We cannot just depend on the “letter” or literal meaning of the word in the Bible:
• 2 Cor 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new
testament; NOT OF THE LETTER, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
The real purpose of God giving us the Bible is the “salvation of the soul”. For the “body” it is only secondary. Thus,
• 2 Cor 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are SEEN ARE
TEMPORAL; but the things which are NOT SEEN ARE ETERNAL.
The “letter” or literal meaning for stealing just involves “physical life” that ends in the grave. While the “SPIRIT” of the word pertains to “spiritual life” that either ends in “hell or heaven”.
Hence, the “LETTER” for this commandment simply refers to “material things like: money, value objects or things”.
The “SPIRIT” of the word for “stealing” is how JESUS CHRIST rebuked the Religious Leaders for “STEALING HIS GLORY”:
• Mat 23:8 But be not ye called RABBI: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
RABBI - a person who is trained to make decisions about what is lawful in religious matter.
• Mat 23:9 And call no man your FATHER upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
The title FATHER (Fr.) pertains only to GOD.
• Mat 23:10 Neither be ye called MASTERS: for one is your Master, even Christ.
Even in the Old Testament, this warning was already given:
Psa_111:9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: HOLY and REVEREND is his name.
That is why JESUS CHRIST in His anger, He rebuked the Religious Leaders:
• Mat 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
• Mat 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
• Mat 23:26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
• Mat 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
The 8th Commandment should be simple to understand. Stealing is to take without permission that which rightly belongs to another person. There are various reasons given in the Bible as to why stealing is wrong - it is a sin in God's eyes. (1) It violates the God-given law of property, first given in Genesis 2:15-17. (2) Stealing betrays a grasping spirit - see Genesis 14:11-12. (3) Stealing encourages violence - see James 4:1-3.
Sadly, circumstances may arise where some poor people feel forced to steal in order to just stay alive. This is explained in the Bible in Proverbs 30:8-9) "Keep falsehood and lies far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD'? Or I may become poor and steal and so dishonour the name of my God."
Even stealing when in dire need still dishonours God and the prayer of faith to God is that He enables us to have our daily bread, then we will not have to steal.
Also complicating matters is the fact that there is more to stealing than just lifting another person's goods. There is deceitful stealing, like insider dealing or fiddling tax returns or expense accounts- even deliberately 'forgetting' to mention something or giving a wrong age in order to better oneself could be stealing. See Romans 13:7. There's also theft by delayed paying. Many a small business has been ruined by its debtors holding back payment beyond the agreed time limit. See Romans 13:8. There's also theft by dishonest charging, weighting scales and so on. Finally, there's trying to steal from God but that, I suspect, is another question!
I too have the same doubt. When you go to Church next time, I want to accompany you. We will hear from the horse's mouth and settle the issue once for all. It will be in the fitness of things.
Answers & Comments
Let us heed this warning in reading the Bible:
We cannot just depend on the “letter” or literal meaning of the word in the Bible:
• 2 Cor 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new
testament; NOT OF THE LETTER, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
The real purpose of God giving us the Bible is the “salvation of the soul”. For the “body” it is only secondary. Thus,
• 2 Cor 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are SEEN ARE
TEMPORAL; but the things which are NOT SEEN ARE ETERNAL.
The “letter” or literal meaning for stealing just involves “physical life” that ends in the grave. While the “SPIRIT” of the word pertains to “spiritual life” that either ends in “hell or heaven”.
Hence, the “LETTER” for this commandment simply refers to “material things like: money, value objects or things”.
The “SPIRIT” of the word for “stealing” is how JESUS CHRIST rebuked the Religious Leaders for “STEALING HIS GLORY”:
• Mat 23:8 But be not ye called RABBI: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
RABBI - a person who is trained to make decisions about what is lawful in religious matter.
• Mat 23:9 And call no man your FATHER upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
The title FATHER (Fr.) pertains only to GOD.
• Mat 23:10 Neither be ye called MASTERS: for one is your Master, even Christ.
Even in the Old Testament, this warning was already given:
Psa_111:9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: HOLY and REVEREND is his name.
That is why JESUS CHRIST in His anger, He rebuked the Religious Leaders:
• Mat 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
• Mat 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
• Mat 23:26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
• Mat 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
No.
It's simple.
Don't steal.
Just one meaning. Don't steal.
The 8th Commandment should be simple to understand. Stealing is to take without permission that which rightly belongs to another person. There are various reasons given in the Bible as to why stealing is wrong - it is a sin in God's eyes. (1) It violates the God-given law of property, first given in Genesis 2:15-17. (2) Stealing betrays a grasping spirit - see Genesis 14:11-12. (3) Stealing encourages violence - see James 4:1-3.
Sadly, circumstances may arise where some poor people feel forced to steal in order to just stay alive. This is explained in the Bible in Proverbs 30:8-9) "Keep falsehood and lies far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD'? Or I may become poor and steal and so dishonour the name of my God."
Even stealing when in dire need still dishonours God and the prayer of faith to God is that He enables us to have our daily bread, then we will not have to steal.
Also complicating matters is the fact that there is more to stealing than just lifting another person's goods. There is deceitful stealing, like insider dealing or fiddling tax returns or expense accounts- even deliberately 'forgetting' to mention something or giving a wrong age in order to better oneself could be stealing. See Romans 13:7. There's also theft by delayed paying. Many a small business has been ruined by its debtors holding back payment beyond the agreed time limit. See Romans 13:8. There's also theft by dishonest charging, weighting scales and so on. Finally, there's trying to steal from God but that, I suspect, is another question!
it means not to take anything that is not yours. either property or a person
It also means no slavery as that is the stealing of another's productivity.
It also means no rape as that is the stealing of one's innocence or at least the stealing of their gender designs from God.
Its pretty clear.
I too have the same doubt. When you go to Church next time, I want to accompany you. We will hear from the horse's mouth and settle the issue once for all. It will be in the fitness of things.