Respecting other people’s property

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Message We respect the property of our neighbour and are prepared to give of our own
possessions to help people who are in need.

Contents The Seventh Commandment

Love for our neighbour and the Seventh Commandment
Jesus and Zacchaeus
It is more blessed to give than to receive

Catechism CNAC-QA 352; 230 explanations in peach box (address in the lesson)
CNAC-QA 348–351 (background information)

1 The Seventh Commandment

A student reads You shall not steal.
aloud
What does the What does the Seventh Commandment mean for us today?
Catechism say? This question is answered in CNAC-QA 352 (please read together and
discuss).

Workbook The confirmands do exercise A in the workbook. What would it be like, if all
exercise A people were to keep the Seventh Commandment?

– We could save a great deal of work and expense on securing our personal
property (locking doors, alarm systems, police, insurance, courts, etc.)
– All of the speculation concerning an alleged culprit, not to mention all the
related suspicions, would no longer burden our interpersonal relationships.
– Nations and countries would no longer be robbed of their possessions and
resources. People would no longer be exploited by working for very little.

Explain We see here that the commandments are an expression of God’s love for
mankind. The purpose of the commandments is to help human beings live
in accordance with the will of God and to live in harmony as regards their
relationships with one another (CNAC 5.2).

The commandments: We hear and see in the media that human beings, institutions, and states often
a blessing fail to take direction from the divine commandments, and instead thoughtlessly
pursue their own interests.

The prohibition against stealing is not only to be found in the Old and New
Testaments, and is not merely confined to Judaism or Christianity, but can
already be found in the most ancient legal systems (for example, the Codex
Hammurabi, ca. 1750 bc), as well as in other religions and the legal systems of
all states.

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Why do people steal?

Generally speaking, the reason for which people steal has to do with a longing
for material or intellectual property that is not their own but which they would
nevertheless like to possess. There are people who do not respect the property
of others and who seek to enrich themselves even at the expense of others.
There are, however, also cases in which people steal as a result of existential
need. For example, a mother might steal for her hungry or sick children.

What does the What is the distinction between sin and guilt? In response to this question,
Catechism say? there is an explanation concerning the extent of guilt incurred (CNAC-QA 230,
peach box).

2 Love for our neighbour and the Seventh Commandment

Both the Old and New Testaments call upon people to love their neigh­­-
bour. Jesus Christ says that love for one’s neighbour—in addition to love
for God—summarises all the commandments. Love for our neighbour
incorporates respect for others and the desire to do good things for them.
This also entails that we respect their property. Anyone who steals from his
neighbour not only takes something away from him, but also fails to show him
respect. Beyond that the commandment also implies that one cannot selfishly
profit from his property (for example, in the form of usury or overpricing)
because the Seventh Commandment, like all the other commandments, is an
aspect of the New Testament’s commandment to love one’s neighbour.

An important argument against stealing is the Golden Rule. Jesus says,

“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them” (Matthew
7: 12). Here Jesus brings something to expression that applies not only to
Christians, but to all human beings. Here it becomes clear that all people have
within themselves an awareness of what God desires of them and what serves
to their benefit (CNAC 4.2.1.3). Even a thief would not want to be robbed of his
possessions …

Ask the confirmands to imagine themselves in the following situation:

 girl or a boy you know was caught stealing. How might she or he have
A
reacted?

Listen to answers – denied it

and supplement – wept
– have a guilty conscience
– apologised
– asked what it would take to make amends

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3 Jesus and Zacchaeus
Tell One particular account that explains theft can be found in Luke 19: 1–10. Jesus
Christ had come to visit the tax-collector Zacchaeus, whose fortune had been
Jesus goes to the acquired in large part by cheating others. The Jews of that time considered
house of the tax- tax-collectors to be on the same level as thieves and robbers, because they
collector Zacchaeus often required exaggerated tax payments. Beyond that tax-collectors acted
on behalf of the Roman occupying powers and were considered unclean by
devout Jews because of their dealings with the Gentiles. Jesus, who had
no compunctions about consorting with tax-collectors, was thus described
reproachfully as a friend of sinners (Matthew 11: 19).

Some of the people complained that Jesus had gone to the house of the
tax-collector Zacchaeus. The tax-collector became aware that his extortionate
practices were sin. He told Jesus, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the
poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore
fourfold” (Luke 19: 8). The Lord Jesus responded, “Today salvation has come
to this house” (verse 9). The visit of Jesus had brought about a fundamental
change in the man’s attitude and conduct.

Explain In the original Greek text, the word “cheating” takes on connotations of
harassment, bullying, oppressing, and blackmailing. This multifaceted meaning
demonstrates that stealing is not only limited to the obvious theft of some more
or less valuable possessions. Rather, we also find the act of stealing hiding
behind its various masks in the broader field of interpersonal relationships,
for example in the form of usury, exploitation of emergency situations,
embezzlement, fraud, and misappropriation.

Workbook The confirmands now do exercise B in their workbooks. In the process, they
exercise B answer the following question, which is to be discussed afterward.

Ask What are the effects of stealing?

Listen to answers In the thief: In the person who has been robbed:
and supplement
– a feeling of satisfaction, – helplessness
because he possesses something – fear that something else might
he could normally not afford (this happen; one no longer feels
feeling may not last long) safe
– fear of being discovered and – people feel that their privacy has
punished been violated.
– a guilty conscience – people who have been robbed often
suffer from sleeplessness.
– People who have been robbed often
consider moving to another place.
– anxiety.

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It is more blessed to give than to receive
Zacchaeus wanted to give back what he had stolen. Beyond that he wanted to
give those whom he had wronged a portion of his fortune. He wanted to share
his wealth.

Workbook The confirmands now do exercise C in their workbooks. In the process they
exercise C answer the following question, which is to be discussed afterwards.

Ask What kind of effects do gifts have?

In the giver: In the recipient:

Listen to answers – joy over having done something good – joy over the gift
and supplement – giving (sharing) makes people happier – gratitude
– giving brings people together – social relationships are
– giving is active Christian love reinforced
– a sense of material loss (only short-term) – alleviation of a situation of need
– etc. – etc.

Read in the Bible That which we have done out of love for our neighbour will not be forgotten
(Matthew 25: 35–40).

Explain We recognise the great wisdom that is contained in the counsel of Jesus: “It is
more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20: 35).

The main points

I also want to … … respect other people’s property!

Homework The confirmands learn the Seventh Commandment by heart. The confirmands
do exercise B from lesson 17 in their workbooks.

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