Heidelberg Catechism: 'What does God forbid in the eighth commandment?'
LORD’S DAY 42
110. What does God forbid in the eighth commandment?Not only such theft and robbery1 as are punished by the magistrate; but God views as theft all wicked tricks and devices, whereby we seek to draw to ourselves our neighbor’s goods, whether by force or with show of right,2 such as unjust weights, ells, measures, wares, coins, usury,3 or any means forbidden of God; so moreover all covetousness,4 and all useless waste of His gifts.5
1 Ex 22:1; 1 Cor 5:9-10; 6:9-10; 2 Mic 6:9-11; Lk 3:14; Jas 5:1-62; 3 Deut 25:13-16; Ps 15:5; Prov 11:1; 12:22; Ez 45:9-12; Lk 6:35; 4 Lk 12:15; Eph 5:5; 5 Prov 21:20; 23:20-21; Lk 16:10-13
111. But what does God require of you in this commandment?
That I further my neighbor’s good, where I can and may; deal with him as I would have others deal with me; and labor faithfully, that I may be able to help the poor in their need.1
1 Isa 58:5-10; Mt 7:12; Gal 6:9-10; Eph 4:28
