The COMMANDMENTS (10)
“Thou shalt not steal." —Exodus 20:15
Here, on the face of it, is a commandment that seems pretty simple, easily understood and not too difficult to obey. But, as is true of many things, and especially the scriptures, the first glance does not always capture the whole picture. Paul asks the question which we may well ask ourselves, “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? (Rom. 2:21) His inference is, perhaps, twofold. First, it is easier to recognize wrong in others than in ourselves; second, there is a scope to the commandment that we do not immediately see, and we may be guilty without awareness.
A contemporary dictionary includes two interesting variations in its definition of the word “steal.” (1) To “take (another person’s property) without permission or legal right and without intending to return it.” (2) To “dishonestly pass off (another person’s ideas) as one’s own.” This latter is the stealing of another’s reputation and/or rights. In fact in Leviticus 19, a kind of reiteration of the commandments, stealing, lying and fraud are rather intertwined (Cf. Lev. 19:11, 13).
The severity of the crime, from God’s perspective, is amplified in the elaboration in Exodus 22:1-5, and in v.5 stealing is expanded to include allowing one’s beast to feed in another man’s field! The thief caught in the act and unable to make restitution was to be sold into slavery. If slain in the act of stealing, there was to be no charge leveled against the manslayer, overriding the sixth commandment. When God issues a decree, it is no light matter!
In scripture, however, there are other aspects of stealing. “If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you [Deut. 24:7].” This is echoed in the New Testament when the apostle Paul writes to Timothy, “…The law is not made for a righteous man, but for…menstealers… [I Tim. 1:9-10].” The crime is stealing another’s freedom and making merchandise of him - slavery.
There is yet another kind of theft mentioned in the inspired word. “Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbor [Jer. 23:30].” While opinions vary in the interpretation of this passage, it would appear that any who pervert the word of God or hinder its transmission to others are guilty of stealing God’s word from his fellows. Many are those who over time have been guilty of this infraction of the commandment.
It is the prophet Malachi who takes this sin to a yet higher level and a much broader spectrum. “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation [Mal. 3:8-9].” Scripture says categorically, “the tithe…is the Lord’s.” (Lev. 27:30) When a believer fails to tithe, keeping for himself that which belongs to God, he is charged with stealing from God, thus breaking the 8th commandment at the highest level.
As always, the New Testament takes the believer to a higher level. “…Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive [Acts. 20:35].” The key word for the Christian is not “take,” but “give,” whether with reference to man or to God. And in this we all still “come short.”
Careful reflection on these thoughts will, it is hoped, deepen the wound of the “the sword of the Spirit,” and increase our awareness that “by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin” [Rom. 3:20].” It should drive the unconverted to the fountain of God’s grace, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ,…that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified [Gal. 2:16, my italics].” And, it should send the redeemed to the heights of praise!
Free from the law, O happy condition, Jesus hath bled, and there is remission;
Cursed by the law and bruised by the fall, Grace hath redeemed us once for all.
Now are we free—there’s no condemnation, Jesus provides a perfect salvation;
“Come unto Me,” O hear His sweet call, Come and He saves us once for all
Cho: Once for all, O sinner, receive it; Once for all, O brother, believe it;
Cling to the cross, the burden will fall, Christ hath redeemed us once for all!
—P.P Bliss
"Pastor" Frasier
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