Ephesians 4:28

Ephesians 4:28

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.

a. NLT: If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.

b. NIV: Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

c. YLT: Whoso is stealing let him no more steal, but rather let him labour, working the thing that is good with the hands, that he may have to impart to him having need.

d. Amplified Bible Classic: Let the thief steal no more, but rather let him be industrious, making an honest living with his own hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need.

1. “Let him that stole steal no more…”

a. [Let] him that [Strong: 3588 * ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

b. stole [Strong: 2813 kleptes klep'-tace from 2813; a stealer (literally or figuratively):--thief.]

c. steal [Strong: 2813 kleptes klep'-tace from 2813; a stealer (literally or figuratively):--thief.]

d. no more [Strong: 3371 meketi may-ket'-ee from 3361 and 2089; no further:--any longer, (not) henceforth, hereafter, no henceforward (longer, more, soon), not any more.]

1). The Apostle Paul is drawing the contrast between the individual before being born again and after receiving Christ. The unregenerate man before salvation would have stolen, but the new creation in Christ would not.

2. “…but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good…”

a. but [Strong: 1161 de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. rather [Strong: 3123 mallon mal'-lon neuter of the comparative of the same as 3122; (adverbially) more (in a greater degree)) or rather:--+ better, X far, (the) more (and more), (so) much (the more), rather.]

c. let him labor [Strong: 2872 kopiao kop-ee-ah'-o from a derivative of 2873; to feel fatigue; by implication, to work hard:--(bestow) labour, toil, be wearied.]

d. working [Strong: 2038 ergazomai er-gad'-zom-ahee middle voice from 2041; to toil (as a task, occupation, etc.), (by implication) effect, be engaged in or with, etc.:--commit, do, labor for, minister about, trade (by), work.]

e. with his [Strong: 3588 * ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

f. hands [Strong: 5495 cheir khire perhaps from the base of 5494 in the sense of its congener the base of 5490 (through the idea of hollowness for grasping); the hand (literally or figuratively (power); especially (by Hebraism) a means or instrument):--hand.]

g. the [thing which is] good [Strong: 18  agathos ag-ath-os' a primary word; "good" (in any sense, often as noun):--benefit, good(-s, things), well.]

1). Labor is an institution created by God and not labor unions.

a). Genesis 2:2, 3 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

2:3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

b). Genesis 2:15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

2). It is an institution created by God for man to be blessed and to enjoy the good it provides.

a). Ecclesiastes 2:24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

b). Ecclesiastes 3:13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

3. “…that he may have to give to him that needeth.”

a. that [Strong: 2443 hina hin'-ah probably from the same as the former part of 1438 (through the demonstrative idea; compare 3588); in order that (denoting the purpose or the result):--albeit, because, to the intent (that), lest, so as, (so) that, (for) to.]

b. he may have [Strong: 2192 echo ekh'-o, including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; (used in certain tenses only) a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition):--be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.]

c. to give [Strong: 3330 metadidomi met-ad-id'-o-mee from 3326 and 1325; to give over, i.e. share:--give, impart.]

d. to [Strong: 3588 * ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

e. [him that] needeth [Strong: 5532 chreia khri'-ah from the base of 5530 or 5534; employment, i.e. an affair; also (by implication) occasion, demand, requirement or destitution:--business, lack, necessary(-ity), need(-ful), use, want.]

f. [Strong: 2192 echo ekh'-o, including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; (used in certain tenses only) a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition):--be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.]

1). Here we have one of the three reasons for money which is to provide for the poor or for those in need that can’t supply for themselves.

a). Deuteronomy 15:7-11 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:

15:8 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.

15:9 Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee.

15:10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.

15:11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

2). We must remember that though the primary reason to help the poor and needy is to bless them and obey God, we can also expect to be blessed in return. Jesus himself taught this principle.

a). Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

3). Whether in the Old or New Covenant, God has always required his people to take care for the poor and needy.

a). Galatians 2:9, 10 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

2:10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

4). The other reasons for money are to supply for our own; and to establish the Covenant.  

a). 1 Thessalonians 4:11, 12 That you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,

4:12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

b). Deuteronomy 8:18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.