Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 10:43:39 +0100
Reply-To: t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
Sender: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
From: Teus Benschop
Subject: Catechism, 13
Q: Which is the eighth commandment?
A: The eighth commandment is, "Thou shalt not steal".
In the two previous commandments is cared for the life and the chastity
of the people, and in this eighth commandment is cared for the livelihood
through the outward goods, by which the men must be maintained in this
life. Therefore, in this commandment is commanded that men may not do
injustice towards each other, but they must righteously obtain them, and
expend them properly. Also this commandment is put in the form of a
prohibition, so we must pay attention to 1. what is required, and 2. what
is forbidden here. This is done in the next two questions and answers.
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.
The answer says that we ought to procure and further the wealth and
outward estate of both ourselves and others. Now, most of the people try
to procure wealth for themselves, but we ought this to do also for the
others. Doing this for others, we see it seldom. And when we help the
others, we hope to have also some advantage for ourselves. Several
virtues are required in us.
- Righteousness. We must be fair in our business. Even when we think that
nobody notices it when we favour ourselves at the expense of others, in
an unrighteous way. Even in the darkness, so to speak, when nobody sees
us, we must be righteous. "Provide things honest in the sight of all
men." (Romans 12:17)
- Contentment. We must be content with the estate of life, which we have
gotten of God. Let we be content with that what we now have in goods, and
avoid being greedy to unnecessary things. "Be content with such things as
ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
(Hebrews 13:5)
- Allegiance. Being faithful means that we try to prevent the harm of
other's goods, that we fulfill our job as it is fitting, and other the
like things. "His lord said unto him, Well done, [thou] good and faithful
servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee
ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." (Matthew
25:21)
- Mildness, in order that we give to the needy, as is reasonable. That we
do so, even when it is not our duty. "Thou shalt surely give him, and
thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that
for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in
all that thou puttest thine hand unto." (Deuteronomy 15:10)
- Hospitality. This is a sort of mildness, whereby we receive the guests,
and give them what they need. "Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry,
and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou
seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from
thine own flesh? (Isaiah 58:7)
- Thrift. We ought to avoid unnecessary expenses, so that we can help the
people when the need is there. "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and
ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16) "And let us
not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint
not." (Galatians 6:9)
- Moderation. We will expend our goods well and usefully for the things
which are necessary and useful. "Young men likewise exhort to be sober
minded." (Titus 2:6)
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.
This commandment forbids every unjust hinder of the prosperity of
ourselves and the other people. We, of course, will care that nothing
hinders our own well-being, but it happens seldom that we care for that
of our neighbour's. Several crimes are contained in this ban on stealing.
- Stealing itself. This is the unjustly taking away of things which
belong to another. Other forms are to robbery of the sanctuary, which we
do when we give too little to the service of God. Stealing of people.
"And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his
hand, he shall surely be put to death." (Exodus 21:16)
- Unjust dealing. Some rob the other under the appearance of right, or
any other deceiving appearance. "That no man go beyond and defraud his
brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such,
as we also have forewarned you and testified." (1 Thessalonians 4:6) The
government can sin in this, when they oppress the innocent: "Thy princes
are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and
followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the
cause of the widow come unto them." (Isaiah 1:23) We can also deceive and
rob our neighbour using false money and measures. Some sell materials of
bad quality for a good price, which is also stealing. Another sort is
when we ask too much interest, when we lend some money.
- Abuse. We can be thieves of our own property, namely when we abuse it.
Two forms can be mentioned here. First miserliness, and secondly waste.
The miserliness is the root of all evil, like the apostle said: "For the
love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after,
they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many
sorrows." (1 Timothy 6:10) The miser robs himself and the others of the
use of the goods, which God has given them to employ for the benefit of
himself and his neighbour. The waster also robs himself and his neighbour
of the use of the good. For he never has any, and what he has, he
dissipates. "Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of
violence to come near; That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch
themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and
the calves out of the midst of the stall; That chant to the sound of the
viol, [and] invent to themselves instruments of music, like David; That
drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but
they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. Therefore now shall
they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them
that stretched themselves shall be removed." (Amos 6:3-7) The prophet
punishes the waste of the chiefs of the nation. They lie at rest, but are
not grieved for the affliction of the citizens. Therefore now shall they
go captive.
When we read this eighth commandment cursorily, maybe, we feel ourselves
not a transgressor. But when we study it more, and also read the
explanation of this commandment in the Scriptures. we get a better idea
of the requirements of it. When we then the required and forbidden things
lay beside our lives, and we compere these, we become the greatest
sinners; I mean, when we are not utterly blind.
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Chr-Exp, a Christian explanation of the Tanach and the New Testament
Editor: Teus Benschop - t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
No copyrights on this publication
Institution Practical Bible-education, the Netherlands
End of Catechism, 13
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file: /pub./resources/text/ipb-e/cate: cat-013.txt
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