Ephesians 4:28

The thief must stop stealing and instead work honestly so he can give to those in need. The gospel turns takers into generous givers.

Cross-references · 28

• 1 Tim 6:18Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,
• 1 Th 4:11–12and to aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you.
• Gal 6:10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.
• Exod 20:15You shall not steal.
• 2 Th 3:11–12Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies.
• Luke 21:1–4Then Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury,
• Zech 5:3Then he told me, “This is the curse that is going out over the face of all the land, for according to one side of the scroll, every thief will be removed; and according to the other side, every perjurer will be removed.
• 2 Th 3:6–8Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us.
• Hos 4:2Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.
• Luke 3:10–14The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”
• John 12:6Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it.
• Jer 7:9Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known,
• Prov 28:13He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.
• Luke 19:8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.”
• Exod 20:17You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, or his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
• Exod 21:16Whoever kidnaps another man must be put to death, whether he sells him or the man is found in his possession.
• 1 Cor 6:10–11nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
• Prov 13:11Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied.
• Job 34:32Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’
• Prov 14:23There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
• Luke 3:8Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
• Acts 20:34–35You yourselves know that these hands of mine have ministered to my own needs and those of my companions.
• 2 Cor 8:12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
• 2 Cor 8:2In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity.
• 2 Cor 9:12–15For this ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God.
• Prov 30:9Otherwise, I may have too much and deny You, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, profaning the name of my God.
• Rom 12:13Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.
• John 13:29Since Judas kept the money bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor.

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