Breaches of Trust The Eighth Commandment Justice is served when trusts are honored. Exodus 22:9 “For every breach of trust, whether it is for an ox, for a donkey, for a sheep, for a cloak, or for any kind of lost thing, of which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties ...
Provision for Pastors The Eighth Commandment We must not begrudge providing for our pastors. Deuteronomy 12:19 “‘Take care that you do not neglect the Levite as long as you live in your land.’” Deuteronomy 14:27 “‘And you shall not neglect the Levite who is within your towns, for he has no portion or inheritance with you.’” 1 ...
Wages and Pledges The Eighth Commandment Justice requires fair consideration in pledges and wages. Exodus 22:26, 27 “If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else ...
On Charging Interest The Eighth Commandment God strictly qualified the use of interest in lending. Deuteronomy 23:19, 20 “‘You shall not charge interest on loans to your brother, interest on money, interest on food, interest on anything that is lent for interest. You may charge a foreigner interest, but you may not charge your ...
Restitution The Eighth Commandment God requires faithfulness in even the small matters. Exodus 22:7, 8 “If a man gives to his neighbor money or goods to keep safe, and it is stolen from the man’s house, then, if the thief is found, he shall pay double. If the thief is not found, the owner ...
Opportunity Costs The Eighth Commandment God’s Law requires restitution. Exodus 21:18, 19 “When men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist and the man does not die but takes to his bed, then if the man rises again and walks outdoors with his staff, he who struck him ...
Widows and Brothers The Eighth Commandment These laws made perfect sense in ancient Israel. Deuteronomy 25:5-10 “‘If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her and ...
Inheritances The Eighth Commandment Inheritances must be passed on intact. Numbers 27:8-11 “And you shall speak to the people of Israel, saying, ‘If a man dies and has no son, then you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter. And if he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers. ...
Stewards for the Sake of Others The Eighth Commandment We must care for our property with others in mind. Exodus 21:33, 34 “When a man opens a pit, or when a man digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it, the owner of the pit ...
Our Neighbors’ Stewardship The Eighth Commandment We are stewards of our neighbors’ lost property. Deuteronomy 22:1-4 “‘You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep going astray and ignore them. You shall take them back to your brother. And if he does not live near you and you do not know who he ...