The Eighth Commandment

The Eighth Commandment

The Eighth Commandment is simple and direct. It is a clear command to respect what belongs to others.

Exodus 20:15

“You shall not steal.”

At first glance, this commandment doesn’t seem groundbreaking: don’t take what doesn’t belong to you. That seems easy enough. But there is much more going on here.

If we look at the other nine commandments, we see that each one is designed to protect or define something. Commandments 1–4 protect our relationship with God. Commandment 5 concerns parents. The 6th protects the innocent. The 7th protects spouses. The 9th and 10th protect our neighbors. Only the 8th commandment is open-ended.

Why is that significant? Because stealing is not just about property—it touches the root of all sin. We steal God’s glory when we give His worship to idols. We steal our parents’ honor when we disrespect them. We steal a life when we commit murder. We steal a spouse through adultery. Justice and property are stolen when we lie or covet.

Suddenly, stealing looms as the foundation of all other sins. At its core, sin is taking what is not ours. Isn’t that what sin really is—the attempt to live life on our own terms rather than in surrender to God?

When we set our hearts on what does not belong to us, we are the ones who ultimately lose. Stealing robs us of the very source of life—God Himself.

Colossians 3:2–3

“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”