Responsibility Toward Other People’s Property

Romans 3:20 tells us, “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”  Keeping the law would not save the Old Testament saints, nor will it save people today.   The whole purpose of the Law was to define what sin was.  Unfortunately, knowing the Law would not enable us to get into heaven because obeying it was dependent on human willpower.  Romans 8:3-4 tells us, “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”  The fact that Christ fulfilled the law emphasized that it was not an impossible standard, making it clear anyone who didn’t fulfill it was not fitted for heaven.  It is only through accepting his sacrifice for our sin that we can be fitted for heaven. 

In Matthew 5:18-19, Jesus warned, “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”  While we can be saved without meeting the standards of the Law, ignoring it and teaching others to do so will cost rewards in the kingdom.  It behooves us to learn the standards God has set in order to please him. 

As we saw in the previous study, a man was responsible for the actions in which another person was hurt.  God had specified that anyone or any animal who killed a person was to be held accountable in Genesis 9:5-6.  “And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.  Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” 

Exodus 21:28-29 expands on this command.  “If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit.  But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past, and it hath been testified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but that he hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death.  If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.  Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him.  If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.” 

If a man’s animal killed someone, the animal was to be stoned and the body destroyed, but if the owner knew the animal was dangerous and made no effort to protect others, the owner was considered responsible for the person’s death, and deserved to die.  Since it was not deliberate, they had the option of collecting damages from if they chose to allow him to live.    Even if the animal did not kill the person, but deliberately hurt him the animal was to be killed and damages paid to the victim. 

People were to take responsibility in protecting other people’s property as well.  Exodus 21:33-36 commanded, “And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit, and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein; The owner of the pit shall make it good, and give money unto the owner of them; and the dead beast shall be his.  And if one man's ox hurt another's, that he die; then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it; and the dead ox also they shall divide.  Or if it be known that the ox hath used to push in time past, and his owner hath not kept him in; he shall surely pay ox for ox; and the dead shall be his own.” 

Exodus 22:5-15 relate to other situations where one’s actions could cause another to suffer loss.  “If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man's field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.  If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man's house; if the thief be found, let him pay double.  If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour's goods.

For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.

If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it: Then shall an oath of the LORD be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour's goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good.  And if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof.  If it be torn in pieces, then let him bring it for witness, and he shall not make good that which was torn.

And if a man borrow ought of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof being not with it, he shall surely make it good.  But if the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good: if it be an hired thing, it came for his hire.”

God expects people to take responsibility for their actions affect other people.