This will be a series of occasional posts about subjects related to the Bible, one of the greatest books ever compiled by humans.
On The 8th Commandment
An adopted excerpt from the Westminster Shorter Catechism:
The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal. (Ex. 20:15; Deut. 5:19)
The eighth commandment requireth the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth and outward estate of ourselves and others (Lev. 25:35; Eph. 4:28b; Phil. 2:4)
The eighth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth, or may, unjustly hinder our own, or our neighbour's, wealth or outward estate (Prov. 28:19ff; Eph. 4:28a; II Thess. 3:10; I Tim. 5:8 )
I was not aware that the 8th Commandment requires such a two way interpretation and that we are required to further our neighbor’s wealth and outward estate, but it makes perfect sense.
Leviticus 25:35-37
“If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you. Do not take interest or any profit from them, but fear your God, so that they may continue to live among you. You must not lend them money at interest or sell them food at a profit.” (NIV)
I think KJV did a better job:
“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. Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee. Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase.”
Who would have guessed to find something like this in Leviticus 25?
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