### 110. Q. What does God forbid in the eighth commandment?

**A**. He forbids not only outright theft and robbery, which governing authorities punish,<sup>1</sup> but in God’s sight theft also includes all evil tricks and schemes designed to get our neighbor’s goods for ourselves, whether by force or means that appear legitimate,<sup>2</sup> such as inaccurate measurements of weight, size, or volume; fraudulent merchandising; counterfeit money; excessive interest; or any other means forbidden by God.<sup>3</sup> In addition God forbids all greed<sup>4</sup> and pointless squandering of his gifts.<sup>5</sup>

<sup>1</sup> [Ex. 22:1](/get-passage/Exodus+22); [1 Cor. 5:9-10](/get-passage/1+Corinthians+5:9-10); [6:9-10](/get-passage/1+Corinthians+6:9-10)
<sup>2</sup> [Mic. 6:9-11](/get-passage/Micah+6:9-11); [Luke 3:14](/get-passage/Luke+3:14); [James 5:1-6](/get-passage/James+5:1-6)
<sup>3</sup> [Deut. 25:13-16](/get-passage/Deuteronomy+25:13-16); [Ps. 15:5](/get-passage/Psalms+15:5); [Prov. 11:1](/get-passage/Proverbs+11:1); [12:22](/get-passage/Proverbs+12:22); [Ezek. 45:9-12](/get-passage/Ezekiel+45:9-12); [Luke 6:35](/get-passage/Luke+6:35)
<sup>4</sup> [Luke 12:15](/get-passage/Luke+12:15); [Eph. 5:5](/get-passage/Ephesians+5:5)
<sup>5</sup> [Prov. 21:20](/get-passage/Proverbs+21:20); [23:20-21](/get-passage/Proverbs+23:20-21); [Luke 16:10-13](/get-passage/Luke+16:10-13)