Lesson # 73–75: The Eighth Commandment

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Shorter Catechism Q & A #73 (Memorize)

Q. Which is the eighth commandment?

A. The eighth Commandment is, Thou shalt not steal. Exodus 20:15

What does it mean?

To ‘steal’ means to deceive, to carry away, to get something by craftiness. John Calvin wrote that this “commandment forbids us to long after other men’s goods, and, accordingly, requires every man to exert himself honestly in preserving his own. For we must consider, that what each individual possesses has not fallen to him by chance, but by the distribution of the sovereign Lord of all, that no one can pervert his means to bad purposes without committing a fraud on a divine dispensation” (Institute of the Christian Religion).

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Shorter Catechism Q & A #74 (Memorize)

Q. What is required in the eighth commandment?

A. The eighth commandment requireth the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth and outward estate of ourselves and others.

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Shorter Catechism Q & A #75 (Memorize)

Q. What is forbidden in the eighth commandment?

A. The eighth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth or may unjustly hinder our own or our neighbour’s wealth or outward estate.

What does it mean?

Discuss the nature of ‘stealing’ as understood from the following verses:

• 2 Thess. 3:10–12 (disorderly conduct)
• Rom. 12:17 (honesty)
• Prov. 27:23 (a good shepherd)
• Phil. 2:4 (care for others)
• Prov. 13:4, 20:4, 24:30–24 (the sluggard)
• 1 Tim. 5:8 (provide not)
• Eph. 4:28 (steal no longer)
• 2 Thess. 3:7–10 (whom to follow)
• Ezek. 34:2, 2, 8 (feed thyself; types of stealing: from God and others—at home and work, etc — usury, extortion, gambling)

Quotes for thought and discussion:

An example of stealing: “The shop-thief, who steals in selling. He who uses false weights and measures steals from others what is their due. ‘Making the ephah small’ Amos 8:5. The ephah was a measure the Jews used in selling. Some made the ephah small, and gave scant measure, which was plainly stealing. ‘The balances of deceit are in his hand’ Hos. 12:7. By making their weights lighter, men make their accounts heavier. He steals in selling who puts excessive prices on his commodities. He takes thrice as much for an article as it cost him, or as it is worth. To overreach others in selling, is to steal money from them. ‘Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him’ Lev. 19:13. To defraud him is to rob him; to overreach others in selling is a cunning way of stealing, and is against both law and gospel. It is against the law of God. ‘If thou sell ought to thy neighbour, ye shall not oppress one another’ Lev. 25:14. It is against the gospel. ‘That no man go beyond, and defraud his brother’ 1 Thess. 4:6. (Thomas Watson)

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