Mosaic law message 13
Scripture reading: We are continuing our look at the Mosaic law in the Old Testament. The book of Deuteronomy is Moses’ message to the children of Israel after 40 years in the wilderness and just before they would go into the promised land without him. He summarizes their experience with God. Listen to what chapter 6 verses 23 through 24 say about why God gave them the law.
Deuteronomy 6:23=24, “23 And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers. And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day.”
That passage of Scripture, in a nutshell, tells us why God gave mankind the moral law. He gave us His moral law, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive. We’ve been talking for weeks about all the laws of the Old Testament. Sadly, today, there are many people in the world who don’t like God’s laws. Even the most basic laws like thou shalt not kill or do violence, thou shalt not violate the sanctity of marriage, thou shalt not speak a lie, you have people who say those are an intrusion on their rights. Life begins and ends with themselves. But what they don’t understand is that God gave those laws for our good, to keep us alive. God gave the law because He loves us.
Psalm 19:7–8 – “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.”
God knows that a society filled with violence, unchecked sexual expression, and theft leads to individual and corporate death.
And we know this. The world is a dangerous place.
Imagine a father and mother who live near a busy highway with his little children. Every day, cars race by at sixty miles an hour, and the parents know that if the children wander too close to the road, disaster could strike. So, out of love, they builds a strong fence around the yard and give the children a rule: “Do not play beyond this fence.”
Now, from the child’s perspective, the fence might feel restrictive. They may think, “Why can’t I explore out there? Why won’t Dad and Mom let me go past this point?” But we know that they aren’t trying to limit their children’s joy—they are he’s protecting their lives. The fence is love expressed in the form of a rule.
In the same way, God gave His law, not to rob us of freedom, but to safeguard our lives. The Ten Commandments, the laws against violence, the laws of intimacy, the property and fairness laws, the calls to honesty and purity—these are the “fence posts” of God’s love, set in place to protect us from destruction.
Let me read again Deuteronomy 6:24, “And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day.” God’s law is love in action.
prayer
Over the past several weeks, we’ve been walking through the moral laws of God, seeing how His commands are not arbitrary rules but loving boundaries meant to protect and guide His people. We’ve already looked at laws concerning violence, intimacy, honor, and truth—each one revealing God’s heart for justice, purity, respect, and honesty in our lives. Today, we turn to the next two categories: property laws and fairness laws. These laws show us how God cares about the way we handle what belongs to others and how we treat people in matters of justice, equity, and daily dealings. Together, they remind us that love and law are not opposites, but partners—God’s law is an expression of His love, teaching us how to live rightly with Him and with one another.
Introduction
Just as a reminder, remember that we have been asking the question as to whether God’s Old Testament laws still apply to us today as Christians. We broke down the Old Testament laws into three categories: The civil law that governed Israel as a nation, the ceremonial law that established Israel’s religious life and the moral law. The first two categories of laws were completed in their meaning and purpose when Jesus came died and rose from the grave. But the last category, the moral law, stands throughout human history. It too will complete its purpose when this world is over. So, if we are reading the Old Testament at home this week, and we run across a law in Leviticus, or Chronicles, or Psalms, how do I know if it is a moral law that still applies to me. Last week we studied the Law through the lens of three tests. If the law passed these three tests, it is God’s permanent moral law. We asked:
And if it passed those three tests, then we ask.
Today we will apply those same questions to two new categories: Property Laws and Fairness Laws. Both deal with how we treat one another in everyday life—what belongs to others, and how we measure justice in our dealings. And they show us that God not only cares about our worship on Sunday but about our honesty on Monday.
Let’s look first at
In the ten commandments Exodus 20:15 is clear: “You shall not steal.” And this law not only establishes that you shouldn’t take other people’s stuff, but it establishes the foundational truth that they have the right to have stuff that is theirs. In this commandment God gave humanity property rights. You have the right to own things.
Some societies have tried to abolish property rights. In communistic societies everything is owned by the state. And this is supposed to create some sort of Utopian society.
Imagine no possessions I wonder if you can No need for greed or hunger A brotherhood of man Imagine all the people Sharing all the world... You...
You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one
But notice that societies that adopt communism have to have all kinds of people watching us, to ensure that we share. And they have to have other people who watch the watchers. And other people who watch the watchers who are watching the watched. They are fighting against the grain of not only human nature but the law of God that establishes property rights by saying, “Thou shalt not steal.” First question
1. Did this law predate the Mosaic law?
Yes. From the very beginning, God established the principle of respect for what belongs to others.
In Genesis 31:30–32,
You might remember the story, but Jacob had served his father-in-law Laban for 20 years, and then fled with his property and family. Unbeknownst to him, his wife Rachel stole her father Laban’s idols when they left. Well Laban pursued and caught up to them and lambasted Jacob, not just for leaving, but he accused him of stealing the idols. This was long before God ever gave the command, “thou shalt not steal.” And it shows that even before Sinai, theft was condemned. Even by the likes of Laban who was a liar and a thief. Here’s another example
In Genesis 21:25, Abraham confronted Abimelech, the king of Gerar, because Abimelech’s servants had violently seized a well that belonged to Abraham. How do we know that it belonged to Abraham? He didn’t own the land. No one owned the land in a way that we think of land ownership. But, it was his because, he dug the well, so it belonged to him. And he confronted this local king because the king’s minions had forcibly taken possession of the well. And Abimelech restored the well to Abraham. This shows that even before the law, taking something by force was understood as theft and injustice.
Another example before the law was when Joseph tested his brothers in Egypt, he placed his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack. His steward accused them: “Why have you repaid evil for good by stealing my master’s silver cup?” The very accusation reveals that stealing was considered evil and punishable long before the commandments were given.
“Thou shalt not steal” was encoded in God’s moral law long before Moses. So what is the second test?
2. Was it part of the Mosaic law?
Obviuosly Yes.
Exodus 20:15 is clear: “You shall not steal.” But what does it mean to steal?
Stealing is taking away another man's property by stealth, force or fraud, against the will of the owner. We know that theft comes in various forms.
There is petty theft, such as pickpocketing and shoplifting; burglary, which involves breaking into homes, often under the cover of night; and robbery, an open and forceful taking in public places like highways. There are also domestic thefts, when family members—whether wives, children, or servants—take and misuse money or goods without permission. Religious or ecclesiastical theft, also called sacrilege, involves stealing from sacred places or offerings dedicated to God. Personal theft includes the most grievous act of stealing people, as in slavery or human trafficking. Beyond these, theft can also occur through fraud and dishonesty in business—unjust contracts, withholding wages, unfair lending, or mishandling entrusted property. Even enabling or benefiting from theft, such as receiving stolen goods, falls into this category. While Scripture acknowledges situations like a starving man stealing food (Proverbs 6:30), it does not justify them as lawful, but only notes them as cases of mercy. Altogether, God’s law makes clear that theft in any form is a violation of love and a breach of justice, given to protect the rightful property of every person.
And the Mosaic law forbad theft in all of its forms.
In Exodus 22:1–4 the law condemned theft and gave specific restitution requirements: if a man stole an ox or sheep, he had to restore multiple animals in return.
Deuteronomy 19:14 forbids moving a boundary stone, essentially stealing land.
Proverbs 11:1 – condemns theft by trickery. “A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight.”
So, it was in the Mosaic law. But
3. Did Jesus and His disciples reiterate this law?
Yes.
In Matthew 19:18, a rich young ruler came to Jesus and asked what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus said, “Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
Later on Paul wrote this in his epistle to the church in Ephesus.
Ephesians 4:28 “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.”
Notice the shift: the Christian life doesn’t just avoid theft; it embraces generosity.
Titus 2:9–10 – “Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith…”
And not only did this law predate the 10 commandments, codified in the 10 commandments, and reiterated by Jesus and His disciples, it is among the laws whose unrepentant violators are excluded from heaven?
1 Corinthians 6:9–10 9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
God’s kingdom is not a place for takers, but for givers. Which brings us to the last question about this category of moral law.
5. Where should the heart of the Christian be?
If we are to be like Christ, it’s not enough to “not steal.” The heart of the Christian is not satisfied with not stealing. It is transformed to delight in giving. We read this passage just a moment ago. I want you to notice the shift
Ephesians 4:28 — Paul goes beyond prohibition: “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, (he is to be a productive contributor to society, to his family) doing honest work with his own hands, (not conniving work designed to unjustly part people from their money) so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.”
Notice what Paul is saying. He is describing a person who is industrious and successful because of hard honest work. And this person manages to prosper. But out of his prosperity, he is able to be charitable, and give to the needy.
God allows each of us to prosper to different degrees. It’s not wrong to prosper if it is not by deceit, or theft. In fact, God uses those who have prospered, to give to those in need.
Jesus said in Acts 20:35: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
When we respect the property of others, and when we share our own with joy, we reflect the heart of Christ Himself, who gave His very life for us. Now let’s look at
This is a category of laws around the idea of fairness or justice. When someone says, “That’s not fair,” they are usually saying that something unjust has occurred. Justice indicates a right or worthy judgment.
We have all kinds of fairness laws in our society. Here are some examples; We require truth in advertising, accurate product labeling, Minimum wage laws, Equal employment opportunity laws, Labor laws on overtime and breaks, Fair housing laws, Anti-trust and monopoly laws, Banking and lending regulations – limiting predatory lending, hidden fees, or unfair interest rates, and Whistleblower protections – guarding those who speak up about injustice or corruption in workplaces and government. And we also have laws concerning crime, murder, theft, and abuse etc.
Fairness laws in the Bible take in not only property laws, but business practices, criminal procedures, civil matters, aiming for every kind of disagreement to have a fair and just outcome. So, let’s move on to our questions. God’s permanent moral required fairness and justice. How do I know? It
1. Did this law predate the Mosaic law?
Yes.
Again, we return to the story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:8–11).
Cain murders Abel out of jealousy. God confronts Cain, saying, “The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.”
God declared Cain to have committed a great sin that had to be punished. Justice had to be served.
2. Noah’s World (Genesis 6:11–13)
“Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence.”
There was widespread violence likely involving murder, physical abuse, extortion, kidnapping, enslavement and all kinds of sins where people pursued their selfish desires, trampling and using anyone to accomplish what they wanted.
Joseph Sold by His Brothers (Genesis 37:23–28; 42:21–22)
Joseph’s brothers sell him into slavery for silver. Later, under conviction, they admit, “In truth we are guilty concerning our brother…”
Justice had to do with protecting the innocent, punishing the guilty, and restitution.
2. Was it part of the Mosaic law?
Yes. In multiple places
Leviticus 19:13–15 says, “You shall not defraud your neighbor… You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.”
Deuteronomy 25:13–16 warns against dishonest weights and measures.
Exodus 23:2–3, 6–8 commands impartial justice, forbidding bribes and partiality.
Psalm 82:2–4 – “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
God required Israel to be fair and just, because He is a fair and righteous God.
3. Did Jesus and His disciples reiterate this law?
Yes.
Jesus gave the Golden Rule in Matthew 7:12 when He said, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” With these words, He summarized the heart of God’s law as fairness and love in action toward others. Later, in Luke 11:42, He rebuked the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, saying, “You tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God.” They were meticulous in outward rituals but blind to the weightier matters of true justice and love. Likewise, James 2 condemns showing favoritism in the church, reminding believers that to favor the rich over the poor is a violation of God’s standard of fairness. From Jesus’ teaching to the apostolic instruction, the message is clear: God’s people are called to reflect His character by living with impartiality, justice, and love.
5. Where should the heart of the Christian be?
Again, for the believer it is not enough to “not be unjust or unfair.” It is to go above and beyond. I still remember something that happened while we were in seminary. I had a fellow student that we went to church with. He served as the church’s music minister I was a pastoral apprentice. He had completed his degree and he and his wife were moving off of campus to an apartment across town in Kansas City. I offered to help him move. I also worked with another student, Ron, and friend on the custodial crew on campus. He happened to have a pickup truck. The music student asked me if I would ask Ron if we could use his truck.
We spent a whole day moving, driving across the city, and still had more to move, so he asked me to ask Ron if we could borrow his truck again the next day. Ron again said yes. Then after another day of moving, the music student had me pull into a gas station to put gas in the truck. He went around to the pump, put in the nozzle, and then reached into the steering column and turned on the ignition key, not to start the truck, just to turn on the electrical components. I asked him why he was doing that.
He said that he was doing that because the truck was only ¾ full when we got it, so he was going to fill it to ¾ full. I was dumbfounded. Here we had used this guy’s truck for free for two days, and he wouldn’t even fill up the tank. I was the one who was returning the truck.
For the Christian justice and fairness go far beyond equity. They live out Jesus command,
Matthew 7:12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
The Christian heart must beat in rhythm with God’s justice and mercy.
Micah 6:8: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Our dealings must reflect the fairness of God. We don’t cut corners. We don’t shade the truth. We don’t exploit the weak. Instead, we imitate Christ, who treated all with justice, compassion, and truth. He loved those who hated Him. He did good to those who persecuted Him.
Conclusion
Both Property Laws and Fairness Laws reveal the heart of God.
He is a God of generosity, and He calls His people to respect what belongs to others and to share freely.
He is a God of justice, and He calls His people to deal fairly, without deceit or partiality.
And we’ve all been skin flints before. We’ve all been unfair.
But here’s the good news: when we have failed Christ bore our theft, our greed, our dishonesty, and our unfairness on the cross. He gave us His righteousness, and now by His Spirit we can live as generous, just, and faithful people.
Let us set our hearts where Christ’s heart is: open-handed in generosity, steadfast in fairness, and always pointing others to the One who is perfectly just and perfectly gracious.
Closing prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word, which teaches us that Your law is not a burden but a blessing, given for our good always, that we might be preserved alive. Thank You for showing us today that Your commands concerning property and fairness are rooted in Your love and reflect Your own generous and just character.
Lord, we confess that too often we have been takers instead of givers, unfair instead of just, self-seeking instead of Christlike. Yet we rejoice in the good news that Jesus bore our theft, our dishonesty, and our unfairness on the cross, and in exchange has given us His righteousness. Through His Spirit, we are made new.
Help us now, O God, to live as Your people: to respect what belongs to others, to be generous with what You have entrusted to us, and to act with justice, mercy, and humility in all our dealings. May our lives point others to Christ, the One who is perfectly just and perfectly gracious.
We pray this in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.