Topical Bible: Property in Real Estate: Rights In, Violated

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In the biblical context, the concept of property and real estate is deeply rooted in the understanding of stewardship, ownership, and the ethical treatment of one's neighbor. The Bible provides numerous references to property rights and the consequences of violating these rights, emphasizing the importance of justice, fairness, and respect for others' possessions.

Ownership and Stewardship

The Bible acknowledges the right to own property, as seen in the division of the Promised Land among the tribes of Israel (Joshua 13-21). This allocation underscores the idea that land and property are gifts from God, entrusted to individuals and families for their use and stewardship. The principle of stewardship is further highlighted in Genesis 1:28, where humanity is given dominion over the earth, implying a responsibility to manage and care for God's creation.

Respect for Property Rights

The Eighth Commandment, "You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15), serves as a fundamental principle protecting property rights. This commandment underscores the sanctity of personal and communal possessions and the moral obligation to respect what belongs to others. The prohibition against theft is reiterated in Leviticus 19:11, "You must not steal. You must not lie or deceive one another" , linking honesty and integrity with the respect for property.

Consequences of Violating Property Rights

The Bible provides clear consequences for those who violate property rights. In Exodus 22:1-4, specific restitution laws are outlined for theft, requiring the thief to repay multiple times the value of what was stolen. This restitution principle emphasizes justice and the restoration of what was wrongfully taken. Additionally, Deuteronomy 19:14 warns against moving boundary markers, a form of property violation: "You must not move your neighbor’s boundary marker, which was set up by your ancestors in the inheritance you will receive in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess" . This law highlights the importance of respecting established property lines and the integrity of one's inheritance.

Ethical Treatment of Neighbors

The Bible consistently calls for the ethical treatment of neighbors, which includes respecting their property. In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus illustrates the importance of loving one's neighbor, which extends to respecting their possessions and well-being. The principle of loving one's neighbor as oneself (Leviticus 19:18) serves as a guiding ethic in all interactions, including those involving property.

Warnings Against Greed and Covetousness

The Bible warns against greed and covetousness, which often lead to the violation of property rights. In Luke 12:15, Jesus cautions, "Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions" . The Tenth Commandment, "You shall not covet" (Exodus 20:17), further emphasizes the importance of contentment and the dangers of desiring what belongs to others.

Conclusion

The biblical perspective on property rights in real estate is rooted in the principles of stewardship, justice, and love for one's neighbor. Violating these rights is seen as an affront to God's order and a disruption of communal harmony. The Bible calls for respect, restitution, and ethical conduct in all matters related to property, reflecting a divine mandate for justice and righteousness in human relationships.

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Genesis 21:25
And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.
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Genesis 26:18-22
And Isaac dig again the wells of water, which they had dig in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.
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Library

The Strife for Precedence.
... the most absurd ways, damaging its own property and welfare ... Traffic, and shakes entire
blocks of real estate with a ... the fact that there is a real difference of ...
/.../chapin/humanity in the city/discourse iii the strife for.htm

Twenty-Seven Articles Respecting the Reformation of the Christian ...
... a very different rule and order for property; the whole ... humility, not insisting on
our authority or our rights! ... and civil law, for no estate lives according to ...
/.../iii twenty-seven articles respecting the.htm

Atonement.
... 6. Laws are public property in which every subject of the ... theology could, perhaps,
in its best estate, have taught ... abundantly teach, that there is a real and a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/finney/systematic theology/lecture xxv atonement.htm

Acts IV
... The real motive which controlled them, and under the ... stating that many brethren who
had property sold it ... the land sold by Barnabas constituted his whole estate. ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts iv.htm

Byzantine Empresses Theodora ii. , Theophano, Zoe, Theodora iii.
... of preparing a register of her extensive estate and immense ... of part of the landed
property, according to ... The flat walls rarely had a real projecting entablature ...
/.../brittain/women of early christianity/xiii byzantine empresses theodora ii.htm

Rationalism and Its Effects
... the equality of men and the community of property. ... the sacraments as mere symbols,
denied the Real Presence of ... he offered them portion of his estate at Hutberg ...
/.../chapter viii rationalism and its.htm

Christian Cemeteries.
... the della Rovere family, to whom the property was sold ... to this form of trespassing
on his estate, here became ... on this occasion he accomplished a real tour de ...
/.../lanciani/pagan and christian rome/chapter vii christian cemeteries.htm

Directions to Church-Wardens, &C.
... the chancel; but if they have any other estate in the ... that this rate is only a personal,
not a real charge; for ... of the Mother-Church, and have all rights in it ...
/.../prideaux/directions to church-wardens/directions to church-wardens &c.htm