SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

GOLDEN TEXT:  Exodus 20:15

1. Who was it that verbally spoke to Moses and the children of Israel? (Exodus 20:1). Did the Lord God bring Israel out of bondage? (Exodus 20:2). What did God do to keep the children of Israel free from bondage? He gave them His Ten Commandments.

2. Does God’s Eighth Commandment command people not to steal? (Exodus 20:15, Deuteronomy 5:19). What does the word "steal" mean? Note: the word "steal" is defined as: "to take the property of another wrongfully." The Eighth Commandment is a fundamental building block of society and acknowledges the right to private property. Example: This computer is mine, it is not yours.

3. In Old Testament times, what was the penalty for stealing an ox or a lamb? (Exodus 22:1.) What was the penalty for someone who killed a thief in the night? (Verse 2.) What was the penalty for someone who killed a thief in the daytime? (Verse 3.) What happened if a thief was to poor to make restitution? (Verse 3.) What was the penalty if the thief was caught with the animal alive? (Verse 4.) What restitution was made if a person’s animal grazed in another person’s field? (Verse 5.) What was the penalty if items were stolen while being cared for at a neighbor’s place? (Verses 7-8.) The judges were to decide a case if two people claimed the same items, such as clothing or animals. What was the penalty for the loser? (Verse 9.) Was there a penalty involved if an animal was being kept by a neighbor and it died or ran away and no one saw it? (Verses 10-11.) What was the penalty if an animal was being kept by a neighbor and it was stolen by someone else? (Verse 12.) What was the penalty if an animal was being kept by a neighbor and it was attacked by a wild animal? (Verse 13.) What kind of evidence did the neighbor have to have? (Verse 13.)

4. What was the penalty for someone stealing a child or a person and made him a slave? (Exodus 21:16.) What was the penalty for kidnapping someone and mistreating him or selling him as a slave? (Deuteronomy 24:7.)

5. Was the law made for a righteous person? (1 Timothy 1:9-10.) Who was it made for? (Same verses.) Does this include kidnappers? (Same verses.)

6. Are you to cheat or rob your neighbor? (Leviticus 19:11-13.) How soon are you to pay your neighbor if you hired him to do some work for you? (Same verses.)

7. What does a partner of a thief hate? (Proverbs 29:24.)

8. Why should we pray to God and ask Him to: "Give me neither poverty nor riches?" (Proverbs 30:7-9.) What might we do if we were rich? What might we do if we were poor? (Same verses.)

9. Was stealing one of the many sins that the prophet Jeremiah warned the southern kingdom of Judah about that would cause them to lose favor in the Temple? (Jeremiah 7:9-16.) Did the prophet Jeremiah warn the people that they would be cast out of God’s sight for their many sins? (Verse 15.)

10. Was the Lord against the prophets because they had stolen His words from their neighbors? (Jeremiah 23:30.)

Note: Ministers who preach God’s word have a great responsibility to preach the truth from the Bible and to be true to the words of Jesus. They should not be stealing the truth from God and giving the people fables, lies, and doctrines that are pleasing to peoples’ ears. God’s truth is like a two edged sword (Hebrews 4:12.) It cuts to the bone. God’s true ministers are to: "Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins." (Isaiah 58:1.)

11. Was the land cursed because of the rampant sins of the people, including stealing? (Hosea 4:1-3.)

12. The rich young ruler came to Jesus and asked Him "What good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" Was the Eighth Commandment, "Thou shall not steal," among the list of commandments that Jesus told him to keep so that he could attain eternal life? (Matthew 19:16-19, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20.)

13. Jesus, at the beginning of His ministry, went into the Temple and drove those who sold oxen, sheep, doves and the moneychangers out of the Temple. (John 2:13-17.) It’s interesting to note that the same thing happened at the end of Jesus’ ministry. (Matthew 21:12-13.) What did Jesus say that they had made the Temple? (Verse 13.)

14. Did Jesus warn us that there would be false shepherds (false ministers) who would come among His flock and steal members of His church by perverting the gospel message that He brought? (John 10:1-18.)

Note: We must read and study the words of Jesus, the true shepherd, to be able to know His voice and His message that is being taught from His servants.

15. Does the apostle Peter also give a warning about false prophets and teachers among the people who will exploit, steal and merchandise the flock? (2 Peter 2:1-3.)

16. Should a person steal taxes from the government? How did Jesus answer this question? (Matthew 22:17-21.) Did the apostle Paul also tell us to pay our taxes and not to steal? (Romans 13:7-9.)

17. Does God consider a person wicked if he consents with a thief? (Psalms 50:16-18.) If you see someone shoplifting and don’t say anything, you have consented with him and God considers you guilty.

18. Will a thief inherit the kingdom of God? (1 Corinthians 6:9-10.)

19. The apostle Paul admonishes us to live as children of light. (Ephesians 4:17-31.) What did the apostle Paul tell thieves to do? (Verse 28.)

20. What should a thief do? He should repent and change his direction of life. In Jesus’ day, tax collectors were infamous and considered as sinners for their thievery. (Luke 5:30.) Jesus dined with Zacchaeus who was a tax collector. How did Zacchaeus show his repentance? (Luke 19:1-10.)

In Conclusion: God’s Eighth Commandment commands us not to steal. Keeping the Eighth Commandment shows that we love our neighbors and that we respect their property. Are you willing to obey the Eighth Commandment?

1.) (Exodus 20:1-2 NKJV) And God spoke all these words, saying: {2} "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

2.) (Exodus 20:15 NKJV) "You shall not steal.

(Deuteronomy 5:19 NKJV) 'You shall not steal.

3.) (Exodus 22:1-13 NKJV) "If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep. {2} "If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed. {3} "If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt for his bloodshed. He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. {4} "If the theft is certainly found alive in his hand, whether it is an ox or donkey or sheep, he shall restore double. {5} "If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed, and lets loose his animal, and it feeds in another man's field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard. {6} "If fire breaks out and catches in thorns, so that stacked grain, standing grain, or the field is consumed, he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution. {7} "If a man delivers to his neighbor money or articles to keep, and it is stolen out of the man's house, if the thief is found, he shall pay double. {8} "If the thief is not found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the judges to see whether he has put his hand into his neighbor's goods. {9} "For any kind of trespass, whether it concerns an ox, a donkey, a sheep, or clothing, or for any kind of lost thing which another claims to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whomever the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor. {10} "If a man delivers to his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep, and it dies, is hurt, or driven away, no one seeing it, {11} "then an oath of the LORD shall be between them both, that he has not put his hand into his neighbor's goods; and the owner of it shall accept that, and he shall not make it good. {12} "But if, in fact, it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to the owner of it. {13} "If it is torn to pieces by a beast, then he shall bring it as evidence, and he shall not make good what was torn.

4.) (Exodus 21:16 NKJV) "He who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death.

(Deuteronomy 24:7 NKJV) "If a man is found kidnapping any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and mistreats him or sells him, then that kidnapper shall die; and you shall put away the evil from among you.

5.) (1 Timothy 1:9-10 NKJV) knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, {10} for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine,

6.) (Leviticus 19:11-13 NKJV) 'You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. {12} 'And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD. {13} 'You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning.

7.) (Proverbs 29:24 NKJV) Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life; He swears to tell the truth, but reveals nothing.

8.) (Proverbs 30:7-9 NKJV) Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): {8} Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food allotted to me; {9} Lest I be full and deny You, And say, "Who is the LORD?" Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God.

9. (Jeremiah 7:9-16 NKJV) "Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, {10} "and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, 'We are delivered to do all these abominations'? {11} "Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it," says the LORD. {12} "But go now to My place which was in Shiloh, where I set My name at the first, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel. {13} "And now, because you have done all these works," says the LORD, "and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you, but you did not answer, {14} "therefore I will do to the house which is called by My name, in which you trust, and to this place which I gave to you and your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh. {15} "And I will cast you out of My sight, as I have cast out all your brethren; the whole posterity of Ephraim. {16} "Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you.

10.) (Jeremiah 23:30 NKJV) "Therefore behold, I am against the prophets," says the LORD, "who steal My words every one from his neighbor.

11.) (Hosea 4:1-3 NKJV) Hear the word of the LORD, You children of Israel, For the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land. {2} By swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and committing adultery, They break all restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed. {3} Therefore the land will mourn; And everyone who dwells there will waste away With the beasts of the field And the birds of the air; Even the fish of the sea will be taken away.

12.) (Matthew 19:16-19 NKJV) Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" {17} So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." {18} He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, " 'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' {19} 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"

(Mark 10:19 NKJV) "You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and your mother.'"(Luke 18:20 NKJV) "You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and your mother.'"

13.) (John 2:13-17 NKJV) Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. {14} And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers doing business. {15} When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables. {16} And He said to those who sold doves, "Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!" {17} Then His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up."

(Matthew 21:12-13 NKJV) Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. {13} And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"

14.) (John 10:1-18 NKJV) "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. {2} "But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. {3} "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. {4} "And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. {5} "Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." {6} Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. {7} Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. {8} "All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. {9} "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. {10} "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. {11} "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. {12} "But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. {13} "The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. {14} "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. {15} "As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. {16} "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. {17} "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. {18} "No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father."

15.) (2 Peter 2:1-3 NKJV) But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. {2} And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. {3} By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

16.) (Matthew 22:17-21 NKJV) "Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" {18} But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? {19} "Show Me the tax money." So they brought Him a denarius. {20} And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" {21} They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

(Romans 13:7-9 NKJV) Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. {8} Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. {9} For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

17.) (Psalms 50:16-18 NKJV) But to the wicked God says: "What right have you to declare My statutes, Or take My covenant in your mouth, {17} Seeing you hate instruction And cast My words behind you? {18} When you saw a thief, you consented with him, And have been a partaker with adulterers.

18.) (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NKJV) Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, {10} nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

19.) (Ephesians 4:17-31 NKJV) This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, {18} having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; {19} who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. {20} But you have not so learned Christ, {21} if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: {22} that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, {23} and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, {24} and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. {25} Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. {26} "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, {27} nor give place to the devil. {28} Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. {29} Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. {30} And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. {31} Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

20. (Luke 5:30 NKJV) And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, "Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"

(Luke 19:1-10 NKJV) Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. {2} Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. {3} And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. {4} So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. {5} And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." {6} So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. {7} But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner." {8} Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." {9} And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; {10} "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."