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 ...
Guard against Negligence The Eighth Commandment Negligence can be a form of stealing. Exodus 22:6 “If fire breaks out and catches in thorns so that the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, he who started the fire shall make full restitution.” James 3:5, 6 Exodus 22:5 “If a man causes a field ...
A Call to Stewardship The Eighth Commandment God calls each of us to a stewardship of property. Exodus 20:15 “You shall not steal.” Deuteronomy 5:19 “‘And you shall not steal.’” All things have been created to serve God’s purposes in bringing glory and honor to His Name (Ps. 119:89-91). God distributes His blessing among men as He ...
In the Place of God The Eighth Commandment Stealing can take many forms. Exodus 20:15 “You shall not steal.” Deuteronomy 5:19 “‘And you shall not steal.’” The eighth commandment is accompanied by more statutes, rules, and precepts than any other of the Ten Commandments. What does this say about human beings? Many things: we are not easily ...
Concerning Divorce The Seventh Commandment Divorce must be strictly regulated. Deuteronomy 24:1-4 “‘When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends ...