Do Not Steal

Today we turn our attention to a command that many may be tempted to overlook: “Do not steal.” At first glance, this may seem like a simple directive—don’t take what isn’t yours. But as we open God’s Word, we’ll see that this command cuts far deeper than petty theft or dishonest gain. Stealing, at its core, is not just a crime against another person—it is a sin against God’s providence, a denial of His provision, and a violation of the love we owe our neighbors. Whether it’s taking, withholding, neglecting, or refusing to give, our hearts are more prone to theft than we often realize. But the gospel offers hope—even for thieves. As we’ll see in the story of Zacchaeus, when Jesus enters a life, He doesn’t just forgive sin—He transforms the sinner. Through His grace, we move from takers to givers, from greedy to generous, from clinging to what is not ours to sharing freely what we have received.