8th Commandment quotes

"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries

THE 8th COMMANDMENT -- THOU SHALT NOT STEAL quotes

1) “Thou shalt not steal.” Exodus 20:15.

“And he said unto him...if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said...Thou shalt not steal”. Matthew 19:17-18.

This commandment is found in both the old and the new Testaments. This means that it has not been nailed to the cross as many believe, but it is still binding and in force today. So if we refuse to keep and obey this 8th commandment then we would be committing sin, and if we did not repent and change, then this sin will prevent us from being saved.

“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John 3:4

“For the wages of sin is death...” Romans 6:23.

2) The Hebrew word for steal is “ganab” and it translates and means “to thieve, to deceive, to steal, to get by stealth” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, word #1589). And the Greek word for steal is “klepto” and it translates means “to filch, to steal” (Strongs, word #2813). So to steal means to thieve, to filch, to get by stealth, and even to deceive.

Why is deceiving included in this 8th commandment? Because when you deceive someone, you have stolen away from them the truth by stealth and thus you have broken this 8th commandment!

3) #1 - Stealing From and Deceiving the World

How can we steal from or deceive the world? At least 2 main areas: A - Not giving the gospel message, or B - Not supporting the gospel message.

#1A – By not giving or spreading the gospel message of Jesus Christ.

By withholding the truth from the world, then you would be guilty of stealing away from people their precious chance for eternal life.

By claiming to be a Christian, but yet not living the truth of the gospel, then you are guilty of deceiving the world by presenting a false gospel message in your life.

If you are guilty of either stealing or deceiving the world, then what are you to do?

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15.

“And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” Acts 10:42-43.

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season”. 2 Timothy 4:2.

“Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ...that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel”. Philippians 1:27.

4) #1B – Not supporting the spreading of the gospel message of Jesus Christ.

By not supporting the spreading of the gospel, then it takes much longer for it to reach precious souls. This means that some may perish before it reaches them. If this were to happen, then you would be guilty of stealing away from them the precious chance to be saved.

By claiming to be a follower of God, but yet not following His example of sacrificing in order to save precious souls, then you are guilty of deceiving the world by presenting a false example of what a Christian life should be.

If you are guilty of either stealing or deceiving the world in this area, then what are you to do?

“Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.” Deuteronomy 16:17.

“He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-7.

“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” 1 Timothy 6-17-19.

It is not just the ministers, pastors and elders that are to sacrifice their time and money in order to give and spread the gospel to perishing souls, but each and every follower of Christ is to do the same. If you refuse to do so, then you are breaking this 8th commandment and will be lost if you do not repent and change!

“When a minister who has labored successfully in securing souls to Jesus Christ abandons his sacred work in order to secure temporal gains, he is called an apostate, and he will be held accountable to God for the talents that he was misapplied. When men of business, farmers, mechanics, merchants, lawyers, etc., become members of the church, they become servants of Christ; and although their talents may be entirely different, their responsibility to advance the cause of God by personal effort, and with their means, is no less than that which rests upon the minister. The woe which will fall upon the minister if he preach not the gospel, will just as surely fall upon the businessman, if he, with his different talents, will not be a co-worker with Christ in accomplishing the same results. When this is brought home to the individual, some will say, 'This is a hard saying;' nevertheless it is true, although continually contradicted by the practice of men who profess to be followers of Christ.” Testimonies, vol 4, p. 468-469.

5) #2 - Stealing From and Deceiving One Another (including spouses, family, friends, etc.)

How can we steal from or deceive one another? There are at least 5 main areas: A - Not bearing one another’s burdens; B - Not manifesting love; C - Not being forgiving; D - Not dwelling in unity; E - Bearing false witness.

#2A – By not bearing one another’s burdens.

By not bearing one another’s burdens then you would be guilty of stealing comfort, strength and well-being away from them, and instead adding grief, tiredness and exhaustion to them.

If you are guilty of doing this, then what are you to do?

“Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2.

6) #2B – By not manifesting true Christlike love.

By not loving one another as Christ loves you, then you would be guilty of stealing needed affection and love away from others, and instead adding sorrow, jealousy and hatred to them.

If you are guilty of being unloving, then what are you to do?

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:34-35.

“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another”. Romans 12:9-10.

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8.

7) #2C – By not being forgiving.

By not forgiving one another as God has forgiven you, then you are guilty of stealing companionship and contentment away from them, and instead adding loneliness and discontent to them.

If you are guilty of being unforgiving, then what are you to do?

“Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.” Leviticus 19:17-18.

“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven”. Luke 6:37.

“Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.” James 5:8-9.

8) #2D – By our disunity.

By not living in true Godly unity with one another, then you are guilty of stealing away peace, strength, joy and happiness from the members of the body of Christ, and instead adding troubles, warfare and weakness to them.

If you are guilty of disunity, then what are you to do?

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace....And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: Ephesians 4:1-3, 11-13.

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” John 17:20-23.

“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind....Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”. Philippians 2:2, 4-5.

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is”. Hebrews 10:25.

“Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11.

9) #2E – By our evil surmising, or spreading rumors, or bearing false witness.

By not controlling your tongue or pen but engaging in evil surmising, or spreading of rumors, or bearing false witness about another, then you are guilty of robbing away peace, prosperity, trust and freedom from them, and instead adding trials, hardships, suspicion and barriers to them.

If you are guilty of bearing false witness, then what are you to do?

“But let none of you suffer...as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.” 1 Peter 4:15.

“Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.” Levitcus 19:16.

“Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not....And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.” 1 Timothy 5:12-13, 7.

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Philippians 2:3.

10) How does deception enter into all this second area?

By claiming to be the fellow brothers and sisters in the faith with one another, or the companion of your spouse, relatives, friends, etc., but yet you are not bearing their burdens, or giving them love, or being forgiving, or fellowshipping with them, or bearing false witness about them, then you are guilty of lying and deceiving them. And what will happen if we continue on in this deception?

“Ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived”. 1 Corinthians 6:8-9.

If you are guilty of deceiving them, then what are you to do?

“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. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.” 1 Thessalonians 4:6-7.

“The Lord is coming. We have a work to do for ourselves, a work to do for one another. Christ has bound up our souls with the infinite God. We have a higher, nobler calling than to devise and report evil one of another. You have driven one to the grave, another from your midst, for the want of brotherly love and compassion; and is not this record in the books of Heaven enough? Will you double your guilt; will you blacken your already darkened record? I call upon these men and women, whatever your profession may be, to be swift to hear counsel of God, entreaties of his Spirit,--and slow to speak. Think not evil one of another, lest ye be condemned. Whatever we do, whatever we say, wherever we are, we can never cease our responsibility to God. He has appointed our work. It is not to bite and devour one another, but it is to labor earnestly, kindly, tenderly, in all love to help one another to resist our common foe.” Pamphlet 155, p 22-23.

“Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.” Romans 14:19.

“And be at peace among yourselves.” 1 Thessalonians 5:13.

11) #3 - Stealing From and Deceiving the Messengers, Workers or Ministers of God

How can we steal from or deceive the Messengers, Workers and Ministers of God? There are at least 4 main areas: A - Not giving them encouragement; B - Not upholding them in prayers: C - Not giving them proper respect and honor; D - Not giving them sufficient support.

#3A – By not giving them loving encouragement.

By not giving the messengers, workers and ministers of God loving encouragement, then you are guilty of stealing away from them peace, strength and courage, and instead adding onto them perplexity, loneliness, weakness and doubt.

If you are guilty of not encouraging them, then what are you to do?

“Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.” Galatians 6:6.

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works...exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:23-25.

12) #3B – By not upholding them in prayers.

By not often praying for the messengers, workers and ministers of God, then you are guilty of stealing away from them needed divine help and support, and instead adding to them extra burdens and strain.

If you are guilty of not praying for them, then what are you to do?

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16.

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel”. Ephesians 6:18-19.

“For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness...Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ”. Philippians 1:19-21.

13) #3C – By not giving them due respect and honor for faithful service.

By not giving the messengers, workers and ministers of God due respect and honor for past or present faithful service, then you are guilty of robbing them from the peace, tranquility and love they deserve, and instead you are adding onto them perplexity, criticism, complaint, quibbles, discouragement and despair.

If you are guilty of disrespecting them, then what are you to do?

“Render therefore...fear [respect] to whom fear [is due]; honour to whom honour [is due]....love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:7-8.

“Receive him (the Lord’s messenger) therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: Because for the work of Christ...” Philippians 2:29-30.

“And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake.” 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13.

14) #3D – By not providing them with sufficient donations and gifts.

By not providing the messengers, workers and ministers of God with sufficient donations and gifts with which to live and to spread the message of God’s love and truth to others, then you are guilty of stealing away from them time and support, as well as preventing the truth from reaching others, and instead you are adding to them trials, perplexities, darkness, loneliness and possible death. YES – possible death!

“Many ministers are lying in their graves, brought there by sorrow and disappointment, and by the hardship brought upon them because they did not receive sufficient for their labors....During their term of labor these men have done double labor. They felt so heavy a burden for souls that they had no desire to be relieved of overwork. The heavy burdens borne shortened their lives.” Manuscript Releases, vol 1, p 188-189.

If you are guilty in this area, then what are you to do?

“Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” 1 Corinthians 9:13-14.

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” Luke 6:38.

“For ye had compassion of me...and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.” Hebrews 10:34.

15) How does deception come into all of this area?

By claiming to love the truth, but yet you are not giving the messengers, workers and ministers of God loving encouragement, or often praying for them, or giving them proper respect and honor for past or present faithful service, or providing them with sufficient money to live on and to spread the truth as much as they are capable of doing, then you are proving that you do not truly love the truth, and thus you are guilty of lying and deceiving all who know you.

And so if you are guilty of doing any of these things, then what are you to do?

“Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. Wherefore show ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love”. 2 Corinthians 8:23-24.

16) #4 - Stealing From and Deceiving Ourselves

How can we steal from or deceive Ourselves? There is at least one main area, and that is not being honest with ourselves.

– By not being honest with ourselves.

By not being honest with yourself about your true walk with the Lord, then you are guilty of stealing away from yourself the assurance, peace, contentment, joy and rest you could have in the Lord, and are instead adding on to yourself doubt, uncertainty, sadness and troubles. You are also robbing away from yourself eternal life!

If you are guilty of doing this to yourself, then what should you do about it?

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2 Corinthians 13:5.

By not being honest with yourself in taking the time to carefully examine your life to see if you are in the faith, or to see what corrections you need to accomplish in order to come fully into the faith, then you are guilty of deceiving yourself with the presumption of gaining eternal life without making sure you have complied with all the necessary requirements for obtaining eternal life.

Some take the position that ignorance is bless, and that what you don’t know can’t hurt you. But in this case it will hurt you, because willful ignorance will cost you salvation! So by not being honest with yourself you brought upon yourself destruction.

If you are guilty of deceiving yourself, then what should you do about it?

“For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work...Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Galatians 6:3-4, 7-8.

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall”. 2 Peter 1:4-10.