Definition and Overview:
Stealing, in the biblical context, refers to the act of taking another person's property without permission or legal right, with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of it. It is considered a sin and a violation of God's commandments. The Bible addresses stealing in various contexts, emphasizing its moral and spiritual implications.

Biblical Commandments Against Stealing:
The prohibition against stealing is explicitly stated in the Ten Commandments, which form a foundational ethical code in the Judeo-Christian tradition. In Exodus 20:15 , it is written, "You shall not steal." This commandment is reiterated in Deuteronomy 5:19 , underscoring its importance in maintaining social order and justice.

Old Testament Teachings:
The Old Testament contains numerous laws and teachings regarding stealing and its consequences. In Leviticus 19:11 , the Israelites are instructed, "You must not steal. You must not lie or deceive one another." The law further prescribes restitution for theft, as seen in Exodus 22:1 : "If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters or sells it, he must repay five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep." This principle of restitution highlights the need for justice and reconciliation.

New Testament Teachings:
The New Testament continues to uphold the prohibition against stealing, emphasizing the transformation of character through Christ. In Ephesians 4:28 , Paul instructs, "He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need." This passage not only condemns stealing but also encourages productive and generous living.

Spiritual Implications:
Stealing is not merely a legal issue but a spiritual one, reflecting a heart that is not aligned with God's will. It is often associated with greed, covetousness, and a lack of trust in God's provision. In Matthew 6:19-21 , Jesus teaches, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." This teaching encourages believers to focus on eternal values rather than material possessions.

Consequences and Redemption:
The Bible warns of the consequences of stealing, both in this life and in the judgment to come. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 , Paul lists thieves among those who "will not inherit the kingdom of God." However, the message of the Gospel offers hope and redemption. Through repentance and faith in Christ, even those who have stolen can be forgiven and transformed. The account of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10 illustrates this redemption, as Zacchaeus, a tax collector known for his dishonest gain, repents and makes restitution, demonstrating the transformative power of encountering Jesus.

Practical Application:
Believers are called to live lives of integrity and honesty, reflecting God's character in their dealings with others. This includes respecting others' property and rights, being content with what God has provided, and trusting Him for their needs. The call to work diligently and share with those in need, as seen in Ephesians 4:28, serves as a practical antidote to the temptation to steal.

Conclusion:
Stealing is a violation of God's commandments and a reflection of a heart not aligned with His will. The Bible provides clear teachings on the sin of stealing, its consequences, and the path to redemption through Christ. Believers are encouraged to live lives of integrity, trust in God's provision, and focus on eternal treasures.Exodus 20:15
You shall not steal.
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Ephesians 4:28
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs.
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Romans 13:9
For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
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Jeremiah 7:9-11
Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you know not;
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Matthew 19:18
He said to him, Which? Jesus said, You shall do no murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,
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Luke 19:8
And Zacchaeus stood, and said to the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
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Acts 2:38
Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
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1 John 3:4
Whoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
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1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
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see THEFT. 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Steal.

2. (n.) The act of taking feloniously the personal property of another without his consent and knowledge; theft; larceny.

3. (n.) That which is stolen; stolen property; -- chiefly used in the plural.

STEALING

ste'-ling.

See CRIMES; PUNISHMENTS.

2829. klope -- theft
... Word Origin from klepto Definition theft NASB Word Usage thefts (2). theft. From
klepto; stealing -- theft. see GREEK klepto. (klopai) -- 2 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2829.htm - 6k

2809. klemma -- theft
... theft. From klepto; stealing (properly, the thing stolen, but used of the act) --
theft. see GREEK klepto. (klemmaton) -- 1 Occurrence. 2808, 2809. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2809.htm - 6k

3027. lestes -- a robber
... bandit Definition: a robber, brigand, bandit. 3027 -- a thief ("robber"),
stealing (typically with ). 3027 ("a bandit, briard") is ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3027.htm - 7k

1589. ganab -- to steal
... carries away (1), deceive (1), deceived (1), deceiving (1), fact kidnapped (1),
kidnapping (1), kidnaps (1), steal (9), steal away (1), stealing (1), steals (3 ...
/hebrew/1589.htm - 6k

1591. genebah -- a thing stolen
... theft. From ganab; stealing, ie (concretely) something stolen -- theft. see HEBREW
ganab. 1590, 1591. genebah. 1592 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/1591.htm - 6k

Eighth Commandment
... I will give you all the time you need, and I want you to prepare a sermon on the
Ten Commandments, and to bear down especially on stealing, because there is a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/eighth commandment.htm

What the Big Chest Contained
... a prison and a thief; but he soothed his conscience by saying, "There isn't anything
else in the world except tobacco that I would think of stealing." But the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/byrum/how john became a man/chapter iii what the big.htm

The Eighth Commandment
... II. The kinds of theft. [1] There is stealing from God. They are thieves who rob
God of any part of his day. ... [2] There is stealing from others. ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 8 the eighth commandment.htm

From the Seventh to the End of the Tenth Commandment
... A. The Seventh Commandment is: Thou shalt not steal. Stealing is one of
those vices of which you have to be most careful. Children ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 34 from the seventh.htm

A Downward Step.
... toward the tree where hung the beautiful apples, but she never once thought of pulling
one, for her mother had carefully taught her the great evil of stealing. ...
/.../byrum/the value of a praying mother/chapter vii a downward step.htm

On Sin and Its Kinds
... We may commit "actual" sin in two ways; either by doing what we should not do"stealing,
for example"and thus we have a sin of commission, that is, a bad ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 6 on sin and.htm

The Origin and Growth of Law.
... In vain we call old notions fudge, And bend conventions to our dealing, The Ten
Commandments will not budge, And stealing still continues stealing. "Lowell. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/kent/the making of a nation/study ix the origin and.htm

In the Sod Cellar
... Now, John's aunt had at one time explained to the boys that lying and stealing are
wrong; but she had not made it clear that deceiving is lying and that taking ...
//christianbookshelf.org/byrum/how john became a man/chapter ii in the sod.htm

On Confession
... "Kinds""whether they are cursing, or stealing, or lying, etc. "Circumstances
which change their nature." In the case of stealing ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 19 on confession.htm

On Contrition
... kind. If a man was sorry for stealing only because he was caught and had
to go to prison for it, his sorrow would only be natural. ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 18 on contrition.htm

Stealing (8 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. STEALING. ste'-ling. See CRIMES; PUNISHMENTS.
Multi-Version Concordance Stealing (8 Occurrences). ...
/s/stealing.htm - 9k

Steals (7 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 4:28 whoso is stealing let him no more steal, but rather let him labour,
working the thing that is good with the hands, that he may have to impart to ...
/s/steals.htm - 8k

Murdering (5 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 7:9 Stealing, murdering, and committing adultery, And swearing to falsehood,
and giving perfume to Baal, And going after other gods whom ye knew not. ...
/m/murdering.htm - 8k

Prohibit (1 Occurrence)
... eating of the fruit of a certain tree; we prohibit a person from doing a thing,
and also the doing of the thing; as, the law prohibits men from stealing, or it ...
/p/prohibit.htm - 7k

Swearing (17 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 7:9 Stealing, murdering, and committing adultery, And swearing to falsehood,
and giving perfume to Baal, And going after other gods whom ye knew not. ...
/s/swearing.htm - 12k

Committing (30 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 7:9 Stealing, murdering, and committing adultery, And swearing to falsehood,
and giving perfume to Baal, And going after other gods whom ye knew not. ...
/c/committing.htm - 15k

Crimes (22 Occurrences)
... crime might be committed in various degrees, and to burglarize the "devoted things"
was punishable by death (Joshua 7:25), as was also man-stealing (Exodus 21 ...
/c/crimes.htm - 44k

Crime (45 Occurrences)
... crime might be committed in various degrees, and to burglarize the "devoted things"
was punishable by death (Joshua 7:25), as was also man-stealing (Exodus 21 ...
/c/crime.htm - 51k

Thief (41 Occurrences)
... Romans 2:21 you then who teach your fellow man, do you refuse to teach yourself?
You who cry out against stealing, are you yourself a thief? (WEY). ...
/t/thief.htm - 22k

Stealeth (11 Occurrences)

/s/stealeth.htm - 9k

What is sheep stealing? | GotQuestions.org

Why is "You shall not steal" in the Ten Commandments? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about plagiarism? | GotQuestions.org

Stealing: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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