8.4 Punish kidnappers

No one has the right to deprive another of his liberty in an unlawful manner.

8.5 Do justice to the poor, the sojourners, and the needy

Do not neglect, and do not take advantage of, the poor and needy; rather, make it possible for them to know justice and provision with dignity.

8.3 Preserve personal property

These statutes provide for restitution of stolen property and direct us to love even our enemies by caring for their property.

Leviticus 24.21a

“Whoever kills an animal shall make it good…”

Exodus 21.18, 19

“When men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist and the man does not die but takes to his bed,

Exodus 22.26, 27

“If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down,

Deuteronomy 12.19

“‘Take care that you do not neglect the Levite as long as you live in your land.’”

8.2 Do not withhold what is due

God’s people are to be actively concerned to preserve the property and wellbeing of their neighbors, and to ensure that each receives what he is due.

8Guard against negligence

Love for neighbor requires active concern for their property and full restoration of any loss we may cause.

Exodus 21.33, 34

“When a man opens a pit, or when a man digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it, the owner of the pit shall make restoration.

 7.4 Regulate divorce

 Divorce is permitted under certain conditions of indecency.

You shall not steal

The Commandment

God is sovereign in the disposition of blessings, and He calls each of us to exercise proper stewardship over what He has entrusted to us, and to respect and preserve the stewardship of others. We must not, by stealing in any way, violate the divine economy and the stewardship rights and duties of others.