Which other Scriptures address the issue of dishonest gain like Amos 8:5? Setting the Scene Amos 8:5 pictures merchants eager to “shorten the measure, boost the price, and cheat with dishonest scales.” Scripture consistently condemns that kind of gain. Below are key passages that echo Amos’s warning, grouped for clarity. Foundational Law Passages • Exodus 20:15 – “You shall not steal.” • Leviticus 19:35-36 – “You shall not use dishonest measures of length, weight, or volume… maintain honest scales and honest weights.” • Deuteronomy 25:13-16 – “Do not have two differing weights… everyone who behaves dishonestly… is detestable to the LORD.” Wisdom Literature on Integrity • Proverbs 11:1 – “Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.” • Proverbs 13:11 – “Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but whoever gathers with diligence increases it.” • Proverbs 20:10 & 23 – “Differing weights and unequal measures—both are detestable to the LORD.” • Ecclesiastes 5:10 – “Whoever loves money is never satisfied with money.” Prophets Who Echo Amos • Isaiah 1:23 – “Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts.” • Jeremiah 17:11 – “Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay, so is the one who makes a fortune unjustly.” • Ezekiel 22:12-13 – “In you they take bribes to shed blood… you extort your neighbors by robbery.” • Micah 6:10-12 – “Can I excuse dishonest scales or bags of false weights?” • Habakkuk 2:9 – “Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain.” • Malachi 3:5 – “I will come… against those who defraud laborers of their wages.” New Testament Reinforcement • Luke 3:12-13 – John tells tax collectors, “Collect no more than you are authorized.” • Luke 19:8 – Zacchaeus vows, “If I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times.” • Acts 5:3-4 – Ananias and Sapphira judged for deceit over money. • 1 Corinthians 6:10 – “Thieves, the greedy… will not inherit the kingdom of God.” • 1 Timothy 6:9-10 – “Those who want to be rich fall into temptation… the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” • Titus 1:7 – Overseers must not be “greedy for money.” • James 5:1-4 – Unpaid wages cry out against wealthy oppressors. • 1 Peter 5:2 – Lead “not out of greed for money, but eager to serve.” Living What We Learn • God delights in honest scales; He detests manipulated ones. • Dishonest gain may prosper briefly, yet it invites judgment and loss. • Integrity in business, leadership, and everyday dealings is non-negotiable for God’s people. • The consistent, cross-testament witness shows the Lord’s heart: pursue honest labor, fair trade, and generosity, trusting Him to provide the lasting reward. |
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