Theft

Theft is a sin that breaks the 8th commandment of Decalogue and the commandment of loving the neighbour.

General characteristics

Theft violates the 8th commandment of Decalogue, and breaks the commandment of loving the neighbour.Like other sins, theft defiles a person, because it comes out of the heart and the sinner will not inherit the kingdom of God if he doesn’t repent of his sins, like Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector.

Punishment

The law obliged the thief to pay double (in case of finding the stolen thing-), four or five times (if it is an ox or a sheep, cut or sold-) or seven times (if the thief steals because he is hungry) -).If the thief wasn’t able to pay compensation for his theft by selling his things, he was sold as a slave. If the thief confessed his sin, he was allowed to return the object, adding a fifth of its price and he brought to the priest as his compensation to the Lord a ram without blemish out of the flock, or its equivalent, for a guilt offering; and the priest made atonement for him before the Lord, and he was forgiven. If a thief was caught breaking in and was struck so that he died, the defender was not guilty of bloodshed; but if it happened after sunrise, he was guilty of bloodshed.Death was the penalty for stealing a man.

Causes

Poverty and greed are among the reasons for theft. Besides this, stolen things are sweet and the bread (food) eaten in secret is pleasant. The partner of a thief hates his own life; he hears the curse, but discloses nothing. Sometimes rulers are thieves or accomplices of thieves.

Types of thieves

The thief acts unexpectedly and he usualy lies in ambush , especially at night and in secluded placesZacchaeus brought salvation upon his house because he was decided to restore fourfold to those whom he had defrauded. The hypocritical thief is personified by Judas, who took secretly his part from the money Jesus and the apostles raised for helping the poor; he disliked Mary ointed Jesus with pure nard, pretending hypocritically it would have been useful if the nard would have been sold and the money given to the poor. There were some Pharisees like Judas: they stole, although preaching not to steal.

Advises

Thieves are advised to stop stealing, and to work something with their hands, to have what to share with those in need. And those likely to be stolen are urged to stock treasures in heaven, because there they cannot be ruined or stolen.

Spiritual thievery

There is a spiritual thievery (stealth), of those who steal minds and souls with misleading teachings.. Because the minds and the souls belongs to God who created them.

Sources

1. Bible, English Standard Version Revised, 1971
2. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/