Understanding The Seventh Commandment

Understanding the Seventh Commandment

Published by webmaster on June 5, 2021June 5, 2021

The seventh Commandment forbids us to do anything wrong to the goods and the property of our neighbor stating: “Thou shalt not steal”. There are two points we need to reflect, in connection with this Commandment:

1. The Right of Possession
2. Obligation to restitution

Every person has the right to possess earthly goods, that are necessary for his/her sustenance. one can possess goods either by way of one’s labor or by way of gift. Then they become his/her personal property. Thus, acquisition of property is good, when it is gained by one’s own labor or by way of a gift from another.

But this commandment forbids the acquisition of goods by unjust means, either by theft, robbery, cheating etc., what belongs to another. Even though stealing is a sin against the seventh Commandment, it becomes more or less grievous in proportion to the wrong caused to the loser. For example, to steal a few pennies or dimes from the one who is very poor, is more grievous than stealing a small sum from a rich person. Nevertheless, taking even a trifling sum repeatedly from the same person, who is rich, is considered to be a grievous act of theft.

Theft is committed in a number of ways:

• by taking something stealthily
• by taking it by violence
• by not paying wages that are due
• by doing a fraud in buying and selling
• by buying promotions to positions of temporal or spiritual honor.

Just as this Commandment forbids stealing, we must not forget that it also makes it a strict obligation to restore the stolen good or make compensation for the damage done.

God bless you

Fr. Arul Joseph V.

Categories: Father Joseph's MessagesThe Ten Commandments

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