YOU SHALL NOT STEAL

Exodus 20:15 states simply, "You shall not steal" (NKJV).

This is perhaps the most universally accepted of the ten, and this with Christians and Heathens alike. Christians should look at this command follow it, as well as the others, absolutely and completely.

The heathen adheres to the commandments, but often as a situational thing. "My parents weren't good, why should I honor them?". "It's just a fetus, its my body after all!". "Well, my souce just wasn't meeting my needs.". "If I tell the truth someone might be hurt.". "Well, if I really dream about owning a Caddy, then I'll be motivated to earn one.".

Stealing, especially from the victim's point of view, is almost universally seen as wrong, even a crime. Why is that? Well look what is attacked, its our billfold, our pocketbook, our checking account, our credit card, and in recent years,our very identity. Frankly, for some, it gets us where our heart is, where our money is.

Lets consider first the idea of stealing from humans. Webster's defines stealing as to take an other's property dishonestly or slyly. its not necessarily walking up and sticking someone up with a knife or gun. It could be done quietly, secretly, a siphoning off of someone Elise's wealth. Or, stealing occurs by extortion through blackmail, usury, price fixing, etc. Biblical examples abound. Consider the Tax Collectors (aka. Publicans) like Zaccheus or Matthew / Levi. They would collect the lawful taxes the Romans were due, but tack on an amount for themselves. The Roman Soldiers, through there powers of intimidation, extorted money and services. The Money Changers, Animal Merchants, and the Heads of the Temple Hierarchy, they would require only certain currency or animals be used in the Temple. They naturally sold them or exchanged them at greatly inflated prices.

The punishment for stealing was restitution. Exodus 22:1-4 and 7-9 read, "If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep. If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed. If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt for his bloodshed. He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. If the theft is certainly found alive in his hand, whether it is an ox or donkey or sheep, he shall restore double...If a man delivers to his neighbor money or articles to keep, and it is stolen out of the man's house, if the thief is found, he shall pay double. If the thief is not found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the judges to see whether he has put his hand into his neighbor's goods. For any kind of trespass, whether it concerns an ox, a donkey, a sheep, or clothing, or for any kind of lost thing which another claims to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whomever the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor." (NKJV). In other words, restitution in the amount of 200% to 500% was required. If the poor thief was just that, poor, he was imprisoned at hard labor until restitution could be made. I Corinthians 6: 9&10 tells us, " Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." (NKJV). His punishment is easy to take, you go to hell!

Only a few thieves attend church on a regular basis, and not a lot of victims can be found there. However, someone is in attendance every Sunday who has been victimized over and over. His name is Jehovah. Malachi chapters 1 and 3 have lengthy passages outlining the idea of robbing God. The Israelites got it in their heads that they could actually get something over on God. They thought they could cheat God by offering an animal that was not perfect and unblemished as God had required. The animal could be crippled or diseased in someway. they also got more bold and withheld part of the commanded offerings that were to be brought into the storehouse. The New Testament story that is a counterpart to this is Ananias and Sapphira from Acts chapter 5. This man and wife conspired to withhold an amount of money from God and the Apostles. If the Holy Spirit had not bee omniscient, they might have pulled it off. They didn't and they paid the ultimate price. They for got Malachi 3:10 to 12, " Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now in this,'' says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,'' says the Lord of hosts; And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,'' says the Lord of hosts." (NKJV).

In our modern world there are some counterparts to the two Biblical examples. in some churches they use numbered offering envelopes. Some might be tempted to tear off the number and slip an empty offering envelope into the plate. The person can look like their giving, but keep the money for themselves.

Think about it.

Dr. O