Retribution The Eighth Commandment Stealing requires restoration and retribution. Exodus 22:4 “If the stolen beast is found alive in his possession, whether it is an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double.” Exodus 22:1 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall ...
Right to Defend Property The Eighth Commandment People have a right to defend their property. Exodus 22:2, 3 “If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He ...
Robbery as Oppression The Eighth Commandment Robbery is a form of oppression. Leviticus 19:13 “You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him.” Robbery is a form of oppression in that it deprives a person of that which God has freely given him for use in seeking the Kingdom of God. To rob another is ...
Fair Treatment of Creatures – and Preachers! The Eighth Commandment God’s Law is not just for ancient Israel, but us. Deuteronomy 25:4 “‘You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.’” Matthew 10:10; Luke 10:7; 1 Corinthians 9:8-12 Paul, of course, applied this statute to himself and to the Corinthians’ failure to ...
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 ...