Theft is always condemned in Scripture, though the possibility of mitigating circumstances is recognised. Converted thieves must show their repentance, if possible, in a practical way.
Stealing is condemned as a sin
It is prohibited
Exodus 20:15 parallel Deuteronomy 5:19 See also Leviticus 19:11; Psalm 62:10; Mark 10:19 parallel Luke 18:20; Romans 2:21, Romans 13:9
You shall not steal.
Punishment for stealing
1 Corinthians 6:9–10 See also Exodus 21:16, Exodus 22:1–4; Leviticus 6:2–5
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
The disgrace of thieves
As the thief is ashamed when he is caught, so the house of Israel is disgraced. They, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets
The company of thieves is to be avoided
See also Proverbs 29:24; Isaiah 1:23
Stealing is denied
Mitigating circumstances for stealing
Poverty
Proverbs 6:30–31 See also Proverbs 30:7–9
Men do not despise the thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger. Yet if caught, he must pay sevenfold; he must give up all the wealth of his house.
Stealing is commonplace in this world
It is part of life in a sinful world
Hosea 4:2; Matthew 6:19 See also Matthew 15:19
Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
Roadside robbery
Luke 10:30 See also Proverbs 1:10–15; 2 Corinthians 11:26
Jesus took up this question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.
Sheep stealing
Dishonesty in trade
Jeremiah 22:17; Ezekiel 28:18; Hosea 12:7; Amos 8:5
Dishonest tax collectors
Theft in the temple
Matthew 21:12–13 parallels Mark 11:15–17, Luke 19:45–46; Jeremiah 7:11
Theft in the family
Wife stealing
Kidnapping
2 Kings 11:2 parallel 2 Chronicles 22:11
Temple robbers
Body stealing
Examples of stealing
Genesis 31:19 Rachel; Joshua 7:11, Joshua 7:20–21; Judges 17:1–2 Micah the Ephraimite; Matthew 27:38 parallel Mark 15:27; Matthew 27:44; Luke 23:32; John 12:6 Judas
Stealing as an image
Of forbidden pleasures
Of a captivated heart
2 Samuel 15:6; Song of Solomon 4:9
Of unexpected loss
Proverbs 6:10–11, Proverbs 24:33–34
Of God's judgment
1 Thessalonians 5:2 See also Jeremiah 49:9–10 parallel Obadiah 1:5–6; Matthew 24:42–44; 2 Peter 3:10
For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
Spiritual stealing
Stealing from God
Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you ask, ‘How do we rob You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, yet you— the whole nation— are still robbing Me.
Lying prophets
See also Jeremiah 23:30
False shepherds
John 10:1 See also John 10:8, John 10:10
“Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.
Converted thieves
Luke 23:39–43 the thief on the cross; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11 some of the Corinthians
Repentance must be borne out in practical actions
Ephesians 4:28 See also Ezekiel 33:15; Luke 19:8 Zacchaeus; Titus 2:10
He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.
There is no stealing in heaven
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.