Pay Back The Money! | Exodus 22:1-15

Just this past week, newly minted minister of Public Works, Dean McPherson, reported that a host of luxury state-owned homes used by some of the previous ministers in our cabinet, were vacated as they left office. But the homes were left in a disgusting state – graffiti on the wall, houses falling apart, looted fittings when they left - ripped out taps, build in cupboards and even kitchen sinks! Public servants elected to serve the people of South Africa at the highest level, to build the country; stole, plundered and damaged property that actually belongs to us, the South African people.

In this morning’s text, we’re continuing through the civil laws – laws particular to the nation of Israel in the Promised Land. In particular, those laws which concern private property. Like we’ve seen in previous weeks, these civil laws are the practical application of the moral law – the Ten Commandments. The Commandment that is being applied in this text is the Eighth Commandment – don’t steal. The biblical assumption behind this Commandment is that we are entitled to own property. The Command to not steal doesn’t make sense if that is not true. In God’s sight, it is a sin to take something that doesn’t belong to you, or damage something that doesn’t belong to you. These laws look at what needs to happen if we steal or damage our neighbour’s property. What we’ll see from this text this morning is that because we are to love God and our neighbour, we are to treat our neighbour’s property with respect.

Preacher: Rev. Antonio Coppola.

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