“Respecting Personal Property” (Exodus 22:1–15)

“Respecting Personal Property” (Exodus 22:1–15)
Pastor Cameron Jungels
Eastside Baptist Church
Sunday PM, August 26, 2018

Exodus 22:1–15 (NIV)

22  “Whoever steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it must pay back five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.

² “If a thief is caught breaking in at night and is struck a fatal blow, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed; ³ but if it happens after sunrise, the defender is guilty of bloodshed.

“Anyone who steals must certainly make restitution, but if they have nothing, they must be sold to pay for their theft. ⁴ If the stolen animal is found alive in their possession—whether ox or donkey or sheep—they must pay back double.

⁵ “If anyone grazes their livestock in a field or vineyard and lets them stray and they graze in someone else’s field, the offender must make restitution from the best of their own field or vineyard.

⁶ “If a fire breaks out and spreads into thornbushes so that it burns shocks of grain or standing grain or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make restitution.

⁷ “If anyone gives a neighbor silver or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double. ⁸ But if the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges, and they must determine whether the owner of the house has laid hands on the other person’s property. ⁹ In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any other lost property about which somebody says, ‘This is mine,’ both parties are to bring their cases before the judges.  The one whom the judges declare guilty must pay back double to the other.

¹⁰ “If anyone gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep or any other animal to their neighbor for safekeeping and it dies or is injured or is taken away while no one is looking, ¹¹ the issue between them will be settled by the taking of an oath before the Lord that the neighbor did not lay hands on the other person’s property. The owner is to accept this, and no restitution is required. ¹² But if the animal was stolen from the neighbor, restitution must be made to the owner. ¹³ If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, the neighbor shall bring in the remains as evidence and shall not be required to pay for the torn animal.

¹⁴ “If anyone borrows an animal from their neighbor and it is injured or dies while the owner is not present, they must make restitution. ¹⁵ But if the owner is with the animal, the borrower will not have to pay. If the animal was hired, the money paid for the hire covers the loss.

1. Punishment for the Theft of Personal Property

⁵ David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, "As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this must die! ⁶ He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity." (2 Sam. 12:5-6 NIV)

⁸ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." ⁹ Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. (Lk. 19:8-9 NIV)

2. Liability for the Destruction of Personal Property

3. Resolving Disputes over Personal Property

Several principles emerge from these laws that may be applied to our walk as Christians:

1. Theft is wrong and is incompatible with walking the Christian life.

Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. (Eph. 4:28 NIV)

2. The Bible advocates the principle of the ownership of personal property.

3. Personal property is to be respected as an expression of love of neighbor.

4. Stolen property was to be fully restored by the thief (plus double or even 4 or 5-fold). Nothing short of full restitution was accepted.

5. Proper care and diligence should be given when entrusted with the property of another. Carelessness or negligence that results in the loss or damage of another’s property means that the borrower is responsible for full restitution.

6. Property is never on par with human life. One may kill a thief if one reasonably feels endangered by the thief, but one may not kill a person for the sake of a stolen sheep. The defense of human life is the highest moral law, and it trumps lower laws.

7. When people live in society together there will be disputes and conflicts. As such, an equitable method for resolving property disputes is essential for society to function.

And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. (Matt. 5:40 NIV)

“If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers! The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters.” (1 Corinthians 6:1–8, NIV)