Q 116: What does the Lord promise in the eighth commandment?

A 116: In exchange for obedience to the eighth commandment the Lord promises to maintain justice, righteousness, peace, and the blessings of His covenant among those who obey His Law. (Deut. 24.7; Deut. 24.17, 18; Deut. 15.9, 10; Deut. 20.1-18)

Respect for the persons and property of others means that covetousness will be checked, passions will be restrained, civility will thrive, and just laws will be obeyed. This is God’s plan for human society, and keeping the eighth commandment is a crucial component of the divine economy. It is perhaps in this area that Christians can expect to make the most headway in advancing policies and laws in line with the eighth commandment, particularly in an economy such as ours, in which private property is such a “sacred” component. By supporting laws and policies in line with the Law of God, Christians may expect to bring the blessings of obedience to people in ways that will allow them to see the benefit of keeping God’s Law and living according to His purposes, even though they may have no sense of obligation to or respect for Him (cf. Ps. 81.15).

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