The Westminster Larger Catechism

Questions 140—142: On the Eighth Commandment

Q 140. Which is the eighth commandment?

A. The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal^a.

^a Exod. 20:15

Q. 141. What are the duties required in the eighth commandment?

A. The duties required in the eighth commandment are, truth, faithfulness, and justice in contracts and commerce between man and man^a; rendering to every one his due^b; restitution of goods unlawfully detained from the right owners thereof^c; giving and lending freely, according to our abilities, and the necessities of others^d; moderation of our judgments, wills, and affections concerning worldly goods^e; a provident care and study to get^f, keep, use, and dispose these things which are necessary and convenient for the sustentation of our nature, and suitable to our condition^g; a lawful calling^h, and diligence in itⁱ; frugality^k, avoiding unnecessary law-suits^l, and suretiship, or other like engagements^m; and an endeavour, by all just and lawful means, to procure, preserve, and further the wealth and outward estate of others, as well as our ownⁿ.

^a Ps. 15:2,4; Zech. 7:4,10; Zech. 8:16,17 ^b Rom. 13:7 ^c Lev. 6:2-5 compared with Luke 19:8 ^d Luke 6:30,38; 1 John 3:17; Eph. 4:28; Gal. 6:10 ^e 1 Tim. 6:6-9; Gal. 6:14 ^f 1 Tim. 5:8 ^g Prov. 27:23-27; Eccl. 2:24; Eccl. 3:12,13; 1 Tim. 6:17,18; Isa. 38:1; Matt. 11:8 ^h 1 Cor. 7:20; Gen. 2:15; Gen. 3:19 ⁱ Eph. 4:28; Prov. 10:4 ^k John 6:12; Prov. 21:20 ^l 1 Cor. 6:1-9m Prov. 6:1-6; Prov. 11:15 ⁿ Lev. 25:35; Deut. 22:1-4; Exod. 23:4,5; Gen. 47:14,20; Phil. 2:4; Matt. 22:39

Q. 142. What are the sins forbidden in the eighth commandment?

A. The sins forbidden in the eighth commandment, besides the neglect of the duties required^a, are, theft^b, robbery^c, man-stealing^d, and receiving any thing that is stolen^e; fraudulent dealing^f, false weights and measures^g, removing land-marks^h, injustice and unfaithfulness in contracts between man and manⁱ, or in matters of trust^k; oppression^l, extortion^m, usuryⁿ, bribery^o, vexatious law-suits^p, unjust inclosures and depopulations^q; ingrossing commodities to enhance the price^r; unlawful callings^s, and all other unjust or sinful ways of taking or withholding from our neighbour what belongs to him, or of enriching ourselves^t; covetousness^u; inordinate prizing and affecting worldly goods^x; distrustful and distracting cares and studies in getting, keeping, and using them^y; envying at the prosperity of others^z; as likewise idleness^a, prodigality, wasteful gaming; and all other ways whereby we do unduly prejudice our own outward estate^b, and defrauding ourselves of the due use and comfort of that estate which God hath given us^c.

^a James 2:15,16; 1 John 3:17 ^b Eph. 4:28 ^c Ps. 62:10 ^d 1 Tim. 1:10 ^e Prov. 29:24; Ps. 50:18 ^f 1 Thess. 4:6 ^g Prov. 20:10 ^h Deut. 19:14; Prov. 23:10 ⁱ Amos 8:5; Ps. 37:21 ^k Luke 16:10-12 ^l Ezek. 22:29; Lev. 25:17 ^m Matt. 23:25; Ezek. 22:12 ⁿ Ps. 15:5 ^o Job 15:34 ^p 1 Cor. 6:6-8; Prov. 3:29,30 ^q Isa. 5:8; Micah 2:2 ^r Prov. 11:26 ^s Acts 19:19,24,25 ^t Job 20:19; James 5:4; Prov. 21:6 ^u Luke 12:15 ^x 1 Tim. 6:5; Col. 3:2; Prov. 23:5; Ps. 62:10 ^y Matt. 6:25,31,34; Eccl. 5:12 ^z Ps. 73:3; Ps. 37:1,7 ^a 2 Thess. 3:11; Prov. 18:9 ^b Prov. 23:21:17; Prov. 23:20,21; Prov. 28:19^c Eccl. 4:8; Eccl. 6:2; 1 Tim. 5:8