Proofs

[1] Exodus 20:15.

Comments

The Eighth Commandment is another of those commandments that is commonly known to be in the Decalogue, even by unbelievers. Indeed, even those who have never heard about Christ or Christianity is likely also to know that it is wrong to steal. This is because the works of the moral law is written in the hearts of man created in the image of God (Rom 2:14–15): which is why man has a sense of morality whereas animals do not.

However, because of the corruption of nature, most people think of stealing only as referring to illegally possessing of money or property that belong to others. Like the other commandments, however, the Eighth Commandment has a greater scope than that. For example, habitual late-coming is a breaking of the Eighth Commandment, because it involves stealing the time of others. Similarly, when a person breaks the Sabbath by doing unnecessary work, he is actually stealing from God, because one day in seven belongs to the Lord and the only kinds of work permitted are those that God allows in His Word.

Nevertheless, it is true that the Eighth Commandment has a primary reference to private ownership, or the wealth and outward estate of ourselves and of others. This compares with the Fifth Commandment which has to do with human authorities; the Sixth Commandment which has to do with human life, the Seventh Commandment which has to do with the moral purity of man, the Ninth Commandment which has to do with the promotion of truth between man and man, and the Tenth Commandment which has to do with the heart and desires of man.

Thus, it is most helpful to teach children to observe the Eighth Commandment by getting them to honour the right of ownership of others. For example, children should be taught from young that they must not take other children’s toys without permission from the owners. In the same way, when a child picks up something that has been accidentally misplaced by another, he should be taught to return it if the owner can be found.