Proverbs 6:30 Commentary and Bible Study

Solomon shows how obnoxious this sin is, even when compared with other sins. Perhaps in our day of upside-down values, some of the force of his words would be lost, for it seems unlikely that anyone would have to pay much at all for this particular crime of theft, nevertheless, the Old Testament law required such restitution.The point is that you might be inclined to have a certain sympathy for a man who was encouraged to steal by his poverty. This is true even though poverty is never be an acceptable excuse for theft, and God has taught us always to pray, ‘Give us our daily bread’. But nevertheless, one might have more sympathy with one who steals in order to eat than with one who steals out of greed. Though men may feel that such a thief needs to be punished they do not hate him for what he’s done. Even so he must make restitution (Exodus 22:1).