Monday, June 28, 2021

Question 73: Which is the Eighth Commandment?

Answer: The Eighth Commandment is, "thou shalt not steal."

Dear Neighbor,

The Eight Commandment was first spoken to Israel, by the mouth of God from heaven, at Mount Sinai in the desert, also called Horeb, and written for us in Exodus 20:15. 

The Eight Commandment was repeated by Moses in the land of Moab during a sermon that Moses delivered to Israel before his death, and before Israel crossed the Jordan river into the land of Canaan. There Moses expounded the law of God to Israel. Therefore, the Eighth Commandment is recorded for our reading a second time in Deuteronomy 5:19. Deuteronomy means second law, but it is not a second law, it is an expounding of the law for the children of the descendants of Israel, who were saved by God from slavery in Egypt. 

The next two questions explain what is required and what is forbidden in the eight commandment. I shall explore how the commandment should be understood in the lives of Christ followers today.

Michael Peek
Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake