Dear friends, today we will learn what the Bible teaches us about stealing and how to respond when someone steals from us. I hope you enjoyed today’s lesson. If you found it helpful, please share it with others and help more people know this Word of God.
The Bible clearly tells us that stealing is against God’s law. God never likes it. It is a very serious sin against God. In addition, when someone steals, their relationship with their neighbors is bad and enmity is created. When we steal something that does not belong to us, it not only damages our relationship with the owner of the thing but also damages our relationship with God. God is against us.
If you are the victim of theft, it is natural to feel angry or want to get revenge. But the Bible instructs us to respond with grace and mercy. Instead of hitting, we are told to pray and seek God’s guidance.
Dear friends, it may seem difficult to pray for those who have stolen from us, but forgiveness and prayer are very important in dealing with theft from a Christian perspective.
The Bible also talks about making things right. If someone has stolen, they should return what they took or make amends in some way. They should also ask for forgiveness and pray for true repentance and change.
Dear friends, now let’s look at the following Bible verses that discuss ‘Bible verses when someone steals from you’.
Contents
- 1 What Does the Bible Say About Theft and Stealing?
- 2 How to Respond Biblically When Someone Steals from You
- 3 Forgiveness and Dealing with Theft in Christianity
- 4 Bible Verses on Restitution and Making Amends
- 5 Praying for Those Who Have Stolen from You
- 6 Legal and Spiritual Perspectives on Theft in the Bible
- 7 Understanding God’s Justice in Cases of Theft
- 8 Practical Steps for Christians Dealing with Theft
What Does the Bible Say About Theft and Stealing?
“Thou shalt not steal”
Exodus 20:15
“Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another”
Leviticus 19:11
“Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death”
Proverbs 10:2
“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth”
Ephesians 4:28
“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies”
Matthew 15:19
How to Respond Biblically When Someone Steals from You
“But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also”
Matthew 5:39
“Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men”
Romans 12:17
“Unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also”
Luke 6:29
“If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; if he be thirsty, give him water to drinkFor thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, the Lord shall reward thee”
Proverbs 25:21-22
“Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing”
1 Peter 3:9
Forgiveness and Dealing with Theft in Christianity
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive youBut if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses”
Matthew 6:14-15
“Forbearing one another, forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye”
Colossians 3:13
“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; if he repent, forgive himAnd if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him”
Luke 17:3-4
“Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you”
Ephesians 4:32
Bible Verses on Restitution and Making Amends
“If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, four sheep for a sheep”
Exodus 22:1
“Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he foundOr all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, shall add the fifth part more thereto, give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering”
Leviticus 6:4-5
“Speak unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the Lord , that person be guiltyThen they shall confess their sin which they have done: he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, add unto it the fifth part thereof, give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed”
Numbers 5:6-7
“Zacchaeus stood, said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold”
Luke 19:8
Praying for Those Who Have Stolen from You
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, pray for them which despitefully use you, persecute you”
Matthew 5:44
“The Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before”
Job 42:10
“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate youBless them that curse you, pray for them which despitefully use you”
Luke 6:27-28
“Bless them which persecute you: bless, curse not”
Romans 12:14
Legal and Spiritual Perspectives on Theft in the Bible
“Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungryBut if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house”
Proverbs 6:30-31
“He that stealeth a man, selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death”
Exodus 21:16
“Neither shalt thou steal”
Deuteronomy 5:19
“Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God”
1 Corinthians 6:10
Understanding God’s Justice in Cases of Theft
“For the Lord loveth judgment, forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off”
Psalm 37:28
“For I the Lord love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, I will make an everlasting covenant with them”
Isaiah 61:8
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord”
Romans 12:19
“It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity”
Proverbs 21:15
Practical Steps for Christians Dealing with Theft
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; lean not unto thine own understandingIn all thy ways acknowledge him, he shall direct thy paths”
Proverbs 3:5-6
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, upbraideth not; it shall be given him”
James 1:5
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto GodAnd the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts minds through Christ Jesus”
Philippians 4:6-7
“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go tell him his fault between thee him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brotherBut if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be establishedAnd if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man a publican”
Matthew 18:15-17
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God”
Romans 13:1