Thou shalt not steal is a commandment that covers stealing in any form. Dealing falsely, causing injustice, fraud, stealing of any type and thievery are all sins included in the 8th commandment.
“Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another… Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him.” — Leviticus 19:11-13
As I said previously in this study of the laws of God and our duty to God to obey his laws, the final five “thou shalt not” commandments are a group of connected abominations, like dominoes falling, when one of these sins is present the others are there as well. What person can murder without also being guilty of stealing someone’s life, lying to hide it, and likely were led to it by covetousness? What person commits adultery without lying to God, themselves, and likely their partner? What is adultery if not to covet and then steal another’s spouse?
It will not surprise anyone that the relationship between commandments eight, nine, and ten makes it hard to separate them into three studies. Liars and thieves are all akin; liars are often thieves and thieves are always liars. A thief and a liar is most assuredly a covetous man. So as this study works through these last three commandments notice the interdependence of these laws and recognize that we must control the desires and thoughts that we might not covet, control the mind and tongue that we might not lie, and control our actions that we might not steal.
“Now those priests who did go forth among the people did preach against all lyings, and deceivings, and envyings, and strifes, and malice, and revilings, and stealing, robbing, plundering, murdering, committing adultery, and all manner of lasciviousness, crying that these things ought not so to be.” — Alma 16:18, Book of Mormon
“And it was because of the pride of their hearts, because of their exceeding riches, yea, it was because of their oppression to the poor, withholding their food from the hungry, withholding their clothing from the naked, and smiting their humble brethren upon the cheek, making a mock of that which was sacred, denying the spirit of prophecy and of revelation, murdering, plundering, lying, stealing, committing adultery, rising up in great contentions… And because of this their great wickedness, and their boastings in their own strength, they were left in their own strength; therefore they did not prosper.” — Helaman 4:12-13, Book of Mormon
“Rather fail with honour than succeed by fraud.”
— Sophocles
“Thou knowest the commandments… Do not bear false witness, Defraud not.” — Mark 10:19
Fraud: 1) wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain. 2) a person or thing intended to deceive others, typically by unjustifiably claiming or being credited with accomplishments or qualities.
Fraud is stealing through the art of crafty lying. The entanglement between stealing and lying is impossible to unravel. The only way to stand honorably before God is to stay far from the engagements of such sins. We must live our lives as near as possible to being able to proclaim with Paul: “We have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.” — 2 Corinthians 7:2
No comments:
Post a Comment