The question sounds almost silly: Why is stealing sinful?

Everyone knows that it is wrong to steal. It is as if God programmed us with that knowledge. Just watch little children. Even before they can talk, if someone takes a toy from a little child, there will almost always be a negative reaction. No one wants something they possess to be taken from them. No one!

Do we really have to be taught that stealing is wrong?

Literally carved into stone was the eighth commandment: You shall not steal. Even though we are encoded from birth with the knowledge that stealing is wrong, God thought it important to tell His chosen people that it was a sin to steal.

Sometimes we minimize the seriousness of stealing by considering the value of the thing stolen. Stealing a car IS much more serious than stealing a hammer. Not only is the car more expensive to replace, it serves a greater function than the hammer. However, there is no moral distinction between petty theft and grand theft. Whether classed as a misdemeanor theft or felony theft, wrong is still wrong.

Some may rationalize taking small items of little value such as taking a few grapes to eat while grocery shopping (and not buying grapes), or taking office supplies (that won’t be noticed) from work. Yet, the grapes are stolen. The office supplies are stolen. Rationalization is a way of explaining why the stealing was not really bad.

Sometimes people justify their theft. “Because of all the hard work I put in, the company owes me” a stapler, a tape dispenser, or a package of TP. Justification is a way of explaining why the wrong action is actually a right action.

Men do not despise a thief if he steals To satisfy himself when he is hungry; But when he is found, he must repay sevenfold; He must give all the substance of his house. —Proverbs 6:30-31

Rationalization and justification, as well as sympathy and understanding, do not change the reality of stealing.

Sometimes people steal without taking anything tangible. That’s why there are laws dealing with patents, trademarks, and copyright. When people make copies of materials without making a purchase, it is theft unless permission is given from the producer of that material. Making copies of written material, music, movies, software, etc. that deprive the originator of making a profit is just another way of stealing. No one deserves a pirated copy of a song just because the song artist is a bazillionaire.

Cheating is another way of stealing without taking something tangible.

So, what is God’s expectation?

If you’ve been stealing, stop stealing. 

Or, just don’t steal.

Is that all?

He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. —Ephesians 4:28

The solution to stealing is not merely to stop stealing, but rather, to work and earn an income and share with those in need.

Why is stealing sinful? All forms of stealing present something that belongs to another as if it belongs to you. Stealing is a lie against reality and it opposes the very nature of God.

Mark Stinnett

March 12, 2023

“Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

That is the seventh of The Ten Commandments from the old King James Version. For many, that wording sounds holy. Forceful. Absolute!

Why is adultery sinful?

Our word adultery came into the English language from a Latin verb adulterare meaning literally, to alter, but was also used to mean, to corrupt. (This Latin word is not connected to the English word adult; nor is it connected to the Greek term that it translates.)

The Greek term for adultery was very specific in its meaning. It referred to a sexual relationship between people who were married, but not to each other. Remember that while the New Testament was written in Greek, the Greek language was used hundreds of years before Christ and across multiple cultures.

While every culture forbids adultery, the rules are different and may vary between men and women. For example, at one time ancient Greeks considered adultery to be a secret sexual relationship with a woman without the permission of her master. In many cultures men have been allowed to have sexual relationships with non-married women. Only if a married woman was involved were there consequences.

In early times consequences were carried out by family members since adultery was considered a violation of family. This was true in Roman society until laws were passed that made adultery a civil offense with consequences carried out by the legal establishment. Consequences varied from fines to revenge (by family members) to death.

Among some groups, cultural norms or laws required the husband whose wife was an adulteress to divorce her (or put her to death). In most cases cultural norms and laws were stricter regarding women since married women were often considered property. They were therefore bound to absolute fidelity in the marriage.

By the time of Christ infidelity among both husbands and wives was common in Roman society. So was divorce.

For the Jews, as with others, adultery involved sexual intimacy only, and divorce was allowed, though the acceptable reasons were debated. Recall that Jesus reminded the Jews that Moses demanded a certificate of divorce because of the hardness of their hearts (Matthew 19:7-8). In other words, husbands mistreated their wives by discarding them. So, to protect women a legal certificate was required. Men had to have a legitimate reason for divorce.

Jesus ended the debate by pointing back to creation: “But from the Beginning it has not been this way.” Jesus taught fidelity in marriage for both the husband and the wife.

Ideally marriage should reflect the very character of God. The words fidelity, loyalty, commitment, faithfulness and devotion describe God. That means that in His relationships God does not show partiality. He is not fickle in his commitment. He does not tire of love. He does not quickly grow impatient or angry. In order to preserve a relationship God is willing to forgive.

God does not quit a relationship. Even when His wife (Israel) was unfaithful, He was patient and tried to woo her back. (Hosea 2)

Why is adultery sin? Adultery violates faithfulness and commitment, the very character of God. Adultery is a lie against the truth of God’s divine nature.

Mark Stinnett

March 5, 2023