thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth
man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of ChristÁ-?
He does not merely tell them to not steal, but he equates their sin with other sins Á-? laziness, and
selfishness, and even lack of compassion for our neighbor. He urges the thief to labor, and change his
state of mind, which was formerly centered upon his own selfish desires, and to think of others. He is
not only to cease taking; he is to begin giving with more liberality to those who need.
not labor for that which he takes) and self-centered. Even if he does not take from those who are in
want, he does not think of those in want. All of our sins are like this; they are a tangled web of vices.
members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27
Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working
with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt
communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may
minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto
the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be
put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.