Steal No More Ephesians 4:28

Paul the apostle gave spiritual instructions to the Ephesian church members that would enable them to be “unified” with one another. This would take place as they “put off the old man” or old way of living and “put on the new man” which was after the ways of Jesus. In chapter four and verse twenty-eight of his letter, Paul continued his exhortation as he wrote, “Let him that stole steal no more”. We read:

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs.

The verse begins, “Let him that stole steal no more:” Paul began with the words, “Let him that stole” which is the Greek phrase “kleptō kleptō” or “commits a theft, take away by theft or stealth” “steal” which again is the word “kleptō” and means “commits a theft, take away by theft or stealth” “no more” or “no longer or hereafter”. Christians who used to “steal” things are never to do so again.

The verse goes on to say, “but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good,...” Paul added, “but rather” which means “moreover, now, also and nevertheless” “let him labor” or “grow weary, tired, exhausted with wearisome effort and toil”, “working” which means “doing labor, trading, making gains by trading, exercising, performing, committing, causing to exist and producing” “with his hands” which refers to “the help or agency of the hands and by means of the hands” “the thing which is good” or “that which is of good constitution or nature, useful, salutary, pleasant, agreeable, joyful and happy”. Paul desired for the Ephesian church members to “work” “good things”.

Finally the verse says, “that he may have to give to him that needs.” Paul ended this verse by writing, “that he” which refers to “the person who used to steal and now labors” “may have” or “own, possess, hold fast, keep and regard or consider or hold” “to give” which means “to impart and share” “to him that needs” which means “to a person who has necessity, lack and want”. The “labor” done by the person who used to “steal” was now to be used to help people who are in need.

When we consider these words of Paul, we see the benefit of “laboring” to provide for ourselves. Those who “steal” from others do not consider how their theft will affect them and are not in “unity” with them at all. “Theft” is part of the “old nature”, and Christians should have no part in it. Rather they should “work” for their sustenance with the idea of helping others who are “in need”. As the Lord Jesus helps us to be more like Him, stealing will be far from our behavior, and the care for others will become our central focus.

Next time Paul instructs the Ephesian church members concerning the way they “communicate”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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