The Eighth Commandment

(Exodus 20:15) "Thou shalt not steal."

This commandment is straight forward and requires little explanation. Simply stated, we violate this commandment when we take from someone, even from God, their material goods or withhold from them that which is due. (Malachi 3:8) "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings."

And stealing is stealing, no matter the size of the item. We are just as much thieves when we steal from our boss, by taking his pen home from work, as we are when we steal cash from his cashregister.

God has made us steward of every material gift He has given. It is an intrusion and violation to rob through fraud, trickery, deceit, or force.