
Law and the Eighth Commandment (No. 261)
(Edition 1.1 19981010-19990525)
It is written: Thou shalt not steal. This paper explains the entire structure of the Law of God, as applied to its Commandment as explained by the prophets and the Testaments in compliance with the reading of the Law in the Sabbath years.
Christian Churches of God
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Law and the Eighth Commandment
It is written: Thou Shalt not Steal (Ex 20:15; Deut. 5:19).
Leviticus 19:11
11 Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another. (KJV)Property that is God owned
All things are ultimately God’s property. God has established laws that deal with the proper handling and disposal of His property. God had divided the creation up into categories concerning property we may use; and property we may not use. God had made the divisions based on a set of rules, within which we must operate.
There are laws concerning the environment and what we may do with it. There are laws concerning the food chain and what we may eat of it. There are laws concerning the parts of the produce of the earth that we may eat and for those parts set aside for God’s purposes, in the function of the creation.
The entire creation centers on the One True God and hence the first commandment carries with it law regarding property, which God regards as His under the term Tithing (cf. the paper Tithing (No. 161)).
First Commandment and tithing
Failure to tithe to the system God has set in place is theft.
Malachi 3:1-12
1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. 2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: 3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. 4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years. 5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. 6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. 7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? 8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. 12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts. (KJV)God set up a system that requires payment for the maintenance of His worship, and for the poor, as well as the capacity for His people to participate in His ways, and on His Feasts and Sabbaths.
God’s sacrifices are to be unblemished. He regards a blemished offering as an abomination.
Deuteronomy 17:1-4
1 Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God. 2 If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant, 3 And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded; 4 And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel: (KJV)This requirement of a perfect sacrifice without spot or blemish pointed towards the elect and the ultimate destiny of all mankind.
As well as the price of the tithe, the price for the numbering of Israel is to be given and failure to do this is also theft.
Exodus 30:11-16
11 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 12 When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. 13 This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD. 14 Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD. 15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls. 16 And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls. (KJV)This ransom was paid by Messiah, and that is why now no man has numbered Israel, and no man knows the extent of the faith, because salvation is now also of the Gentiles. The faith is extended to the Gentiles and they are now able to become part of the Temple of God (1Cor. 3:17). There is a logical conclusion, that if we were brought for a price by Messiah, we have no right to withhold ourselves from the Temple.
Those who serve the Temple have a right to eat of the Temple.
1Corinthians 9:9-14
9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? 10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. (KJV)The reward, as we see from Malachi, and from Proverbs is fruitfulness.
Proverbs 3:9-10
9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. (KJV)Proverbs 11:24-26
24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. 25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. 26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it. (KJV)There are a number of obligations that go with blessings and a place in society.
The whole law of God is directed at mercy and righteousness and the service of the Temple is not meaningless speeches and tradition, but the implementation of justice and righteousness.
Matthew 23:23
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. (KJV)The Temple under the order of Melchisedek received tithes from Levi. With the advent of Messiah, Levi made way for a new order of priesthood of which it was to become part. Levi paid tithes to Melichisedek (My King is Righteousness), as an hereditary title of the prince of Salem or Urusalaim. This title was carried also as Adoni-Zedek meaning My Lord is Righteousness or Lord of Righteousness (Josh. 10:1). It is a prophecy of their inclusion in the new order and faith.
Hebrews 7:1-10
1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. 4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: 6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. 7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. 8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. 9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. (KJV)This aspect is covered more fully in the paper Melchisedek (No. 128).
God demands that the ordinance of Deuteronomy 14:28 is kept and the tithe of the third year is brought before the Lord.
Deuteronomy 14:28
28 At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: (KJV)This tithe of the third year of the seven is laid up and the feast is kept within the gates. The entire proceeds of the second tithe are given to the priesthood, for caring for the poor over the seven year period.
Amos speaks of this also. The daily sacrifice was eliminated with the destruction of the physical temple. At the completion of Ezekiel’s Temple, only the morning sacrifice will be reintroduced. This sequence of the sacrifice tells the story of the Temple and the progressive harvests. Amos here is speaking of the time until the destruction in 70 CE.
Amos 4:4
4 Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years: (KJV)God says he has given Israel cleanness of teeth in their dwellings, yet they have not returned to Him. In other words, He has inflicted them with famine and yet they still do not return to Him (cf. Amos 4:1-13). They who oppressed the poor and crushed the needy were driven to these lengths for their unrighteousness and they did not return to God. One seems to go with the other. If they rob God, they also seem to oppress His people and the poor and the fatherless.
Be careful to make distinction between what is Ceasar’s and what is God’s (Mat. 22:21; Mk. 12:17; Lk. 20:25).
Thus all authority is from God and all are required to deal with the various powers as they are ordained of God.
Romans 13:1-10
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 6 For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. 8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (KJV)Those of the faith have a series of obligations in that they must render to God and the Ministry and to the authorities, that which is their due.
The optimum system is directly under the prophets of God, as judges in Israel. The administrative monarchy was established as a secondary and more expensive system.
1Samuel 8:10-18
10 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king. 11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. 12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. 13 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. 14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. 15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. 16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. 18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day. (KJV)The Lord will not hear Israel under this burden and it is to be paid.
Time is money
Offerings and tithes are not to be withheld. Withholding is theft.
Exodus 22:29-30
29 Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me. 30 Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me. (KJV)On the eighth day all of Israel’s young are to be given to God; the young animals and the children in circumcision and dedication.
Exodus 23:17-19
17 Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD. 18 Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread; neither shall the fat of my sacrifice remain until the morning. 19 The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk. (KJV)The failure to appear before the Lord on the three occasions, and with an offering, is rebellion and theft.
Exodus 34:19-20
19 All that openeth the matrix is mine; and every firstling among thy cattle, whether ox or sheep, that is male. 20 But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty. (KJV)None shall appear before the Lord empty. Withholding yourself as part of Israel is also theft.
Exodus 34:23-26
23 Thrice in the year shall all your men children appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel. 24 For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year. 25 Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover be left unto the morning. 26 The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring unto the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk. (KJV)Numbers 18:20-32
20 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. 21 And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. 22 Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die. 23 But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance. 24 But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance. 25 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 26 Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe. 27 And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress. 28 Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the LORD'S heave offering to Aaron the priest. 29 Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of the LORD, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it. 30 Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have heaved the best thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the winepress. 31 And ye shall eat it in every place, ye and your households: for it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation. 32 And ye shall bear no sin by reason of it, when ye have heaved from it the best of it: neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Israel, lest ye die. (KJV)Offerings are to be of the best and are not to be polluted. Polluting another’s offering, or failing to provide a pure offering is theft or misappropriation. It is not simply malicious damage, as it appears, because the benefit or satisfaction of a pure offering has been stolen, as well as the offering being damaged.
Deuteronomy 14:22-29
22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. 23 And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always. 24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: 25 Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: 26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household, 27 And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee. 28 At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: 29 And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest. (KJV)The second tithe is set aside for the enjoyment of the Festivals of God which are mandatory. If the sites are too far, then the tithes can be converted to money and the necessary items purchased when one arrives. Nowadays people do not take produce, they take money and all there generally purchase their feast items. Thus the necessity for the poor to be fed is not as clearly seen. The funds like the produce must be taken up on the evening before the feasts, so that all may be given help before the feast starts. Failure to give the offerings or help the poor and needy is also theft.
Theft by withholding or redemption of tithe
The withholding of tithes is theft. Where a person needs to redeem a tithe to use it for his own purpose, then the tithe redemption carries with it a penalty. If any tithes are redeemed, the penalty is that the one redeeming or withholding has to add a fifth part to it. Thus a mandatory twenty percent is added to any tithes used for any purpose.
Time and the calendar
God has established a calendar in the heavens. It works to the phases of the moon, and is clearly identified from astronomical calculations and the New Moon. Failure to follow the calendar as it was originally (and not with the Jewish Hillel calendar) is theft of time with God.
Failure to dedicate the Sabbath to God is theft of God’s time. Each person is expected to dedicate those days to the study of the Living God and His system. Every seven years at the feast in the Sabbath Year, the Law is to be read and studied. Failure to observe all the Sabbaths and the Law is theft of God’s time and due worship. God requires all people to worship Him in spirit and in truth.
God’s Temple
God has given people skills and wealth that they may dedicate those skills and blessings to His greater glory. Failure to use the skills God has given us for His worship and His system is also theft.
Exodus 36:1-38
1 Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded. 2 And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it: 3 And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning. 4 And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made; 5 And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make. 6 And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing. 7 For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much. 8 And every wise hearted man among them that wrought the work of the tabernacle made ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work made he them. 9 The length of one curtain was twenty and eight cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: the curtains were all of one size. 10 And he coupled the five curtains one unto another: and the other five curtains he coupled one unto another. 11 And he made loops of blue on the edge of one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling: likewise he made in the uttermost side of another curtain, in the coupling of the second. 12 Fifty loops made he in one curtain, and fifty loops made he in the edge of the curtain which was in the coupling of the second: the loops held one curtain to another. 13 And he made fifty taches of gold, and coupled the curtains one unto another with the taches: so it became one tabernacle. 14 And he made curtains of goats' hair for the tent over the tabernacle: eleven curtains he made them. 15 The length of one curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits was the breadth of one curtain: the eleven curtains were of one size. 16 And he coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves. 17 And he made fifty loops upon the uttermost edge of the curtain in the coupling, and fifty loops made he upon the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second. 18 And he made fifty taches of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one. 19 And he made a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering of badgers' skins above that. 20 And he made boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up. 21 The length of a board was ten cubits, and the breadth of a board one cubit and a half. 22 One board had two tenons, equally distant one from another: thus did he make for all the boards of the tabernacle. 23 And he made boards for the tabernacle; twenty boards for the south side southward: 24 And forty sockets of silver he made under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons. 25 And for the other side of the tabernacle, which is toward the north corner, he made twenty boards, 26 And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board. 27 And for the sides of the tabernacle westward he made six boards. 28 And two boards made he for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides. 29 And they were coupled beneath, and coupled together at the head thereof, to one ring: thus he did to both of them in both the corners. 30 And there were eight boards; and their sockets were sixteen sockets of silver, under every board two sockets. 31 And he made bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle, 32 And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the sides westward. 33 And he made the middle bar to shoot through the boards from the one end to the other. 34 And he overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold to be places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold. 35 And he made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubims made he it of cunning work. 36 And he made thereunto four pillars of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold: their hooks were of gold; and he cast for them four sockets of silver. 37 And he made an hanging for the tabernacle door of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, of needlework; 38 And the five pillars of it with their hooks: and he overlaid their chapiters and their fillets with gold: but their five sockets were of brass. (KJV)The Temple was made of things given willingly, and pointed towards a spiritual system where people would give of themselves willingly. The center of the Temple and system of worship was the Ark of the Covenant. This object pointed towards a new system where the Law of God would be placed inside the hearts of men. They actually became the Ark and for this reason the Ark had to be removed and hidden (cf. the paper The Ark of the Covenant (No. 196)). It will be brought to mind no more.
Exodus 37:1-29
1 And Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half was the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it: 2 And he overlaid it with pure gold within and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about. 3 And he cast for it four rings of gold, to be set by the four corners of it; even two rings upon the one side of it, and two rings upon the other side of it. 4 And he made staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold. 5 And he put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark. 6 And he made the mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the breadth thereof. 7 And he made two cherubims of gold, beaten out of one piece made he them, on the two ends of the mercy seat; 8 One cherub on the end on this side, and another cherub on the other end on that side: out of the mercy seat made he the cherubims on the two ends thereof. 9 And the cherubims spread out their wings on high, and covered with their wings over the mercy seat, with their faces one to another; even to the mercy seatward were the faces of the cherubims. 10 And he made the table of shittim wood: two cubits was the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof: 11 And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made thereunto a crown of gold round about. 12 Also he made thereunto a border of an handbreadth round about; and made a crown of gold for the border thereof round about. 13 And he cast for it four rings of gold, and put the rings upon the four corners that were in the four feet thereof. 14 Over against the border were the rings, the places for the staves to bear the table. 15 And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold, to bear the table. 16 And he made the vessels which were upon the table, his dishes, and his spoons, and his bowls, and his covers to cover withal, of pure gold. 17 And he made the candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work made he the candlestick; his shaft, and his branch, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, were of the same: 18 And six branches going out of the sides thereof; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side thereof: 19 Three bowls made after the fashion of almonds in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three bowls made like almonds in another branch, a knop and a flower: so throughout the six branches going out of the candlestick. 20 And in the candlestick were four bowls made like almonds, his knops, and his flowers: 21 And a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches going out of it. 22 Their knops and their branches were of the same: all of it was one beaten work of pure gold. 23 And he made his seven lamps, and his snuffers, and his snuffdishes, of pure gold. 24 Of a talent of pure gold made he it, and all the vessels thereof. 25 And he made the incense altar of shittim wood: the length of it was a cubit, and the breadth of it a cubit; it was foursquare; and two cubits was the height of it; the horns thereof were of the same. 26 And he overlaid it with pure gold, both the top of it, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns of it: also he made unto it a crown of gold round about. 27 And he made two rings of gold for it under the crown thereof, by the two corners of it, upon the two sides thereof, to be places for the staves to bear it withal. 28 And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold. 29 And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary. (KJV)There is no such thing as the Mercy Seat. It is the Covering and the Covering has two Cherubs over it which is the heart of the Temple and the throne of God. One of these anointed Covering Cherubs was Satan (cf. Isa. ch. 14; Ezek. ch. 28). The other appears to have been Michael as archangel, or Messiah as Yahovah-elohim (cf. Jude 9).
Exodus 38:1-31
1 And he made the altar of burnt offering of shittim wood: five cubits was the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof; it was foursquare; and three cubits the height thereof. 2 And he made the horns thereof on the four corners of it; the horns thereof were of the same: and he overlaid it with brass. 3 And he made all the vessels of the altar, the pots, and the shovels, and the basons, and the fleshhooks, and the firepans: all the vessels thereof made he of brass. 4 And he made for the altar a brasen grate of network under the compass thereof beneath unto the midst of it. 5 And he cast four rings for the four ends of the grate of brass, to be places for the staves. 6 And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with brass. 7 And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar, to bear it withal; he made the altar hollow with boards. 8 And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the lookingglasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 9 And he made the court: on the south side southward the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, an hundred cubits: 10 Their pillars were twenty, and their brasen sockets twenty; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. 11 And for the north side the hangings were an hundred cubits, their pillars were twenty, and their sockets of brass twenty; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver. 12 And for the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their pillars ten, and their sockets ten; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver. 13 And for the east side eastward fifty cubits. 14 The hangings of the one side of the gate were fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three. 15 And for the other side of the court gate, on this hand and that hand, were hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three. 16 All the hangings of the court round about were of fine twined linen. 17 And the sockets for the pillars were of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver; and the overlaying of their chapiters of silver; and all the pillars of the court were filleted with silver. 18 And the hanging for the gate of the court was needlework, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: and twenty cubits was the length, and the height in the breadth was five cubits, answerable to the hangings of the court. 19 And their pillars were four, and their sockets of brass four; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their chapiters and their fillets of silver. 20 And all the pins of the tabernacle, and of the court round about, were of brass. 21 This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest. 22 And Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the LORD commanded Moses. 23 And with him was Aholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a cunning workman, and an embroiderer in blue, and in purple, and in scarlet, and fine linen. 24 All the gold that was occupied for the work in all the work of the holy place, even the gold of the offering, was twenty and nine talents, and seven hundred and thirty shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary. 25 And the silver of them that were numbered of the congregation was an hundred talents, and a thousand seven hundred and threescore and fifteen shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary: 26 A bekah for every man, that is, half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for every one that went to be numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty men. 27 And of the hundred talents of silver were cast the sockets of the sanctuary, and the sockets of the vail; an hundred sockets of the hundred talents, a talent for a socket. 28 And of the thousand seven hundred seventy and five shekels he made hooks for the pillars, and overlaid their chapiters, and filleted them. 29 And the brass of the offering was seventy talents, and two thousand and four hundred shekels. 30 And therewith he made the sockets to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the brasen altar, and the brasen grate for it, and all the vessels of the altar, 31 And the sockets of the court round about, and the sockets of the court gate, and all the pins of the tabernacle, and all the pins of the court round about. (KJV)The tabernacle in the wilderness was made of the contributions or the offerings of the numbering of Israel. These offerings pointed towards the church in the wilderness, and the fact that the Temple was made up of the number of the sons of God who had been ransomed by Messiah and placed within it.
The altar and artifacts were covered and the plates were made of beaten brass, using the mirrors of the women of the congregation. This pointed towards the place of women in the Temple of God as sons of God in the wilderness also. There were to be forty jubilees, for the forty years in the wilderness.
Both the leaders of Judah and Ephraim were set aside to enter the promised land at the end of the period, which was symbolised by Caleb and Joshua.
Exodus 39:1-43
1 And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as the LORD commanded Moses. 2 And he made the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. 3 And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work. 4 They made shoulderpieces for it, to couple it together: by the two edges was it coupled together. 5 And the curious girdle of his ephod, that was upon it, was of the same, according to the work thereof; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen; as the LORD commanded Moses. 6 And they wrought onyx stones inclosed in ouches of gold, graven, as signets are graven, with the names of the children of Israel. 7 And he put them on the shoulders of the ephod, that they should be stones for a memorial to the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses. 8 And he made the breastplate of cunning work, like the work of the ephod; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. 9 It was foursquare; they made the breastplate double: a span was the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof, being doubled. 10 And they set in it four rows of stones: the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this was the first row. 11 And the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. 12 And the third row, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. 13 And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper: they were inclosed in ouches of gold in their inclosings. 14 And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one with his name, according to the twelve tribes. 15 And they made upon the breastplate chains at the ends, of wreathen work of pure gold. 16 And they made two ouches of gold, and two gold rings; and put the two rings in the two ends of the breastplate. 17 And they put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings on the ends of the breastplate. 18 And the two ends of the two wreathen chains they fastened in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulderpieces of the ephod, before it. 19 And they made two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, upon the border of it, which was on the side of the ephod inward. 20 And they made two other golden rings, and put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart of it, over against the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod. 21 And they did bind the breastplate by his rings unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod; as the LORD commanded Moses. 22 And he made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue. 23 And there was an hole in the midst of the robe, as the hole of an habergeon, with a band round about the hole, that it should not rend. 24 And they made upon the hems of the robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen. 25 And they made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates upon the hem of the robe, round about between the pomegranates; 26 A bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, round about the hem of the robe to minister in; as the LORD commanded Moses. 27 And they made coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons, 28 And a mitre of fine linen, and goodly bonnets of fine linen, and linen breeches of fine twined linen, 29 And a girdle of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, of needlework; as the LORD commanded Moses. 30 And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. 31 And they tied unto it a lace of blue, to fasten it on high upon the mitre; as the LORD commanded Moses. 32 Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they. 33 And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, the tent, and all his furniture, his taches, his boards, his bars, and his pillars, and his sockets, 34 And the covering of rams' skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers' skins, and the vail of the covering, 35 The ark of the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy seat, 36 The table, and all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread, 37 The pure candlestick, with the lamps thereof, even with the lamps to be set in order, and all the vessels thereof, and the oil for light, 38 And the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the tabernacle door, 39 The brasen altar, and his grate of brass, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot, 40 The hangings of the court, his pillars, and his sockets, and the hanging for the court gate, his cords, and his pins, and all the vessels of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of the congregation, 41 The cloths of service to do service in the holy place, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons' garments, to minister in the priest's office. 42 According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work. 43 And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them. (KJV)The priesthood was set under a High Priest, who stood for all the tribes of Israel, and on his breastplate was set the twelve stones, which are the twelve foundations set in four rows of three. The four divisions of three symbolise the quaternary division under the four living creatures. Two of these beings are the replacement elohim. They are seen also in the cherubim of the lion and man headed beings on the walls of Ezekiel’s Temple (Ezek. 41:19). The twelve foundation stones are the twelve heads of the twelve tribes in the City of God (cf. the paper The City of God (No. 180)). The stones are listed differently in Revelation 21:19-20. Inside the breastplate pouch are the Urim and the Thummim. These are the two stones of the Oracles of God (cf. also the paper The Oracles of God (No. 184)). The tribes themselves are rearranged in the kingdom with different responsibilities and places, and this is the subject of another work. The places in the kingdom of God are allocated by God and they are given to Christ to implement.
Creation
The creation is God’s possession, the earth and its fullness, and He has given it to man to have dominion over the creation and all that is in it, to use, subjugate and to keep and protect within God’s plan (Gen. 1:26-31; Ps. 24:1; 50:12; 1Cor. 10:26-28).
Exodus 9:29
29 And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD'S. (KJV)The nations did not fear God and so do not take up their inheritance as yet (cf. Ex. 9:29-35; and the paper Moses and the Gods of Egypt (No. 105)).
We were to become gods or elohim as our destiny, but according to God’s will and not by theft. That was the heart of the fall of Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:5). Mysticism or seeking to grasp equality with God as God is the same error made by Eve at the instigation of Satan. We are all predestined, chosen, called, justified and glorified (Rom. 8:29-30). We have put on the new man at the invitation of God, being renewed in knowledge. Such is freely given but cannot be obtained by theft. (Col. 3:10).
Acts 2:41-47
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (KJV)It is the creature that waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Romans 8:19-23
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (KJV)The elect are not as they who corrupt the word of God, but in sincerity, in the sight of God, speak in Christ (2Cor. 5:17). Most of the world, the many have corrupted the word of God and changed times and the law. They have removed the Testaments from their structure and attempted to steal the gift of eternal life that was freely given to those whom God has called according to His purpose.
God wants obedience more than sacrifice.
Exodus 19:5
5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: (KJV)What does God require of us?
Deuteronomy 10:12-17
12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, 13 To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? 14 Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD'S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is. 15 Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day. 16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. 17 For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: (KJV)We are to keep His commandments, unaltered.
Plants and animals
The cattle are the Lord’s but they are able to be used. The system that operates is designed to protect against damage (cf. Ex. 21:28-32; cf. the paper Law and the Sixth Commandment (No. 259))
Theft occurs by withholding, as we have seen. This system extends from God to the priesthood, to the authorities and all the creation to animals. It is written: Thou shalt not muzzle an ox while he treads the grain: and does God take care of oxen alone? (cf. Deut. 25:4; 1Cor. 9:9; 1Tim. 5:18).
He who fails to provide for his family denies the faith and is worse than an infidel. All such neglect is theft.
Theft in relation to the food laws
The food laws are put in place for the maintenance of the individual, the food chain and the environment. The aspects of the food laws are covered in the papers The Food laws (No. 15) and Law and the Sixth Commandment (No. 259).
Eating unclean food is not only stupid in matters of health, but also is theft from the structure God has ordained in the planetary system. There is absolutely no doubt as to the scientific basis and validity of the food laws. The clean animals eat from a food chain that we are instructed to preserve.
The deterioration of the planet is the direct result of our theft from God and his creation, by consumption of items we were not permitted to consume.
Environmental ethics
There are a series of laws relating to what we may take and what we may not kill in relation to the environment. The laws regarding what may be killed and what may not, such as those relating to animals and birds and their young are covered in the paper Law and the Sixth Commandment (No. 259). Failure to observe the restrictions regarding nature and its young, the Sabbaths, and the long term preservation of the environment is theft and has to be paid for by captivity. The land will have its Sabbaths (see below).
Public property
In addition to the notion of a free environment under God’s Law, there is the notion of property owned by the society. This notion of public property has two aspects.
Public property and Common law
The first aspect is that of property owned by the crown for its own purposes. The second aspect is that of common property owned by the community at large, which is available to the community. This notion of common property is featured in the Bible under the listings as suburbs. These are lands within the cities of the Levites, where animals can be grazed in common. This notion has always underpinned what is termed Common law among our people. The appropriation by the crown of lands which are rightfully those of the common people is theft, just as it is of individuals. Thus there must be acquisition of property on just terms. There must also be urban planning with common lands dividing areas of housing. That is what is understood as a true suburb in biblical terms.
Private property
The rights of the individual are very much tied up in the notion of private property. The right to ownership is vested in biblical law.
Right to ownership
Each person has a right to ownership expressed as the love of one another as we see above.
Romans 13:8-10
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (KJV)Every man is to be safe and no man is to make them afraid (Lev. 26:6).
When the nation is established the rights of people to their inheritance are made by boundary and survey. Moving a boundary is theft.
Deuteronomy 19:14
14 Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it. (KJV)This activity draws the laws of restitution by means of the produce stolen, as the land is not transferred in perpetuity.
This action draws a curse (Deut. 27:17; cf. Prov. 22:28; 23:10).
The removal of landmarks and entering the fields of the fatherless is theft, or an indication of an intention to steal. God will defend the fatherless. But the magistrates have responsibility to deal with such action under the law. Job accused God because these activities took place (Job 24:2). Yet God sees and judges.
Limitations on ownership within the jubilee system
Leviticus 25:1-11
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses in mount Sinai, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the LORD. 3 Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; 4 But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard. 5 That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the land. 6 And the sabbath of the land shall be meat for you; for thee, and for thy servant, and for thy maid, and for thy hired servant, and for thy stranger that sojourneth with thee, 7 And for thy cattle, and for the beast that are in thy land, shall all the increase thereof be meat. 8 And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years. 9 Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. 10 And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family. 11 A jubile shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed. (KJV)These responsibilities go to the ownership of the land which ultimately vests in God. With the use of the land there are also responsibilities.
Leviticus 25:23-28
23 The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me. 24 And in all the land of your possession ye shall grant a redemption for the land. 25 If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold. 26 And if the man have none to redeem it, and himself be able to redeem it; 27 Then let him count the years of the sale thereof, and restore the overplus unto the man to whom he sold it; that he may return unto his possession. 28 But if he be not able to restore it to him, then that which is sold shall remain in the hand of him that hath bought it until the year of jubile: and in the jubile it shall go out, and he shall return unto his possession. (KJV)Land outside of a "walled" city is not to be held in perpetuity. There are also limitations on the structure of the land ownership. These vary with responsibilities.
Leviticus 25:29-34
29 And if a man sell a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold; within a full year may he redeem it. 30 And if it be not redeemed within the space of a full year, then the house that is in the walled city shall be established for ever to him that bought it throughout his generations: it shall not go out in the jubile. 31 But the houses of the villages which have no wall round about them shall be counted as the fields of the country: they may be redeemed, and they shall go out in the jubile. 32 Notwithstanding the cities of the Levites, and the houses of the cities of their possession, may the Levites redeem at any time. 33 And if a man purchase of the Levites, then the house that was sold, and the city of his possession, shall go out in the year of jubile: for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel. 34 But the field of the suburbs of their cities may not be sold; for it is their perpetual possession. (KJV)The distinction in walled and unwalled cities makes a decision as to the capacity to be redeemed, and be part of the jubilee restoration. Only the houses of walled towns may be sold in perpetuity. The cities of the Priests which appear to include the cities of refuge may not be sold in perpetuity but may be redeemed at any time by the priests. No land system outside of a walled town, nor country villages or unwalled cities may be removed from the jubilee system. Thus this distinction goes to the law regarding restoration and restitution and ownership. A person in a city, selling in perpetuity may redeem their property within one year of sale. Otherwise it goes to ownership in perpetuity. No other real estate may be sold in perpetuity in fee simple.
The integrity of the person
Throughout the ages man has traded in men and also taken them as hired servants and indentured labour by contract. Footballers are a version of the indentured labour system albeit an expensive one.
People often fall on hard times and suffer for that fact. There are a number of pieces of legislation which require us to protect the individual, and failure to exercise our responsibilities to each other is also a form of theft.
Leviticus 25:35-43
35 And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee. 36 Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee. 37 Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase. 38 I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God. 39 And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant: 40 But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubile: 41 And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return. 42 For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen. 43 Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; but shalt fear thy God. (KJV)Thus no person within the nation can be a bond servant, nor be made to serve with rigour. That has a far reaching effect now that the Gentiles have been brought into the kingdom of God. Those that refused to be part of the nation and the church can be compelled under the law.
Leviticus 25:44-46
44 Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids. 45 Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession. 46 And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigour. (KJV)This law is to demonstrate the decided advantage of citizenship within the nation of Israel.
Leviticus 25:47-55
47 And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by thee, or to the stock of the stranger's family: 48 After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him: 49 Either his uncle, or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself. 50 And he shall reckon with him that bought him from the year that he was sold to him unto the year of jubile: and the price of his sale shall be according unto the number of years, according to the time of an hired servant shall it be with him. 51 If there be yet many years behind, according unto them he shall give again the price of his redemption out of the money that he was bought for. 52 And if there remain but few years unto the year of jubile, then he shall count with him, and according unto his years shall he give him again the price of his redemption. 53 And as a yearly hired servant shall he be with him: and the other shall not rule with rigour over him in thy sight. 54 And if he be not redeemed in these years, then he shall go out in the year of jubile, both he, and his children with him. 55 For unto me the children of Israel are servants; they are my servants whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. (KJV)Failure to deal justly with the time and labour of those of Israel is theft. Thus there is a necessity for the area of Labour and Industrial law that flows from these commandments. God owns Israel, not any man, and so all of Israel, both native born and of the Gentiles in conversion, are the Lord’s possession and are not bondslaves. Nor can they be sold as bond slaves by any person or body in or of the nation.
This law will be restored in Israel and the Jubilee system will be restored as He spoke through His servant Jeremiah (Jer. 32:6-44).
The Lamb has redeemed men to God and will guide them into His Holy Habitation, as we see from the Song to the Lord (Ex. 15:1-19).
Exodus 15:1-19
1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. 3 The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. 4 Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. 5 The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. 6 Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. 7 And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble. 8 And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. 9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. 10 Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters. 11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? 12 Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them. 13 Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. 14 The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. 15 Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. 16 Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased. 17 Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established. 18 The LORD shall reign for ever and ever. 19 For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. (KJV)And the Lord shall dwell among us who do not fall in the wilderness. Therefore, defile not the land wherein the Lord shall dwell (Num. 35:34; 20:22-24).
Do not also fall short in the offerings of the Lord (Num. 15:1-12). If you have fallen short in ignorance, then atonement is to be made (Num. 15:17-28).
However, none can redeem his brother, only Christ (Ps. 49:6-7).
Theft by inequality under the law
There is to be no theft by inequality under the law.
Numbers 15:13-16
13 All that are born of the country shall do these things after this manner, in offering an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD. 14 And if a stranger sojourn with you, or whosoever be among you in your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; as ye do, so he shall do. 15 One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance for ever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD. 16 One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you. (KJV)Likewise there is one law for atonement.
Numbers 15:29-31
29 Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them. 30 But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 31 Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him. (KJV)(cf. Deut. 28:63).
Thus theft in judgment by respect of persons is forbidden (cf. Prov. 18:5, 11).
Deuteronomy 1:17
17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it. (KJV)(cf. Deut. 1:11-18).
Theft by authority
There is to be no theft by authority or nepotism.
Ezekiel 46:18
18 Moreover the prince shall not take of the people's inheritance by oppression, to thrust them out of their possession; but he shall give his sons inheritance out of his own possession: that my people be not scattered every man from his possession. (KJV)Thus acquisition must be on just terms and not interfere with the jubilee system, or be in respect of persons (cf. also Prov. 28:19). The crown or state is not to acquire land for nepotistic or unnecessary reasons.
Acquisition on Just Terms is one of the most important factors in preserving a free and just society.
Restitution and rehabilitation
The purpose of all legislation falls under the categories of Prevention and then Restitution, or Restoration and Rehabilitation.
Ephesians 4:28
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. (KJV)There are however specific laws regarding the penalties and remedies involving theft.
Prevention of progressive tribal inequality
The inheritance laws we have seen develop under the fifth and sixth commandments assist or protect the integrity of tribal/national wealth. We saw this in the laws under Numbers 27:1-11.
Right to transfer of ownership
In the same manner there is to be no respect of persons in inheritance. That also is theft. For the possessions of the fathers belong in the tribe according to the jubilee and not by favour.
Deuteronomy 21:15-17
15 If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated: 16 Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn: 17 But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.(KJV)The rights of the firstborn were lost in sin in Israel and among the Patriarchs, as we saw for example with Reuben. This activity pointed to the capacity of the elect to forfeit their positions in sin. The rights of the firstborn are centred on the capacity to provide continuity of responsibility in the family.
Notion of equity
In all of the law there is a notion of equity in the tribe and by families. There is a responsibility of the people to the family and the nation.
It follows thus from the logic of Rights Based Theory that there can be no individual rights, only a Theory of Obligation. The society that maximises individual rights fails to maximise utility in the long run. Thus all biblical law is based on a theory of obligation to the family and to the nation and stems first and foremost from an obligation to God. In the same way the society has obligation to the individual within it. Thus the entire system of equity is enshrined as a commanded obligation in the First and Second Great Commandments.
Common theft
The first and primary category under the eighth commandment is common theft. There are, as we will see, many forms of theft. The first two forms of theft were expressed as commandments in their own right namely theft of life in the sixth commandment, and theft of family in the seventh commandment. The eighth commandment is merely concerned with lesser forms of the concept of property, namely real and personal property. Hence the tenth commandment includes wife with real and personal property under the classification of covet.
Theft is of two characteristics. Theft for food is a condemnation on both the family and the society. It is nevertheless theft and is paid for in a number of ways, not the least of which is loss of reputation.
Proverbs 6:30-31
30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; 31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house. (KJV)(cf. Prov. 13:11)
God gives wealth and so also no man should be left to starve.
Deuteronomy 8:17-18
17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. 18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. (KJV)Rehabilitation is the ‘role of society’ in dealing with the thief (Eph. 4:28).
Stealing by weights and measures
Leviticus 19:35-37
35 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure. 36 Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt. 37 Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the LORD. (KJV)The same standards are to be used in the house or business, and it is theft to use wrong weights and measures. You shall give full measure in order to prolong life, as with the fifth commandment, for this also is equated to righteousness and the work of the Lord (cf. Mic. 6:10-11; Prov. 11:1; 16:11; 20:10, 23).
Deuteronomy 25:13-16
13 Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small. 14 Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small. 15 But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 16 For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the LORD thy God. (KJV)The standards of weights and measures are spoken of through the prophet Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 45:9-12
9 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord GOD. 10 Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath. 11 The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, that the bath may contain the tenth part of an homer, and the ephah the tenth part of an homer: the measure thereof shall be after the homer. 12 And the shekel shall be twenty gerahs: twenty shekels, five and twenty shekels, fifteen shekels, shall be your maneh. (KJV)Theft by slander and malice
Most people are not aware that slander and malice are theft and damage to the person. People think nothing of repeating slander about others and usually because they have chosen some particular side or another. False religion over the ages has been the source of more slander and malice than any other activity. Where people can not refute the arguments they resort to slander, and where they are able, they murder. This is examined at length in the paper Law and the Ninth Commandment (No. 262).
Stealing a person’s good name is contrary to God’s Law and is theft in the worst form.
Stealing by finding
There is another category of theft which is stealing by finding. No person is to retain the property of another, even his enemy, as we have seen for the texts (Ex. 23:4-5; Deut. 22:1-4).
Rights of ownership - personal and proprietary
Property is usually divided into two forms Real and Personal. The proprietary rights flow from direct ownership and operation of an enterprise or home.
The aspects are usually more easily seen, and theft usually involves a direct physical act and removal of a physical object.
These aspects are tied up in the value of ownership and the loss of the item by replacement or assessed value of replacement.
Rights of ownership - tangible and intangible
The next step in the categories moves into tangible and intangible assets. The loss of intangible assets can relate to reputation, good will, quality of life, love and affection, creative and artistic rights and so on.
These items are much harder to determine and value, yet it is often these very items that people see no harm in destroying by hate, slander and covetousness.
Unlawful retention of property, wages
It is contrary to God’s Law to withhold wages, or the property of the poor in the form of clothing and bedding. Fraud is likewise forbidden.
Exodus 22:26-27
26 If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down: 27 For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious. (KJV)Leviticus 19:13
13 Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning. (KJV)Deuteronomy 24:14-15
14 Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: 15 At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee. (KJV)The payment of day hire is to be made that day. It is contrary to law to hold the wages on day hire overnight. Only employment by agreement can be on weekly or fortnightly basis. Payment of wages on a monthly basis is really a contractual agreement between parties.
These articles of law are clear and simple statements. They go to the heart of the law in love of neighbour. James, the brother of Jesus Christ has much to say about them.
James 5:1-6
1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. 4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. 5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. 6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. (KJV)The same theme is found in Paul.
1Timothy 5:18
18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. (KJV)(cf. Rom. 13:7).
God spoke also by Jeremiah:
Jeremiah 22:13
13 Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work; (KJV)God will act to deal with this misuse of power.
Malachi 3:5
Messiah told of our wages, which will all be given and which are all the same, namely salvation. Those who oppress the hireling and withhold wages unjustly will not be in the kingdom of God (cf. Mat. 20:1-16).
In the same sense the households of the church must not withhold the wages of the ministry, and those who labour for them. None of the faith is to go from house to house (Lk. 10:7; 1Tim. 5:17,18). Each is rewarded according to his labour (1Cor. 3:8). But those of the faith are to serve as an example to the others, and are to help and protect them.
Usury
One of the categories of those who are specified as being in the congregation of the Lord is the person who does not put his money out to usury, nor reward against the innocent (Ps. 15:5).
Psalm 15:5
5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. (KJV)It follows then that usury, or lending money at interest is not only prohibited but prevents an individual from entering the kingdom of God.
Proverbs 28:8
8 He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor. (KJV)This often may not appear to be the case in the day to day circumstances, but we are also dealing with the capacity to enter judgment and the first resurrection.
Jeremiah sees it as a source of curses.
Jeremiah 15:10
10 Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me. (KJV)God condemns the "bloody city" for this sin.
Ezekiel 22:12
12 In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD. (KJV)God speaks of these distinctions also in Ezekiel 18:3-20. The soul that sins, it shall surely die. Usury is mentioned specifically here as disqualifying the person from eternal life (Ezek. 18:8, 13). The concept of usury is tied to increase also and so it is forbidden to lend at interest. It disqualifies the elect from the first resurrection. It is theft.
The people were forced to mortgage their lands and houses to buy corn in the restoration, at the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. Nehemiah made the people who took land and repossessed it return it to its rightful owners, because lending money at interest, and especially in mortgage, is theft and will not be permitted in the kingdom of God. Usury or lending money at interest is against God’s Law and must be stamped out.
Nehemiah 5:1-13
1 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. 2 For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live. 3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth. 4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. 5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards. 6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. 7 Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them. 8 And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer. 9 Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? 10 I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury. 11 Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them. 12 Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise. 13 Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise. (KJV)The law is clear. Money lent is not to be lent at interest. This usury is not to take any form either of money or of victuals, or assets in any form.
Exodus 22:25
25 If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury. (KJV)Deuteronomy 23:19-20
19 Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury: 20 Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it. (KJV)But the lawyer said to Christ: Who is my brother? Salvation is now of the Gentiles. No person can lend at usury to another in the nation. All nations are now open to the kingdom of God. The Samaritan and the Egyptian are brothers to the Jew by virtue of the faith.
Judah is not to lend to Ephraim, nor Ephraim to Manasseh. There will be no system of lending money at interest in the millennial system of God. Lending will be between nations for purposes of trade and assistance.
The comment by Christ at Matthew 25:27 and Luke 19:23 is not to be taken as condoning the taking of interest. The practice of usury and increase by interest is clearly prohibited by God through the law and the prophets. Christ was asking a rhetorical question. The answer was to the one who thought that the owner was a hard man and so he then buried the talent. Christ then said that he was a wicked and slothful servant. He should have put the money to the exchangers and Christ then could have received his own with usury. But this practice is condemned by God. The comments are allegorical and they relate to the kingdom of God and have nothing to do with money.
Lending money at increase is usury and God condemns the practice and the people who do it. In regard to money, people may charge a fee for a service and no more. Where it relates to the sum by way of interest that is usury and theft, and is to be repaid under the laws of theft as a breach of the eighth commandment. Under the reign of Messiah every person lending anything and taking money by way of interest will be brought to judgment and made to repay according to the penalties associated with theft and dishonest gain.
Debts and release
Associated with the safeguard of the prohibitions against usury is the Sabbath year release of all debt.
Deuteronomy 15:1-23
1 At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release. 2 And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD'S release. 3 Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again: but that which is thine with thy brother thine hand shall release; 4 Save when there shall be no poor among you; for the LORD shall greatly bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it: 5 Only if thou carefully hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command thee this day. 6 For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee. 7 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: 8 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth. 9 Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee. 10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. 11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. 12 And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee. 13 And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty: 14 Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him. 15 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day. 16 And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee; 17 Then thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise. 18 It shall not seem hard unto thee, when thou sendest him away free from thee; for he hath been worth a double hired servant to thee, in serving thee six years: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all that thou doest. 19 All the firstling males that come of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work with the firstling of thy bullock, nor shear the firstling of thy sheep. 20 Thou shalt eat it before the LORD thy God year by year in the place which the LORD shall choose, thou and thy household. 21 And if there be any blemish therein, as if it be lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the LORD thy God. 22 Thou shalt eat it within thy gates: the unclean and the clean person shall eat it alike, as the roebuck, and as the hart. 23 Only thou shalt not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour it upon the ground as water. (KJV)The entire system is designed to release the individual from debt and servitude every seven years. Failure to ensure this law is carried out is iniquity and undermines the freedom of the individual and the nation in God’s Law. The desire to remain in slavery is of itself a weakness of the individual in the system.
The whole concept is that freewill offerings of pure and unblemished animals, operating within the household of God are the core of God’s calling and plan. Wild animals and blemished animals are not part of the firstlings and may be eaten within the gates. In other words, they are not to be part of the tithe offerings, which themselves symbolise the elect.
Stealing quality of life in relation to widows and orphans and strangers
Ownership and proprietary rights go to expectations. Each person has the expectation of being allowed a reasonable quality of life.
We have seen the expectation of the place of the Gentiles in Israel, as part of the plan of God. The Gentiles will learn to trust in us and the established authority of God under Messiah (cf. Gen. 39:20-23; 40:3,5; 42:16, 19; Mat. 12:21; Rom. 15:12). This will occur by not abusing the power of God in control of the weak and the fatherless, the poor and the stranger.
We are not to oppress any of the strangers, or the widows, or the fatherless, or God will hear their cry and make the oppressors’ wives widows and their children fatherless from war (Ex. 22: 21-24; 23:9). We will not vex the stranger, but he shall live among us and we shall love him as one of our own, for we were strangers also in Egypt (Lev. 19:33, 34). The stranger also shall make atonement with us (Lev. 16:29) or be cut off (Lev. 17:8, 9). Strangers shall be enrolled in the nation of Israel, for they were brought for a price by Messiah and salvation is now of the Gentiles. Thus their place is conditional, but cannot be stolen from them. However, they must be part of the nation and system (Lev. 22:10, 11, 15, 18). Their abominations are prohibited among us, but we are to love them as ourselves (Lev. 18:26; Deut 10:17-22). If any widow or fatherless child is afflicted in any way, God will hear them (Ex. 22:23).
Stealing from the poor by pledge
We can not take anything from the poor as a security against our loan, which interferes with their well being, quality of life, or health, or their safety or livelihood.
Deuteronomy 24:10-15
10 When thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge. 11 Thou shalt stand abroad, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring out the pledge abroad unto thee. 12 And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge: 13 In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee: and it shall be righteousness unto thee before the LORD thy God. 14 Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: 15 At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee. (KJV)Here we reiterate the prompt payment of the hired servant and the command not to oppress him.
Forced or uninvited entry by the lender to a household in recovery is prohibited. All action must be done according to law.
Care of the poor
The spirit of the law goes to care of the poor, rather than simply refraining from oppressing them.
The spirit of the law shows how God condemns the people who refrain from trade on the New Moons and Sabbaths, only to make merchandise of their brethren as soon as the New Moon or Sabbath is over. So it is in these end days. Israel is as a basket of summer fruit.
Amos 8:1-8
1 Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit. 2 And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more. 3 And the songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord GOD: there shall be many dead bodies in every place; they shall cast them forth with silence. 4 Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail, 5 Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit? 6 That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat? 7 The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works. 8 Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwelleth therein? and it shall rise up wholly as a flood; and it shall be cast out and drowned, as by the flood of Egypt. (KJV)(cf. Neh. 5:1-13)
The care of the poor has a distinct responsibility in this view under the law.
Luke 6:30-34
30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. 31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, wha