Lent Midweek 3 March 10, 2021
Exodus 20:1-2, 15 - The Seventh Commandment
Divine Theft
Exodus 20:1-2, 15 And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery… 15 “You shall not steal."
LSC You shall not steal. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not take our neighbour’s money or possessions, nor get them in any dishonest way, but help to improve and protect his possessions and income.
Dear friends in Christ, having looked in the Second Table of the Law thus far, at commandments relating about your neighbour’s health and well-being, the relationship between husband and wife, we now examine the commandment about temporal property. You see, God wants property protected. Stealing is not only physically taking other’s possessions, but also taking advantage of them in some way. Therefore, when we consider the world through all conditions of life, it is nothing but a vast mall, full of thieves.
How can that be, you ask? This one seems so simple, so easy—don’t take what doesn’t rightfully belong to you—from the candy in the store—to your neighbour’s car or jewels—to the money in the bank vault—if it isn’t yours—hands off! Indeed, in some countries that is the punishment for thieves—having their hands literally cut off—thereby removing their ability to physically lay their hands on that which is not theirs.
Now, it certainly is easy to see many examples of this commandment being broken in the world today. After all, we don’t live too far away from Winnipeg, car theft capital of Canada. Yet there is more to this commandment from God than merely grabbing something that isn’t yours and running away with it. It is far more than simply getting possession of another’s property wrongfully, like downloading music or movies illegally from the internet.
No, indeed. First and foremost, theft is a condition of the heart—a lack of trust in God (there’s that first commandment again!)—that results in greed and dishonesty and laziness. For we break this commandment not only by taking from others, but also by failing to help our neighbour to improve and protect his income and possessions. We fail to help our neighbour in every need. We begrudge our neighbour that which is theirs—be it their salary—their home—their fancy boat—etc.—that is stealing from them in our hearts.
Nor do we always give generously as we ought to those who are poor and needy. We steal from God by not giving back to Him fully of our time, talents, and treasures. Why? Because we don’t really trust Him to take care of us—we feel that we need to look out for number one—ourselves. So we cheat others—sometimes very craftily—sometimes even legally—to get what we want, but have not rightly earned. We show disrespect to other people’s property. We neglect our responsibilities in our various vocations—stealing from family, friends, and neighbour alike, by not being there for them when they need us.
Some businesses steal by not providing a good product or service that is equal to the price paid. Workers steal from their employers—either by taking equipment/supplies for personal use without paying for them—or by simply not putting in an honest day’s labour for a day’s wage. And all of these things are damnable sins before God—each and every one.
We practically steal with every breath that we take—harbouring ill will toward our neighbour—begrudging him what is his—refusing to care for those who are in need. Yet God will avenge this—He hears the cries of the poor and needy who have been taken advantage of—He listens to their cries for vengeance—and He will repay. Just as He did with Achan who stole when the Israelites conquered Jericho—he was swallowed up into the ground.
Why do we do this? Because we are faithless scoundrels who feel that we must provide for ourselves—not really trusting in God to “give us this day our daily bread” as we pray in the Lord’s prayer. We grow distraught when our retirement portfolios don’t look as good as we think they should. We grow alarmed at rising inflation costs. Yet we fail to look to the One who controls all things—and who has promised to always take care of you—no matter what.
Therein lies your hope—in looking to God in Christ Jesus. He liberally dispenses His blessings with abundant mercy and generosity. By His great work on the cross wherein He “stole” your sins from you to suffer and die for them in your place—He has given you that which does not rightly belong to you—but nevertheless is His to bestow—perfect righteousness and life and salvation. If you will recall, Jesus was numbered with the transgressors—being crucified in the midst of two thieves. Because He took your place upon the cross—took your sin into Himself—He was rightly numbered among them—being the greatest thief of all—He suffered and died for you.
By doing so, Jesus has stolen you from the power of the devil, from sin, and from death. Through His holy church He brings healing and forgiveness—bestowing what He earned with His own life, death, and resurrection—upon you—unworthy sinners. Yet, in His love, grace, and mercy—He is happy to do so. He takes care of you like no one else. He gives you not just what you want—but what you truly need—His own shed blood and holiness. This you receive in His Word and Sacraments given to you—that you might be forgiven—be made holy and right with God—justified before Him—cleansed from all guilt of sin and death.
Jesus has done what no one else could do. He has stolen you back from the brink of hell—by paying a high price indeed—the eternal wrath and fury of the Father on account of your sin and mine. For Christ perfectly fulfilled and kept this commandment for you—never once taking what wasn’t rightfully His—except for sin. This burden He gladly took so that He might do away with it once and for all—burying it in His tomb—and rising in victory over it on the Third Day. He worked tirelessly to earn the forgiveness of sins, eternal life and salvation for you—and He gives it to you freely—by His grace through faith in Him alone.
So, dear friends, having been fully pardoned for your theft by the atoning blood of Jesus shed on the cross for you, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Having this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped [or stolen], but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” Philippians 2:4-11. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Exodus 20:1-2, 15 - The Seventh Commandment
Divine Theft
Exodus 20:1-2, 15 And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery… 15 “You shall not steal."
LSC You shall not steal. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not take our neighbour’s money or possessions, nor get them in any dishonest way, but help to improve and protect his possessions and income.
Dear friends in Christ, having looked in the Second Table of the Law thus far, at commandments relating about your neighbour’s health and well-being, the relationship between husband and wife, we now examine the commandment about temporal property. You see, God wants property protected. Stealing is not only physically taking other’s possessions, but also taking advantage of them in some way. Therefore, when we consider the world through all conditions of life, it is nothing but a vast mall, full of thieves.
How can that be, you ask? This one seems so simple, so easy—don’t take what doesn’t rightfully belong to you—from the candy in the store—to your neighbour’s car or jewels—to the money in the bank vault—if it isn’t yours—hands off! Indeed, in some countries that is the punishment for thieves—having their hands literally cut off—thereby removing their ability to physically lay their hands on that which is not theirs.
Now, it certainly is easy to see many examples of this commandment being broken in the world today. After all, we don’t live too far away from Winnipeg, car theft capital of Canada. Yet there is more to this commandment from God than merely grabbing something that isn’t yours and running away with it. It is far more than simply getting possession of another’s property wrongfully, like downloading music or movies illegally from the internet.
No, indeed. First and foremost, theft is a condition of the heart—a lack of trust in God (there’s that first commandment again!)—that results in greed and dishonesty and laziness. For we break this commandment not only by taking from others, but also by failing to help our neighbour to improve and protect his income and possessions. We fail to help our neighbour in every need. We begrudge our neighbour that which is theirs—be it their salary—their home—their fancy boat—etc.—that is stealing from them in our hearts.
Nor do we always give generously as we ought to those who are poor and needy. We steal from God by not giving back to Him fully of our time, talents, and treasures. Why? Because we don’t really trust Him to take care of us—we feel that we need to look out for number one—ourselves. So we cheat others—sometimes very craftily—sometimes even legally—to get what we want, but have not rightly earned. We show disrespect to other people’s property. We neglect our responsibilities in our various vocations—stealing from family, friends, and neighbour alike, by not being there for them when they need us.
Some businesses steal by not providing a good product or service that is equal to the price paid. Workers steal from their employers—either by taking equipment/supplies for personal use without paying for them—or by simply not putting in an honest day’s labour for a day’s wage. And all of these things are damnable sins before God—each and every one.
We practically steal with every breath that we take—harbouring ill will toward our neighbour—begrudging him what is his—refusing to care for those who are in need. Yet God will avenge this—He hears the cries of the poor and needy who have been taken advantage of—He listens to their cries for vengeance—and He will repay. Just as He did with Achan who stole when the Israelites conquered Jericho—he was swallowed up into the ground.
Why do we do this? Because we are faithless scoundrels who feel that we must provide for ourselves—not really trusting in God to “give us this day our daily bread” as we pray in the Lord’s prayer. We grow distraught when our retirement portfolios don’t look as good as we think they should. We grow alarmed at rising inflation costs. Yet we fail to look to the One who controls all things—and who has promised to always take care of you—no matter what.
Therein lies your hope—in looking to God in Christ Jesus. He liberally dispenses His blessings with abundant mercy and generosity. By His great work on the cross wherein He “stole” your sins from you to suffer and die for them in your place—He has given you that which does not rightly belong to you—but nevertheless is His to bestow—perfect righteousness and life and salvation. If you will recall, Jesus was numbered with the transgressors—being crucified in the midst of two thieves. Because He took your place upon the cross—took your sin into Himself—He was rightly numbered among them—being the greatest thief of all—He suffered and died for you.
By doing so, Jesus has stolen you from the power of the devil, from sin, and from death. Through His holy church He brings healing and forgiveness—bestowing what He earned with His own life, death, and resurrection—upon you—unworthy sinners. Yet, in His love, grace, and mercy—He is happy to do so. He takes care of you like no one else. He gives you not just what you want—but what you truly need—His own shed blood and holiness. This you receive in His Word and Sacraments given to you—that you might be forgiven—be made holy and right with God—justified before Him—cleansed from all guilt of sin and death.
Jesus has done what no one else could do. He has stolen you back from the brink of hell—by paying a high price indeed—the eternal wrath and fury of the Father on account of your sin and mine. For Christ perfectly fulfilled and kept this commandment for you—never once taking what wasn’t rightfully His—except for sin. This burden He gladly took so that He might do away with it once and for all—burying it in His tomb—and rising in victory over it on the Third Day. He worked tirelessly to earn the forgiveness of sins, eternal life and salvation for you—and He gives it to you freely—by His grace through faith in Him alone.
So, dear friends, having been fully pardoned for your theft by the atoning blood of Jesus shed on the cross for you, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Having this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped [or stolen], but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” Philippians 2:4-11. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.