Jun 13
24
Doctrinal Standard #73 & 75
- Q. What is the eighth commandment?
- A. The eighth commandment is: You shall not steal.
- Q. What does the eighth commandment forbid?
- A. The eighth commandment forbids anything that either does or may unjustly take away money or possessions from us or anyone else.
Memory Verses
- “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Luke 16:13, ESV).
Scripture
- Study Passage: Luke 16:1-14
- Support Passages: Proverbs 11:1, 20:10, 18:9, 21:17, 23:10,20-21, 28:19; Isaiah 5:8; Ezekiel 22:29; Leviticus 25:13-17; Deuteronomy 19:14, Malachi 3:8; Amos 8:5; Psalm 37:21; James 2:15; I Timothy 1:8-11, 6:10
- Bible Story: Joshua 7:1-26
Thoughts
- Below is taken from Training Hearts, Teaching Minds catechism question 75.
- Read Exodus 22:1-6. The eighth commandment specifically forbids stealing. Stealing is more than robbing a bank with a gun or breaking into a locked house to take a (DVD). Any time we keep someone from having what rightfully belongs to her or him, we break this commandment. Exodus 22:1-6 tells about stealing and how to punish a thief. Verses 5 and 6 talk about people who did not steal on purpose but whose carelessness is a form of stealing. These verses command such careless people to restore to others what they caused them to lose.”
- When we cheat, we unjustly take away money or possessions from someone else. Someone may give us back too much change when we buy something. If we realize what has happened and do not say anything, we cheat the person (or the store) out of money. This is stealing. If we find something someone else has lost and do not return it, we cheat him out of what is rightfully his and we steal. We cheat someone out of what is his when we borrow something and then fail to return it. We have not borrowed that thing; we have stolen it. When we damage property, we steal. People steal when they paint or write on or break another person’s property. Read Proverbs 20:17. Fraud is cheating. Fraud is tricking someone so that you get his money. Imagine putting something deliciously sweet into your mouth and, as you chewed it, having it turn into pieces of rock! The verse says that is what it is like to get things by cheating. At first you enjoy what you get. Because this displeases God, though, you can be sure that sooner or later you will suffer for it.” [1]
Discussion Questions
- What is the eighth commandment?
- What does the eighth commandment forbid?
- In addition to taking something that is not yours what are other ways people break the eighth commandment? (Refer to thoughts section).
- What actions should an individual take in repenting from their sin of stealing?
- If someone struggles with stealing what does that reveal about their heart?
[1] Meade, Starr (2000). Training Heart, Teaching Minds. Phillipsburg, New Jersey, USA; P&R Publishing Company.
