FEBRUARY 5, 2026 – STEALING AND EXPLOITATION

READ: Ex. 22:1–31: … And you shall be holy men to Me …

The regulations concerning theft often address the stealing of animals, probably because this can easily occur outside the home. Animals must be amply compensated, two to five times their value. If a thief is caught at night, it may cost him his life, without guilt on the part of the one who kills him.

During the day, the situation is different. Other regulations concern specific forms of theft or neglect of another’s property. Essentially, these are applications of the eighth commandment.

The catechism sheds light on God’s Word here and emphasizes that theft can also occur under the guise of justice, such as fraud with weights, measures, goods, and currency, or through usury and other means forbidden by God. God also forbids all greed, abuse, and waste of His gifts.

Special attention is given to the treatment of strangers, widows, and orphans (vv.21–24). These people are vulnerable and require additional protection. They must certainly not be exploited or oppressed, just like the poor among the people (v.25).

The LORD Himself will care for them and will severely punish anyone who harms them. As a merciful and gracious God, He is the Father of the fatherless and the Judge of the widows (Ps. 68:5). He preserves the strangers and sustains the fatherless and the widow (Ps. 146:9).

The LORD watches especially that no harm is done to them. In addition to the Psalms, we find similar instructions in Isaiah (1:17, 23), Jeremiah (7:6; 22:3; 49:11), Zechariah (7:10), and Malachi (3:5).

Verses 23–31 contain various regulations concerning the poor and the service of the LORD. A key provision is that all firstborn of humans and animals belong to the LORD. These had already been claimed by the LORD from the moment the people departed from Egypt under Moses’ leadership (Ex. 13:1–2). While the firstborn of the Egyptians were killed that night as judgment upon Egypt, the firstborn of God’s people must be consecrated to the LORD.

What might be the meaning of this last provision?
Sing: Ps. 97:1,6