 has much to say concerning working to help others.
(9)
"But as touching broutherly love ye have
need not that I write unto you: for ye
yourselves are taught of God to love one
another."
(10)
"And indeed ye do it toward all the
brethren which are in all Macedonia: but
we beseech you, brethren, that ye
increase more and more;"
(11)
"And that ye study to be quiet; and to do
your own business, and to work with your
own hands, as we commanded you."
(12)
"That ye may walk honestly toward them
that are without, and that ye may have
lack of nothing."
The word translated "study" here in verse (11) would more correctly be translated "be diligent"
God's word then is very clearly showing us that instead of stealing we are to work at something honest.
In PROV.30:7-9 Agur or as many believe Solomon prays that he would not be rich nor poor.
"Two things have I required of thee: deny me them not before I die:"
"Remove far from me vanity and lies; and
give me neither poverty nor riches; feed
me with food convenient for me:"
"Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say,
who is the Lord: or lest I be poor, and
steal, and take the name of my God in
vain."
If you claim to be a child of God, and you are a thief, then you are taking God's name in vain.
I hope that none of us are actually going about stealing. If you are the scriptures declare that you are to be punished.
EXODUS 22:1-4 gives us instructions on how a thief is to be dealt with.
"If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep,
and kill it, or sell it; he shall
restore five oxen for an ox, and four
sheep for a sheep."
"If a thief be found breaking up, and be
smitten that he die, there shall no
blood be shed for him."
"If the sun be risen upon him, there
shall be blood shed for him; for he
should make full restitution; if he have
nothing, then he shall be sold for his
theft."
"If the theft be certainly found in his
hand alive, whether it be ox or ass of
sheep; he shall restore double."
Verse three is referring to the thief not being caught until the next day. If this is the case and person that he stole from, should kill him instead of allowing him to make full restitution then the one who does the killing will be guilty of murder.
Though you are not guilty of outward stealing, each of us are in a great way violators of this eighth commandment.
LEVITICUS 19:11-13 gives us some insight into the fact that this commandment covers much more than just robbery of shoplifting.
"Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely,
neither lie one to another."
"And ye shall not swear by my name
falsely, neither shalt thou profane
the name of thy God: I am the Lord."
"Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor,
neither rob him, the wages of him that
is hired shall not abide with thee all
night until the morning."
Somehow we have gotten this all mixed up. We very boldly condemn a robber or a burglar, and rightly so, but we accept it as good business if in a business deal we defraud someone, or if we can beat someone out of their pay.
We are considered a great person if we can develop a fine print or a deceitfully worded contract that takes advantage of someone else.
DUET. 25:13-15 condemns having a double standard, or trying to deceive others.
"Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers
weights, a great and a small."
"Thou shalt not have in thine house
divers measures, a great and a small."
"But thou shalt have a perfect and just
weight, a perfect and just measure shalt
thou have; that thy days may be
lengthened in the land which the Lord
giveth thee."
ROMANS 12:11 commands us to run our business in an honest fashion.
"Not slothful in business: fervent in
spirit, serving the Lord."
Violation of these scriptures, by those who claim to be children of God, are all too often common place in our society today.
If we do not pay our taxes we are stealing.
MATT. 22:17-21 tells us that we are to pay our taxes.
(17)
"Tell us therefore, what thinkest thou?
Is it lawful to give tribute unto Ceaser
or not?"
(18)
"But Jesus perceived their wickness, and
said, why temp ye me, ye hypocrites ?"
(19)
"Shew me the tribute money. and they
brought unto Him a penny."
(20)
"And He said unto them, whose is this
image and superscription?"
(21)
"They said unto Him, Ceasar's. Then saith
He unto them, render unto Ceasar the
things which are Ceasar's; and unto God
the things that are God's."
ROMANS 13:6-7 echoes the same thought.
"For for this cause pay ye tribute also:
for they are God's ministers, attending
continually upon this very thing."
"Render therefore to all their dues:
tribute to whom tribute is due; custom
to whom custom; fear to whom fear;
honor to whom honor."
Perhaps the area which is violated most by those who claim to be children of God is in the area of personal financial relationship to God.
MALICHI 3:7-10 warns us that if we are violators of this that then we are thieves, and God will bring chastisement upon us for
this violation.
"Even from the days of your fathers ye
are gone away from mine ordinances, and
have not kept them. Return unto me, and
I will return unto you, saith the Lord
or hosts. But ye said, wherein shall we
return?
"Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed
Me. but ye say, wherin have we robbed
thee? In tithes and offerings."
"Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have
robbed me, even this whole nation."
"Bring ye all the tithes into the
storehouse, that there may be meat in
mine house, and prove me now herewith,
saith the Lord of hoses, if I will not
open you the windows of heaven, and pour
out a blessing, that there shall not
be room enough to receive it."
NEHEMIAH 10:37 shows us that during the old testament economy tithes were to be received by the Levites.
"And that we should bring the firstfruits
of our dough, and our offerings, and the
fruit of all manner of trees, of wine
`and of oil, unto the priests, to the
chambers of the house of God; and the
tithes of our ground unto the Levites,
that the same Levites might have the
tithes in all the cities of our
tillage."
The levites were descendants of Levi, their tribe was where the priests came from and the tribe was to care for the things of the temple.
Now in the New Testament age we are to bring our tithes unto the Lord's house, His church, which He started before Penticost.
EPH.3:21 shows us that this church which Christ Himself started while still here on this earth, is the place that gives glory unto God.
"Unto Him be glory in the church by
Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world
without end. Amen."
As we look at what God's word has to say about this eighth commandment, it becomes more and more clear that our standards concerning stealing and God's standards concerning stealing are much different. Then it becomes evident that our own works are no good when we present them to God, in order that He might accept us.
When we consider this there is no wonder that ISAIAH 64:6 tells us that our righteous acts are as filthy rags.
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and
all righteousness are as filthy rags;
and we all do fade as a leaf; and our
iniquities, like the wind, have taken us
away."
ROMANS 3:10 & 12 presents us in a similar light.
"As it is written, there is none
righteous, no not one."
"They are all gone out of the way, they
are together become unprofitable; there
is none that doeth good, no, not one."
Our works, whether it be our honesty, in that we try never to steal, or whatever our works are, because they do not measure up to God's standards, can have no part in our being saved.
This is why God's word tells us that we are not saved by works.
EPH. 2:8-10 emphasizes that salvation does not come by works but by grace.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the
gift of God:"
"Not of works, lest any man should boast."
"For we are His workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus unto good works, which God
hath before ordained that we should walk
in them."
ROMANS 3:28 sums it up this way.
"Therefore we conclude that a man is
justified by faith without the deeds
of the law."
ROMANS 10:3-4 tells us that if we seek to be saved by something which we do, that we have ignored the righteousness that God provides, and therefore are still lost and on our way to hell.
"For they, being ignorant of God's
righteousness, and going about to
establish their own righteousness,
have not submitted themselves unto the
righteousness of God."
"For Christ is the end of the law for
righteousness to everyone that
believeth."
If you seek to get to heaven by your own works, your greatest need right now is that you come to Christ just as the thief on the cross did.
MATT. 27:44 tells us that at first both the thieves on the crosses, on either side of our Lord, mocked Him.
"The thieves also, which were crucified
with Him, cast the same in His teeth."
But LUKE 23:39-43 shows us how the Lord saved one of them.
(39)
"And one of the malefactors which were
hanged railed on Him, saying, If thou be
the Christ, save thyself and us."
(40)
But the other answering rebuked Him,
saying, Doest not thou fear God, seeing
thou art in the same condemnation?"
(41)
"And we indeed justly; for we receive the
due reward of our deeds: but this man
hath done nothing amiss."
(42)
"And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember
me when thou comest into thy kingdom."
(43)
"And Jesus said unto him, verily I say
unto thee, today shalt thou be with me
in paradise."
Notice how in verse (41) this thief admits his guilt and the justice of his punishment. You likewise need to admit that God is just and right in casting you into hell for your sins.
Notice too that the thief looked to Jesus for salvation, in verse (42).
It is good that you would admit your sin, and admit that you deserve to go to hell, but admitting is not nearly enough. You must as this thief did, place your trust in Jesus Christ as your personal savior. Believe that when He died on the cross, that His death was payment for your sins.
Perhaps you are a child of God this morning but you have been convicted now that you are a thief. If so you need to take heed to this eighth commandment, "Thou shalt not steal".
If you are a child of God, and you are not serving God, if there are things like stealing in your life God will deal with you.
HEBREWS 12:6 & 8 has quite a bit to say about God dealing with backsliden Christians.
"For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth,
and scourgeth every son whom He
recieveth."
"But if ye be without chastisement,
whereof all are partakers, then are
ye bastards and not sons."
If you know that you are saved, then you can expect God to whip you if you desire to continue in sins such as stealing.