What is forbidden in the eighth commandment?
The eighth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth or may unjustly hinder our own or our neighbour’s wealth or outward estate.
Proofs
- The eighth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth or may unjustly hinder our own (1 Timothy 5:8; Proverbs 28:19)
- or our neighbour’s wealth or outward estate. (Proverbs 21:17, 23:20–21; Ephesians 4:28)
Additional Exposition
Section 1
Doth this commandment forbid the foolish and extravagant wasting our own substance?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: prodigal went into a far country, and wasted his substance, (Luke 15:13)
Is this done by luxury and intemperance?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: The glutton and the drunkard shall come to poverty, (Proverbs 23:21)
And by sloth and idleness?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: A little more sleep, a little more slumber, so shall thy poverty come like one that travelleth, (Proverbs 24:23)
And by keeping loose company?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: He that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough, (Proverbs 28:19)
And by an excessive love of pleasure?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man, (Proverbs 21:17)
And by rash and imprudent engagements for others?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Be not a surety for debts, for why should he take away thy bed from under thee? (Proverbs 22:26–27)
And doth that which tends to poverty tend to injustice too?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Lest I be poor and steal, (Proverbs 30:9)
Section 2
Is this commandment broken by covetousness?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness, (Habakkuk 2:9)
And by cruelty and uncharitableness?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, shall cry himself, and shall not be heard, (Proverbs 21:31)
And by unlawful contracts?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money, (Acts 13:20)
And by all unwarrantable arts for the increase of our substance?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: There shall not be found among you one that useth divination or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, (Deuteronomy 18:10)
Section 3
Doth this commandment forbid all exaction and oppression?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Ye shall not oppress one another, (Leviticus 25:14)
And cozening and cheating?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights, (Micah 6:11)
And vexatious lawsuits?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because you go to law, one with another, (1 Corinthians 6:7)
Section 4
Is theft particularly forbidden in this commandment?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Do not steal. (Mark 10:19)
. Is it a sin for servants to defraud their masters?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: A certain rich man had a steward, and the same was accused to him, that he had wasted his goods, (Luke 16:1)
Or for children to steal from their parents?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Whoso robbeth his father or mother, and saith it is no transgression, is the companion of a destroyer, (Proverbs 28:24)
Is it a sin to steal even the necessaries of life?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: For such shall restore seven fold, (Proverbs 6:31)
And is it equally so to receive or conceal stolen goods?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Whoso is a partner with a thief, hateth his own soul, (Proverbs 29:24)