Question 110

What does God forbid in the eighth commandment?

God forbids not only those thefts,³²⁰³²⁰    1 Cor. 6:10. and robberies,³²¹³²¹    1 Cor. 5:10; Isa. 33:1. which are punishable by the magistrate; but he comprehends under the name of theft all wicked tricks and devices, whereby we design to appropriate to ourselves the goods which belong to our neighbour:³²²³²²    Luke 3:14; 1 Thess. 4:6. whether it be by force, or under the appearance of right, as by unjust weights, ells, measures, fraudulent merchandise,³²³³²³    Prov. 11:1; Prov. 16:11; Ezek. 45:9–12; Deut. 25:13–16. false coins, usury,³²⁴³²⁴    Ps. 15:5; Luke 6:35. or by any other way forbidden by God; as also all covetousness,³²⁵³²⁵    1 Cor. 6:10. all abuse and waste of his gifts.³²⁶³²⁶    Prov. 23:20, 21; Prov. 21:20.