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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[1], and breaks the commandment of loving the neighbour.[2]Like other sins, theft defiles a person, because it comes out of the heart[3] and the sinner will not inherit the kingdom of God[4] if he doesn’t repent of his sins, like Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector.[5]

Punishment

The law obliged the thief to pay double (in case of finding the stolen thing-[6]), four or five times (if it is an ox or a sheep, cut or sold-[7]) or seven times (if the thief steals because he is hungry) -[8]).If the thief wasn’t able to pay compensation for his theft by selling his things, he was sold as a slave.[9] 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.[10]Death was the penalty for stealing a man.[11]

Causes

Poverty and greed are among the reasons for theft.[12] Besides this, stolen things are sweet and the bread (food) eaten in secret is pleasant.[13] The partner of a thief hates his own life; he hears the curse, but discloses nothing.[14] Sometimes rulers are thieves or accomplices of thieves.[15]

Types of thieves

The thief acts unexpectedly and he usualy lies in ambush , especially at night and in secluded places[16]Zacchaeus brought salvation upon his house because he was decided to restore fourfold to those whom he had defrauded.[17] 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.[18] There were some Pharisees like Judas: they stole, although preaching not to steal.[19]

Advises

Thieves are advised to stop stealing, and to work something with their hands, to have what to share with those in need[20]. And those likely to be stolen are urged to stock treasures in heaven, because there they cannot be ruined or stolen.[21]

Spiritual thievery

There is a spiritual thievery (stealth), of those who steal minds and souls with misleading teachings.[22]. Because the minds and the souls belongs to God who created them.[23]

Reference

  1. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2020.15,%20Deuteronomy5.19,%20Matthew19.19,%20Mark10.19,%20Luke18.20&version=ESV;NIVUK;ASV
  2. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans13.9&version=ESV;NIVUK;ASV
  3. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew15.10-20,%20Mark%207.20-23&version=ESV;NIVUK;ASV
  4. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Corinthians6.9&version=ESV;NIVUK;ASV
  5. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lc19.1-10&version=ESV;NIVUK;ASV
  6. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus22.4-9&version=ESV;NIVUK;ASV
  7. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus22.1&version=ESV;NIVUK;ASV
  8. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs6.30-31&version=ESV;NIVUK;ASV
  9. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus22.2-3&version=ESV;NIVUK;ASV;RMNN
  10. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus22.2-3&version=ESV;NIVUK;ASV
  11. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus21.16,%20Deuteronomy24.7,%20Genesis37.26-28,%2040.14-15&version=ESV;NIVUK;ASV
  12. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs30.1-9,%20Prov%201.10-19&version=ESV;NIVUK;ASV
  13. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs9.16-17&version=ESV;NIVUK;ASV
  14. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs29.24&version=ESV;NIVUK;ASV
  15. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah1.23,%20Jeremiah7.8-11,%20Romans2.21-22&version=ESV;NIVUK;ASV
  16. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke12.35-40,%20Matthew24.42-44,%20Apocalipse3.3,16.5,%202Peter3.10,%201Thessalonians5.2,4,%20Proverbs23.28,%20Job24.14,%20Psalm74.20,%20Joel2.9,%20Jeremiah49.9&version=ESV;NIVUK;ASV
  17. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lc19.1-10&version=ESV;NIVUK;ASV
  18. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ioan%2012.3-8&version=ESV;NIVUK;ASV
  19. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rom2.17-21&version=ESV;NIVUK;ASV
  20. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians4.28&version=ESV;NIVUK;ASV
  21. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke12.33,%20Matthew6.19,20&version=ESV;NIVUK;ASV
  22. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John10.1-10,%20Hebrews13.9,%20Collosians2.8,%20Jeremiah23.30&version=ESV;NIVUK;ASV
  23. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%201.26-29,%20Genesis%202.7&version=ESV;NIVUK;ASV

Sources

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