Part 4

"You shall not steal"

Exod. 20:15; Deut. 5:19

 1. The eighth commandment of the decalogue condemns stealing.

• This command guards the property and possessions of others.

• Stealing had always been wrong.

• God's chosen people were taught this was not to be a part of their lives.

• They were not to steal from one another.

• They were not to steal from even their enemies.

• The New Commandment also condemns stealing. (Matt. 15:19; 19:18; Lk.18:20; Rom. 13:9; Eph. 4:28).

• Paul teaches we are to work to have rather than stealing to have. see 2 Thess. 3:10.

• Paul teaches we are to have that we may give to others rather than take from others that we may have for ourselves.

• This command was intended to condemn stealing in all its forms.

• Stealing - shoplifting, removing others property, etc.

• Robbery, break-ins

• Cheating in trade - misrepresentation

• Misrepresentation

• Proverbs 11:1; 20:23

• Kidnapping (Exod. 21:16; 1 Tim. 1:10).

• Swindling and scams of all kinds

• Shortchanging

• Overcharging

• Not giving a day's labor for a day's pay

• Taking home merchandise or supplies from work

4. It is imperative that Christians labor, not steal, and that they use their influence to teach others to follow the same rule.

• Titus 2:10

• "Pilfering" NASB or "Steal" NIV

• Suggests some Christian had at least been tempted to revert to such.

• 1 Peter 4:15

(Exod. 20:16; Deut. 5:20). See Matt. 19:18; Lk. 18:20

1. The ninth commandment condemns bearing false witness against one's neighbor.

• The Old Testament expresses God's hatred for bearing false witness. (Exod. 23:1; Prov. 6:16-19; 12:22; 19:5; 14:28).

• The New Testament also expresses God's hatred for bearing false witness and lying. (Lk. 3:14; Col.3:9; Eph. 4:25; Rev. 21:8, 27).

• It was this sin which led to the death of Christ.

• The religious leaders had envy for Christ. (Matt. 27:18).

• This led them to bear false witness against Jesus. (Matt. 26:59).

• It was this sin which led to Stephen's death and Paul's imprisonment. (Acts 6:11,13; 16:20, 21).

2. This commandment guards the reputation of man.

• It should prevent false testimony in court.

• It should prevent slander.

• Many slanderers assassinate character by outright lying.

• All slanderers do not assassinate character by outright lying, but some merely arouse suspicion by asking questions or making false implications.

• It should prevent blackmail.

3. Some reasons for not bearing false witness.

• It violates God's word. (Prov. 6:16-19; 1 Pet. 3:10).

• It robs a person of his reputation.

• Solomon taught the importance of reputation. (Prov. 22:1).

• Shakespeare aptly expressed it like this.

Who steals my purse steal trash,-

But he that filches from me my good name,

Robs me of that which not enriches him,

And makes me poor indeed.

• It is against The Golden Rule. (Matt. 7:12).

• It violates the second commandment of the law. (Matt. 22:39).

• Society becomes chaotic when this commandment is ignored.

• What a horrible place the world would be if everyone ignored this commandment.

• We will never stop all false testimony, but let not this sin be named in Christians.