Question 110

What doth God forbid in the eighth command?

God forbids not only those thefts,^a and robberies, which are punishable by the magistrate;^b but he comprehends under the name of theft all wicked tricks and devices, whereby we design to appropriate to ourselves the goods which belong to our neighbour:^c whether it be by force, or under the appearance of right; as by unjust weights,^d ells, measures, fraudulent merchandise,^e false coins, usury, or by any other way forbidden by God;^f as also all covetousness, all abuse and waste of his gifts.^g

1. a. 1 Corinthians 6:10

   1 Corinthians 6:10

   ^6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

   ^6:10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

2. b. 1 Corinthians 5:10

   1 Corinthians 5:10

   ^5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

   ^5:10 I was not including the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

3. c. Luke 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:6

   Luke 3:14

   ^3:14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

   ^3:14 Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" "Do not take money by force or false accusation," he said. "Be content with your wages."

   1 Thessalonians 4:6

   ^4:6 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.

   ^4:6 and no one should ever violate or exploit his brother in this regard, because the Lord will avenge all such acts, as we have already told you and solemnly warned you.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

4. d. Proverbs 11:1

   Proverbs 11:1

   ^11:1 A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.

   ^11:1 Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

5. e. Ezekiel 45:9–11; Deuteronomy 25:13

   Ezekiel 45:9–11

   ^45:9 Thus saith the Lord God; Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord God. ^45:10 Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath. ^45:11 The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, that the bath may contain the tenth part of an homer, and the ephah the tenth part of an homer: the measure thereof shall be after the homer.

   ^45:9 For this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Enough, O princes of Israel! Cease your violence and oppression, and do what is just and right. Stop dispossessing My people, declares the Lord GOD.' ^45:10 You must use honest scales, a just ephah, and a just bath. ^45:11 The ephah and the bath shall be the same quantity so that the bath will contain a tenth of a homer, and the ephah a tenth of a homer; the homer will be the standard measure for both.

   Deuteronomy 25:13

   ^25:13 Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small.

   ^25:13 You shall not have two differing weights in your bag, one heavy and one light.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

6. f. Psalm 15:5; Luke 6:35

   Psalm 15:5

   ^15:5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

   ^15:5 who lends his money without interest and refuses a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.

   Luke 6:35

   ^6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

   ^6:35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

7. g. 1 Corinthians 6:10

   1 Corinthians 6:10

   ^6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

   ^6:10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible