The Eighth Commandment

110 What does God forbid in the eighth commandment?

110 He forbids not only outright theft 1 and robbery, punishable by the government. 2 But God also forbids all scheming and swindling in order to get our neighbour's goods for ourselves, whether by force or by appearance of right, such as unjust weights, lengths, measures, deceptive advertising, false measures, excessive interest, or any other means forbidden by God. 3 In addition he forbids all greed 4 and pointless squandering of his gifts. 5

111 But what does God require of you in this commandment?

111 I must promote my neighbour's good wherever I can and may, deal with him as I would like others to deal with me, and work faithfully so that I may share with those in need. 1

Footnotes

Question 110 · Footnote 1

Exodus 22:1-4

"If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. If the stolen beast is found alive in his possession, whether it is an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double.

Leviticus 19:11-13

"You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another. You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD. "You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning.

Question 110 · Footnote 2

Psalms 62:10

Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

Question 110 · Footnote 3

Deuteronomy 25:13-16

"You shall not have in your bag two kinds of weights, a large and a small. You shall not have in your house two kinds of measures, a large and a small. A full and fair weight you shall have, a full and fair measure you shall have, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. For all who do such things, all who act dishonestly, are an abomination to the LORD your God.

Proverbs 11:1

A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight.

Proverbs 16:11

A just balance and scales are the LORD's; all the weights in the bag are his work.

Ezekiel 45:9-10

"Thus says the Lord GOD: Enough, O princes of Israel! Put away violence and oppression, and execute justice and righteousness. Cease your evictions of my people, declares the Lord GOD. "You shall have just balances, a just ephah, and a just bath.

Amos 8:4-6

Hear this, you who trample on the needy and bring the poor of the land to an end, saying, "When will the new moon be over, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may offer wheat for sale, that we may make the ephah small and the shekel great and deal deceitfully with false balances, that we may buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals and sell the chaff of the wheat?"

Micah 6:9-12

The voice of the LORD cries to the city-- and it is sound wisdom to fear your name: "Hear of the rod and of him who appointed it! Can I forget any longer the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is accursed? Shall I acquit the man with wicked scales and with a bag of deceitful weights? Your rich men are full of violence; your inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

Luke 3:14

Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages."

1 Thessalonians 4:6

that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.

Question 110 · Footnote 4

Luke 12:15

"Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

Question 110 · Footnote 5

Proverbs 21:20

Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.

Proverbs 23:20-21

Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.

Luke 15:13

Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.

Question 111 · Footnote 1

Isaiah 58:10

if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.

Galatians 6:10

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Ephesians 4:28

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

1 Timothy 6:17-18

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,

Hebrews 13:16

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Commandments