Der dritte Teil: Von der Dankbarkeit — 42. Sonntag
The Prohibition of Theft
God forbids not only overt theft and robbery but also all forms of deceit, greed, and wastefulness regarding our neighbor's property.
What does God forbid in the eighth commandment? God forbids not only theft and robbery, which are punished by civil law. He also calls theft all cunning and deceitful actions by which we try to take our neighbor's goods for ourselves, whether by force or under the guise of legality: by using false weights and measures, poor-quality goods, counterfeit money, and usury, or by any means that God has forbidden. He also forbids all greed and any waste of his gifts.
The Command to Love and Serve
We are called to actively promote our neighbor's well-being and work diligently to provide for those in need.
What does God command you in this commandment? I should promote my neighbor's well-being whenever I can, and treat them as I would like to be treated. I should also work diligently so that I can help those in need in their distress.
Read the original Latin
Was verbietet Gott im achten Gebot? Gott verbietet nicht nur Diebstahl und Raub, die nach staatlichem Recht bestraft werden. Er nennt Diebstahl auch alle Schliche und betrügerischen Handlungen, womit wir versuchen, unseres Nächsten Gut an uns zu bringen, sei es mit Gewalt oder einem Schein des Rechts: mit falschem Gewicht und Maß, mit schlechter Ware, gefälschtem Geld und Wucher, oder mit irgendeinem Mittel, das von Gott verboten ist. Er verbietet auch allen Geiz und alle Verschwendung seiner Gaben.
Was gebietet dir aber Gott in diesem Gebot? Ich soll das Wohl meines Nächsten fördern, wo ich nur kann, und an ihm so handeln, wie ich möchte, dass man an mir handelt. Auch soll ich gewissenhaft arbeiten, damit ich dem Bedürftigen in seiner Not helfen kann.
Heidelberg Catechism (Heidelbergse Catechismus) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit