A.      In the Ten Commandments, each of the last five commandments prohibited Israel from different types of sins that arise from a corrupted heart (Matt. 15:19).

B.      One of the sins forbidden to Israel by God was theft, which was addressed in the eighth commandment.

II.      THE COMMANDMENT TO ISRAEL: YOU SHALL NOT STEAL

Exodus 20:15 – "You shall not steal.”

A.      The eighth commandment prohibited the Israelites from taking that which did not belong to them.

                                                             1.      From the beginning, God gave material possessions and dominion to man for his use.

a.       Notice Genesis 1:26-30.  The first man and woman were given dominion over all living things.  They were also given the plants and trees to possess as food.  These things were theirs to use according to God’s design for the earth.

b.       Throughout the generations, men have multiplied and their dominion and possessions have been divided, but God has continued to bless individuals with the right to possess and use His material things.

c.        This concept is fundamental to the economic system that God has designed for man.  It is the foundation for all work, trade, and prosperity.

                                                             2.      The eighth commandment required Israelites to respect the rights of one another to own property.

a.       This commandment recognizes that theft is a violation of God’s design for the world.  If theft was permitted, then chaos would reign.

b.       Remember that the Law of Moses was given in preparation for Israel entering the promised land of Canaan.  In that land, each tribe, clan, and family would be given its possession of land, and the eighth commandment protected that possession and all others.

B.      The penalties for theft were not as severe as the penalties for others violations of the Ten Commandments.

                                                             1.      Most of these penalties for theft are given in Exodus 22:1-15.

a.       Unlike the penalties for violations of the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh commandments, theft was not punishable by death unless the thief was killed in the act at night (v. 3).

b.       Instead, an Israelite who took that which was not his was required to make restitution.  The thief had to pay back more than what he stole (see 2Sam. 12:6; Luke 19:8).

                                                             2.      Perhaps theft received a lesser punishment because of the occasional desperation of the poor.

a.       Consider Proverbs 6:30-31 – "Men do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry; but when he is found, he must repay sevenfold; he must give all the substance of his house.”

b.       Notice here that the Law of Moses was not without mercy.  Accidental murderers found safety in the cities of refuge, and thieves were given opportunity to make amends.

C.      Theft became prevalent in Israel, but it was overlooked and justified by corrupt leaders.

                                                             1.      Overt acts of theft were not the problem.  Instead, it was fraud and injustice that led to robbery.

a.       Notice Leviticus 19:11 – "You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.”  It was the false dealings of Israel that became a great problem for the people.

b.       Also notice Leviticus 19:13 – "You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him.  The wages of a hired man are not to remain with you all night until morning.”  Israel’s rulers did not see such oppression as a violation of the eighth commandment, but it was.

                                                             2.      Consider the following passages that exposed Israel’s corruption that led to theft.

a.       "Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate; for the LORD will plead their case and take the life of those who rob them.” (Prov. 22:22-23)

b.       "Your rulers are rebels and companions of thieves; everyone loves a bribe and chases after rewards.  They do not defend the orphan, nor does the widow’s plea come before them.” (Isa. 1:23)

c.        "Woe to those who enact evil statutes and to those who constantly record unjust decisions, so as to deprive the needy of justice and rob the poor of My people of their rights, so that widows may be their spoil and that they may plunder the orphans.” (Isa. 10:1-2)

d.       "‘Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery and swear falsely, and offer sacrifices to Baal and walk after other gods that you have not known, then come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name, and say, "We are delivered!” that you may do all these abominations?  Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight?  Behold, I, even I, have seen it,’ declares the LORD.” (Jer. 7:9-11)

e.        "There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery.  They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.  Therefore the land mourns, and everyone who lives in it languishes along with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky, and also the fish of the sea disappear.” (Hos. 4:2-3)

D.      Israel was even guilty of robbing God.

                                                             1.      No one can take anything from God, but Israel stole from God by denying Him of sacrifices that were due.  Instead, they gave the lame, blind, and blemished of their flocks.

                                                             2.      Even after the captivity, Judah was guilty of this.  Notice Malachi 3:8 – "Will a man rob God?  Yet you are robbing Me!  But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’  In tithes and offerings.”

III.   THE MODERN APPLICATION

A.      Theft is forbidden by the gospel of Christ.

                                                             1.      The eighth commandment is repeated in Romans 13:9 and renewed in these passages:

a.       "He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.” (Eph. 4:28)

b.       "Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.” (1Pet. 4:15-16)

                                                             2.      Thieves are among those who will not inherit the kingdom of God unless they are washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of Jesus (1Cor.6:9-11).

B.      Much of our country’s ills can be cured by the application of this one regulation: "You shall not steal.”

                                                             1.      Thousands of pages of legislation have been written that would be unnecessary if all men would abide by the simple direction of the eighth commandment.

a.       Do we really need additional laws to state that identity theft is wrong?  Or that it is wrong to create pyramid schemes to defraud investors of their money?  Or that it is wrong for politicians to use tax money for their own personal gain?

b.       Sadly, men in our nation are constantly seeking ways to rob their neighbors.  Sometimes, even the laws themselves become means to theft (fine print legalese, impossible regulations, etc.).

                                                             2.      If businessmen, politicians, and all citizens of the United States would cease from taking that which is not theirs through dishonest means, then everyone’s lives would be immeasurably easier.

C.      Let us be certain that we do not become like Israel by robbing God through corrupted worship.

                                                             1.      Israel’s worship was corrupted by half-hearted sacrifices and hypocritical rituals (Isa. 1:10-15).  If we offer similar worship to God today, then we also steal from Him.

                                                             2.      Worship is also corrupted by turning religion into a business.

a.       The Lord condemned such practices when He purged the moneychangers from the temple and said, "It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den” (Matt. 21:13).

b.       Paul wrote of those who were "peddling the word of God” (2Cor. 2:17), which meant that they were teaching the word of God from a desire for profit rather than from sincerity.

                                                             3.      In our worship and service to God, we must give God what He desires and deserves, which begins with the love of our hearts, souls, and minds (Matt. 22:37).  To do otherwise is to rob God.

IV.    CONCLUSION

A.      Theft is a great problem on earth, but there will be no stealing in heaven.

                                                             1.      Here on earth we struggle to protect and preserve the possessions of this world, but there in heaven our inheritance will never be taken away (1Pet. 1:4).

                                                             2.      Consider Matthew 6:19-20 – "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

B.      In the next lesson, we will consider the ninth commandment – "You shall not bear false witness.”