What other Scriptures emphasize caring for others' belongings and property? Deuteronomy’s Starting Point “You shall do the same with his donkey or garment or anything your brother has lost and you have found. Do not ignore it.” (Deuteronomy 22:3) Echoes in the Law of Moses • Exodus 23:4-5 — “If you encounter your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him…” Even an enemy’s property calls for active concern. • Exodus 22:1-15 — Detailed restitution laws: the thief repays multiple times what was taken; borrowed items that are damaged must be made good. • Leviticus 6:1-5 — “If anyone sins by deceiving his neighbor… he must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value to it, and give it to the owner…” The offended party is to be made whole, and then some. • Leviticus 19:11, 13 — “You shall not steal… you shall not rob.” The prohibition stands guard over every neighbor’s belongings. Wisdom Literature Underscores the Principle • Proverbs 3:27-28 — “Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.” Returning lost property is one very practical form of “good.” • Proverbs 11:24-25 — “One gives freely, yet gains even more… whoever refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” A generous heart toward others’ welfare brings blessing. • Proverbs 28:24 — “He who robs his father or mother and says, ‘It is not wrong,’ is a companion to a destroyer.” Dismissing theft as harmless aligns a person with ruin. Prophetic Calls to Justice • Isaiah 1:17 — “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.” Safeguarding a neighbor’s property is part of basic justice. • Zechariah 7:9-10 — “Administer true justice, show kindness and mercy to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless…” Property rights of the vulnerable are included in this mercy. Jesus Enlarges the Vision • Matthew 22:39 — “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love will not shrug off a neighbor’s loss. • Luke 10:30-37 — The Good Samaritan not only binds wounds but pays the innkeeper: personal resources devoted to another’s well-being. • Luke 19:8 — Zacchaeus’ repentance produces fourfold restitution, mirroring Mosaic standards and showing kingdom ethics in action. Apostolic Teaching for Everyday Life • Romans 13:9 — “Do not steal… Love your neighbor as yourself.” Paul ties property respect directly to love. • Ephesians 4:28 — “He who has been stealing must steal no longer… so that he may have something to share with those in need.” A redeemed heart moves from taking to giving. • Philippians 2:4 — “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” That mindset naturally safeguards what belongs to others. • 1 John 3:17 — “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no compassion… how can the love of God abide in him?” Genuine love opens hands, not grabs. Pulling It Together Across Scripture—Law, Wisdom, Prophets, Gospels, and Epistles—the thread is clear: God’s people protect, respect, and even restore their neighbor’s belongings. Doing so is more than courtesy; it is concrete evidence that we love our neighbor and honor the God who owns everything. |
    |